A jeweler in Toronto bought a parcel of heart moissanites for Valentine's season and found that, out of 24 stones, only 7 read as a clean heart face-up — the rest had one wing higher than the other or a cleft so deep the stone split visually into two halves. Heart cut moissanite is the hardest common shape to cut well, and wholesale suppliers who don't grade symmetry ship parcels that look like a grab bag. Here is how we grade every heart we sell, and what to stock for bridal demand.
Where hearts go wrong
A heart is two rounded wings joined at a cleft (the dip at the top) and tapering to a point at the bottom. The failure modes are visible face-up:
- Wing mismatch: one shoulder rounds higher or wider than the other; the heart leans to one side.
- Deep cleft: the top dip is too pronounced, so the stone reads as two stones joined rather than one heart.
- Off-center point: the bottom tip sits left or right of the central axis.
- Small size: under 0.7ct, the geometry can't resolve into a heart and reads as a lumpy round.
Open-market heart parcels we have sampled run 50–60% with at least one of these flaws visible at 30cm. Our incoming heart rejection is around 18% — it is the highest rejection rate of any cut, because hearts are genuinely hard to cut cleanly.
Our heart grading sheet
| Parameter | Industry norm | Our wholesale standard |
|---|---|---|
| Wing symmetry | Visual | Measured; offset ≤3% |
| Cleft depth | Not specified | Moderate; deep-cleft stones pulled |
| Point alignment | Visual | On-axis; off-axis >2% rejected |
| Minimum size | Any size sold as heart | 0.7ct+ only listed as heart |
| Color | Mixed | D–E–F range |
Because hearts are hard to cut, they are also one of the few cuts where we openly tell buyers the rejection rate. A parcel that claims 100% clean hearts at trade price is either not grading or grading loosely.
Stocking hearts by scenario
Boutique for Valentine / seasonal demand
Hearts are seasonal — stock for the lead-up to Valentine's and anniversary months. Buy 1.0 and 1.5ct hearts, not smaller; under 0.7ct the shape doesn't resolve. A tray of four to six hearts covers seasonal demand; don't carry them year-round as a core SKU.
High-end bridal
Hearts are a sentimental engagement SKU, not a volume one. Stock one or two 1.5–2ct showcase hearts for the client who specifically asks. Pair with a solitaire or halo; the heart shape carries the design weight on its own.
Private-label / seasonal collection
We cut heart runs for seasonal launches, 50–100 pieces at a locked symmetry standard. Because hearts are rejection-heavy, we quote the accepted-rate up front so your launch budget is realistic. Matched pairs are available for heart stud earrings.
Hearts are also a strong earring SKU. A matched pair of 0.7–1.0ct hearts reads as a deliberate sentimental product, and the symmetry standard we hold for solitaires applies equally to studs. For seasonal launches, boutiques that pair a heart pendant or stud line with the engagement heart tray see higher attach rate than hearts sold alone, because the heart shape is a gifting impulse as much as an engagement one.
Because hearts are rejection-heavy, we quote accepted-rate on private-label runs up front. If a launch needs 100 clean hearts, we tell the buyer we will cut closer to 120 and select down to the 100 that pass the symmetry sheet. That is the honest way to budget a heart launch; suppliers who quote 100 hearts at 100-stone pricing are quietly shipping the rejected ones in the parcel.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the smallest heart cut I should stock?
0.7ct minimum. Below that, the geometry doesn't resolve into a recognizable heart and reads as a lumpy round. We only list 0.7ct+ stones as hearts.
Why is heart moissanite more expensive per carat?
Hearts are the hardest common shape to cut cleanly. Our incoming rejection rate on hearts runs around 18%, which is the highest of any cut, and that selection cost is reflected in the price.
Do heart stones need special settings?
The bottom tip is thin and exposed, similar to a pear. We recommend V-prongs or a bezel cap at the point. The two wings sit naturally in prongs along the shoulders.
What is the MOQ for wholesale hearts?
Seasonal trays start at 5 pieces. Private-label seasonal runs start at 50 pieces and are quoted with the accepted-rate up front.
Do heart stones come with certificates?
Yes, every heart ships with a GRA certificate and laser-inscribed girdle, plus an internal symmetry QC slip noting wing offset and cleft grade.
Takeaways
- Hearts are the hardest cut to grade well; 50–60% of open-market parcels have visible symmetry flaws.
- Stock 0.7ct+ only; below that the shape doesn't resolve.
- Hearts are a seasonal / sentimental SKU, not a year-round tray staple.
- Request a heart sample: MOQ 5 pcs, ships in 5 business days.
View our heart cut moissanite, read the heart symmetry guide, or see hearts set in engagement rings. Seasonal buyers can request a heart sample directly.