A buyer pricing a 1 ct equivalent moissanite in February paid $48 per stone. The same buyer pricing a 2 ct equivalent stone paid $185. The jump is not linear; it is a staircase, and wholesalers who misunderstand the staircase either underprice their stock or overbuy the wrong brackets. Moissanite wholesale pricing is driven by diameter, not by carat label, and the price steps up at specific millimeter thresholds.
This guide explains how carat-weight pricing actually works for moissanite at wholesale, where the price steps hit, and how to read a supplier price list so you are not paying a diamond-style premium for a material that costs a fraction of diamond.
Carat equivalent vs actual carat weight
Moissanite has a specific gravity of about 3.22, compared with diamond at 3.52. A 6.5 mm round moissanite weighs roughly 0.88-0.95 ct but is sold as a "1 ct equivalent" because it covers the same face-up area. GIA's 4Cs reference explains carat weight as a measure of mass, not size; for moissanite retail, face-up diameter is what customers care about. Wholesale buyers should price by the millimeter bracket the supplier quotes, not by the printed carat number, because two stones both labeled "1 ct" can measure 6.3 and 6.6 mm.
The price staircase by millimeter
Across wholesale suppliers, D-F VVS moissanite prices roughly step like this (indicative, not a quote):
- 4.0-5.0 mm (0.25-0.5 ct equiv): $18-$30 per stone.
- 5.5-6.0 mm (0.5-0.75 ct equiv): $32-$55 per stone.
- 6.5 mm (1 ct equiv): $55-$85 per stone. The sweet spot.
- 7.0-7.5 mm (1.25-1.5 ct equiv): $90-$140 per stone.
- 8.0-9.0 mm (2-3 ct equiv): $150-$320 per stone.
- 10.0 mm and above (4 ct+ equiv): cut-to-order, $400+.
The step-up from 6.5 to 8.0 mm is the steepest in percentage terms. That is why most boutiques stop at 7.5 mm for shelf stock and order 8 mm+ to cut. We cover the bracket choice in round stock sizes, and the oval-specific face-up comparison in oval carat vs face-up size.
Color and clarity deltas on top of the base price
The prices above are D-F VVS. G-H VS runs 15-25% lower at every bracket. VS2-SI1 runs another 10-15% lower. Fancy shapes (oval, cushion, pear) add 10-20% over round at the same face-up size because the yield from a rough crystal is lower. Princess and radiant are usually priced near oval. Emerald and asscher are priced at a small premium because step-cut clarity is harder to hit.
If you are deciding where to spend, read D-F vs G-H allocation before locking in a grade. The eye-clean standard explains when SI1 is fine and when it is not.
How to read a supplier price list
A moissanite price list is usually a grid: rows are millimeter brackets, columns are color and clarity combos, cells are per-stone USD. The cheapest cell on the grid is small G-H VS melee, and the most expensive is large D-F VVS fancy shapes. New buyers often anchor on the cheapest cell and assume everything is near that price; in reality, the 6.5 mm D-F VVS cell, the one you will reorder weekly, sits two rows up and three times the price. Always ask the supplier to highlight the cells that match your top SKUs before you compare lists across vendors.
Bulk discounts and tier breaks
Most suppliers run tiered discounts: 20-49 stones at list, 50-99 at 5% off, 100+ at 8-10% off. Mixed-cut parcels usually qualify for the tier based on total stone count, not per cut. If you are planning a reorder cycle, our reorder strategy shows how to time buys so you hit the 100-stone tier without overstocking.
Why is a 2 ct moissanite so much more expensive than a 1 ct?
Because rough crystals suitable for an 8 mm cut are less common, and the yield from rough to polished drops as diameter grows. The price follows scarcity of rough, not a linear formula.
Should I price my retail by carat equivalent or by mm?
By mm on your internal cost sheet; by carat equivalent on the retail tag, because customers shop by the diamond comparison point. Keep both numbers on the spec card.
Does GRA certification add cost?
Certified stones carry a small premium ($3-$8 per stone) over uncertified, but for bridal center stones the certificate is expected by the retail customer. We explain the trade-off in GIA vs GRA.
Is there a price break for matched pairs?
Yes, matched earring pairs usually discount 5-10% over two singles because the supplier can pre-pair them. Order pairs as pairs, not as two singles.
Order from HOLYCOME. Our price list is published by millimeter bracket, not carat label, so you see exactly what you pay. We tier from 20 to 500 stones and split parcels across brackets. Apply for a wholesale account and request the current price list — D-F VVS and G-H VS, every stone certified.
