The pear cut is one of the most asked-about shapes in moissanite and one of the least stocked. Customers come in with a picture they saw online, a vague idea that a pear looks longer on the finger, and a short list of questions that are almost identical across stores. Wholesale buyers who prepare answers for those questions before the customer asks, and who spec their pear inventory to match, sell the shape. Buyers who wing it get a lot of "let me think about it" and a lot of stones going back into the case.
"Which way does the point face?"
This is the first question, and the answer is the first teaching moment. Standard orientation for a pear set on a ring is point toward the nail, round end toward the knuckle. That orientation elongates the finger and is the conventional look. Some customers prefer the point toward the knuckle, which reads more like a marquise; that is a styling choice, not a mistake. The wholesale spec to note is whether the stone is cut with the symmetry balanced for point-up orientation; a poorly cut pear looks lopsided when the point is up, even if it looks fine in a photo. Ask for symmetry grading on the parcel.
"Is it a marquise with a round end?"
Customers often confuse pear and marquise after seeing both online. The difference is the outline: a marquise is pointed at both ends; a pear is pointed at one end and rounded at the other. The pear is softer, more traditionally bridal in feel, and more forgiving on the finger than a marquise, which reads more dramatic. The visual difference is clear once the customer sees both side by side. Keep a pear and a marquise loose stone on the counter for this comparison; it is the fastest way to close the question.
"Does it look bigger than a round?"
Yes, and predictably so. A pear of a given carat covers more finger area than a round of the same carat, because it is stretched along one axis. The spread is between that of an oval and a marquise. Customers who ask this question are usually optimizing for visible size; they should be steered toward a pear with a longer ratio (more elongated) rather than a round pear (which looks almost teardrop). The wholesale spec to note is the length-to-width ratio; most bridal pears run about 1.45 to 1.65. Pears below 1.40 look squat; pears above 1.75 start to look like a marquise missing a point.
"What about the asymmetry?"
The most common quality complaint about pears is that the two halves do not mirror each other. A well-cut pear has a straight central axis running from the point through the center of the round end. A poorly cut pear tilts, with one shoulder higher than the other, and that reads as a flaw even at arm's length. Wholesale buyers should reject any pear where the axis is visibly off-center. Tell customers that symmetry is the one feature that matters more than carat in a pear, and that a smaller symmetric pear looks better than a larger asymmetric one.
"What setting does it take?"
Pears take four- or six-prong solitaire settings, with a V-prong at the point to protect it. The round end can be held by a rounded prong. A halo around a pear is a common look, but it emphasizes the silhouette; for customers who want a simpler look, a solitaire shows the outline cleanly. Pears also pair well with a straight pavé band, because the setting's basket is open enough that the band sits flush. Note that a pear set east-west (point toward the knuckle) changes the band interaction; ask the customer about orientation before ordering the setting.
"Does it chip?"
The point is the most exposed part of a pear and the most likely to catch on surfaces. Moissanite at 9.25 on the Mohs scale is hard enough to resist scratching, but a sharp point can chip if it takes a direct impact. The answer is always the same: a V-prong or a bezel at the point prevents this, and a pear worn without point protection is a long-term risk. Spec V-prongs on every pear setting you sell. It is a small detail that saves a lot of return conversations.
What to ask the supplier
When you open a pear line, request symmetry grading, ratio specification, and a sample stone so you can train staff on the visual differences between pear, oval, and marquise. Ask whether the factory ships settings with V-prongs at the point; if not, note that to your bench. Ask for matched pairs for pear studs, which are a steady off-the-shelf SKU. And ask for a few photos showing the stone in point-up and point-down orientation, because customers will want to see both before they decide.
Buyers building out the elongated cuts category should compare the pear against our moissanite rings line, where pear, oval, and marquise are shown in the same settings, so staff can answer the "which one is bigger" question with a visual rather than a number.