The pear is a hybrid: one rounded end, one pointed tip. In moissanite it reads as bright and brilliant rather than step-cut, which makes it a natural upgrade for customers who like oval sparkle but want something more directional. It is also the only fancy shape that works equally well on a ring, a pendant and a drop earring. That versatility is why we keep pears in stock in every size from 5x7mm up to 10x14mm.
Proportions that read well
A pear's length-to-width ratio usually lands between 1.45:1 and 1.65:1. Under 1.45:1 it starts to look like an egg; over 1.70:1 it narrows into something close to a marquise with one rounded end. The sweet spot for most retail customers is 1.50:1 to 1.55:1. Symmetry matters more on a pear than on an oval: a lopsided shoulder is visible the moment the stone hits the mounting, and it is the number one reason a buyer rejects a fancy shape on inspection.
Face-up size and price
| Dimensions (mm) | Diamond equivalent | Wholesale band (USD, D-F VVS1, GRA) |
|---|---|---|
| 5x7 | ~0.5 ct | $14 - $24 |
| 6x9 | ~1.0 ct | $28 - $46 |
| 7x10 | ~1.5 ct | $45 - $70 |
| 8x11 | ~2.0 ct | $65 - $105 |
| 9x12 | ~3.0 ct | $110 - $170 |
| 10x14 | ~4.0 ct | $170 - $270 |
Setting orientation: the tip up or the tip down
This is the question every new retailer asks, and the answer depends on the jewelry type.
- Rings: point facing up the finger, toward the knuckle. This is the orientation that lengthens the hand and the one customers recognize. Point down makes the stone look like it is dropping off the finger.
- Pendants: point down, away from the neck. The stone hangs like a teardrop and catches light as it moves.
- Earrings: point down, matched as a mirrored pair. Buy two stones from the same parcel so the symmetry and face-up tone match.
Prong strategy
The pointed tip is the single most vulnerable point on the stone. It wants its own V-prong or a capped prong that wraps the tip rather than pressing on it. The rounded end takes a normal pair of prongs. On rings we use five prongs total: two at the shoulder, one on each side, and one V-prong at the tip. A pear set with only four prongs and no tip protection will loosen in six to twelve months of daily wear.
Metal pairs
Pears sell cleanly in white gold and platinum for a modern bridal look. Yellow gold gives the teardrop an older, more pendant-like feel, which is useful if the retailer is pushing heirloom-style pieces. Rose gold pears are a current favorite on product photography: the pink warms the near-colorless stone and the pointed silhouette reads well against skin.
Who buys pears
Three groups keep the pear line moving. First, customers who want a fancy shape but do not want the commitment of a heart or a marquise. Second, pendant buyers, for whom the teardrop silhouette is the default shape. Third, earring buyers, because matched pear drops are a staple bridal set. Pears are less popular as a standalone men's signet stone; those orders tend toward cushion or radiant.
Bow-tie and other face-up caveats
Pears can carry a faint bow-tie across the widest part, though it is usually less severe than on a long oval. The other face-up risk is a dark shoulder on one side, which is a symmetry problem rather than a proportion problem. As with ovals, buy on a face-up video rather than a certificate. We photograph every stock pear face-up on request.
Durability
At 9.25 Mohs, pear moissanite scratches well, but the pointed tip chips on impact. We specify a slightly thick girdle on pears above 7x10mm to give the setter margin. Avoid bezel-set pears in high-wear rings: the bezel presses on the tip over time and can cause a crack. Clean ultrasonically only when unset; once mounted, stick to warm soapy water.
Pears in product photography
Pears photograph better on the finger than on a flat sweep, because the elongated silhouette reads against the hand. Shoot the ring with the point up the finger and the camera at a three-quarter angle; the stone's length is the selling point and it does not show in a head-on shot. Pendants photograph on a neck form at a 40cm chain. The most common correction we give new retailers is that the stone looks smaller on a white background than on skin, which is a framing problem, not a stone problem.
For ring buyers with slender fingers, a 7x10 pear reads longer than a 6x8 round at a similar price. The teardrop silhouette draws the eye down the hand, which is the optical effect customers describe as "slimming" when they try the ring on.
See the current pear stock in the loose stone catalog filtered to Pear Cut.