The princess cut is the best-selling square fancy shape in the world, and in moissanite it performs exactly the way buyers expect: bright, angular and unmistakably modern. It is a brilliant-cut square, which means it carries the fire of a round in a geometric outline. For wholesalers, it is a predictable seller with one known failure mode, and that failure mode is the corners.
What the princess is
A princess cut typically carries 57 to 76 facets arranged over a square or rectangular outline with a pointed pavilion rather than a flat one. The sharp, uncut corners are the defining feature and the engineering challenge. The high facet count means it scatters light strongly; in moissanite, with its elevated dispersion, the result is more colored fire than a same-sized diamond princess.
Square versus rectangular
Princess stones come in ratios from 1.00:1 (true square) to about 1.15:1 (slightly rectangular). The true square is the mainstream seller and the one customers picture when they say "square diamond." The rectangular princess reads more like an emerald in silhouette but keeps brilliant sparkle; it is a niche taste and worth a small float rather than a full stock.
Face-up size and wholesale price
| Dimensions (mm) | Diamond equivalent | Wholesale band (USD, D-F VVS1, GRA) |
|---|---|---|
| 3x3 | ~0.15 ct | $5 - $9 |
| 4x4 | ~0.3 ct | $10 - $18 |
| 5x5 | ~0.5 ct | $18 - $30 |
| 5.5x5.5 | ~0.75 ct | $26 - $42 |
| 6x6 | ~1.0 ct | $35 - $58 |
| 7x7 | ~1.5 ct | $55 - $90 |
| 8x8 | ~2.5 ct | $90 - $145 |
Corner protection: the whole game
Princess cuts chip at the four corners. The pavilion comes to points that sit close to the girdle corners, and an impact there cracks the stone. The setting is the protection.
- Every princess ring needs prongs that cover the four corners, rather than merely sit beside them. Corner prongs must wrap slightly over the edge.
- A V-prong at each corner is the standard and should be specified in the work order.
- Bezel settings that fully enclose the corners are the most protective option and the best choice for daily-wear rings.
- Tension settings are not recommended for princess moissanite under 6x6; the pressure on the corners is too high.
We face-up inspect and edge-check every princess before it ships. Stones with a feather reaching a corner are downgraded rather than sold as VVS1 solitaire stock.
Setting and metal pairs
Solitaire princess rings in white gold or platinum are the classic look, and they remain the strongest seller. Yellow gold princess rings have come back in as part of the 1990s-revival bridal trend. A current combination that moves is a princess center in a pavé channel setting with two tapered baguette side stones; the geometry reads clean and architectural. For earrings, princess studs in 5x5 and 6x6 are a staple bridal set.
Who buys princess cuts
Customers who want a square shape but found the emerald cut too quiet. Customers who like the clean lines of modern jewelry. It is also a popular choice for men's signet rings, where the square outline sits flush on a broad band. Princess cuts sell less well to customers over 45, who tend to prefer rounds and ovals; they skew 25 to 40 in our order data.
Durability
Moissanite at 9.25 Mohs handles abrasion well. The durability question on a princess is entirely about corner impact. A well-set princess in a bezel or with covered corners will outlast a poorly set one by a wide margin. Clean with warm soapy water; ultrasonic is safe on unset stones but skip it on mounted princesses, because the vibration can loosen corner prongs and a loose corner prong is the first step to a chipped corner.
Princess cuts in men's and signet work
Beyond bridal, princess moissanite has a steady niche in men's signet rings and pinky rings, where a square stone sits flush on a broad band. The 5x5 and 6x6 sizes are the signet movers, set in a bezel that fully encloses the corners. This is a slow-moving but repeatable line; keep a small float rather than a deep stock, because signet customers order once every few years and do not impulse-buy.
Color and clarity on princess cuts
The square outline shows body color more readily than a round of the same grade, because the broad corners act like windows. D-F color is the stock grade for bridal; an F stone is acceptable, but G and below start to read faintly yellow against a white-gold setting. Clarity can sit at VS rather than VVS1 on princess cuts under 6mm, because the brilliant facet pattern hides small inclusions, but we still ship VVS1 on stones 6mm and larger where the inclusions become visible.
For earring studs, princess stones should be matched from the same parcel so the two corners sit at the same height when worn.
Filter the loose stone catalog to Princess Cut for current mm sizes.