A jewelry store in Dallas had three princess-cut solitaires come back in six months with a chip at one corner. The stones were fine when sold; the chipping happened because the mounting held the corners in ordinary prongs that didn't cover the point, and the corners took the impact first. Princess cut moissanite is the highest-return cut in the square family because the corners are exposed. Here is how we inspect, package and advise on every wholesale princess stone.
Why princess corners are the weak point
A princess cut is a square with four sharp, unshielded corners. Unlike a cushion, which rounds them off, the princess leaves the corners as thin points. In a standard prong setting, those points stick out past the prong tips and take knocks against doorframes, counters and desks. Moissanite at 9.25 Mohs resists scratches, but a sharp corner on a hard impact can still chip. The fix is twofold: inspect the corners before shipping, and guide the boutique to set them in V-prongs.
| Risk point | What happens | Our mitigation |
|---|---|---|
| Sharp corner in setting | Corner chips on impact | V-prong guidance with every parcel |
| Corner damage in transit | Micro-chips in pouch shipping | Divided trays, corner-protected slots |
| Off-square shape | Stone won't sit in a square seat | Measured squareness ≤2% |
| Open culet | Dark dot visible through pavilion | Closed culet only |
Our princess inspection sheet
Every wholesale princess stone passes through a corner check before it is listed:
- Corner crispness: all four corners sharp and unchipped; any pre-existing chip is pulled from retail parcels.
- Squareness: measured; stones more than 2% off-square are routed to non-square-seat settings, not listed as a standard princess.
- Color: D–E–F. Princess tables show warmth more than rounds; mixed color grades read as mismatched stock.
- Facet alignment: the four pavilion facets must align symmetrically; off-alignment reads as dull in a square setting.
Because corners are the failure point, we ship princess stones in divided trays with each corner seated in a foam slot, never loose in a pouch. We also include a one-sheet setting note: V-prongs at all four corners, not shared prongs that leave a point exposed.
Buying by customer type
Boutique opening a princess tray
Stock 1.0 and 1.5ct square princesses. Pair the sale with a V-prong setting — ordinary shared-prong square settings are where the chips come back. We include the setting note so your sales team can explain why.
High-end bridal
Ask for matched princess pairs for three-stone or east-west settings. We cut accents from the same batch so the facet pattern aligns. Princess pairs are a strong modern bridal SKU.
Manufacturer / private label
We supply bulk princesses cut to your square seat spec, with squareness held to a tight window so automatic prongs seat cleanly. Corner-protected shipping is default at volume. V-prong tooling recommended.
There is a reason princess demand has softened relative to radiant and cushion. The sharp corner is a return magnet, and clients who get chipped corners once tend to avoid square sharp cuts on the next purchase. We still supply princesses in volume, but we pair every parcel with the V-prong setting note so the sale is made with the right mount from day one. Boutiques that skip the prong guidance see the return rate; boutiques that lead with V-prongs see princesses hold up like any other cut.
On pricing, princesses typically run 15–25% below rounds per carat, which makes them an entry square for clients who want a shape without round price. The margin holds when the setting is right. Boutiques that lead with V-prongs and explain the corner protection sell princesses at full margin; boutiques that drop princesses into shared-prong mounts eat the returns and end up discounting the category.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do princess cut moissanites chip easily?
The sharp corners are the weak point. Moissanite resists scratching at 9.25 Mohs, but a corner can chip on a hard impact. V-prong settings covering all four corners reduce returns dramatically.
What prong setting do you recommend?
V-prongs at all four corners, not shared prongs that leave a point exposed. We include a setting note with every wholesale parcel so your sales team can explain the choice.
What is the MOQ for princess moissanite?
Opening trays start at 10 pieces. Bulk manufacturer runs start at 100 pieces per carat size and include squareness to a measured spec.
Do princess stones come with certificates?
Yes. Every princess stone ships with a GRA certificate and laser-inscribed girdle. IGI-graded parcels are available for US accounts on request.
How are princess stones shipped?
In divided trays with each corner seated in a foam slot, never loose in a pouch. Corner damage in transit is a documented cost in cheap princess parcels; we remove it.
Takeaways
- Princess cuts fail at the four corners — inspect them before shipping and set them in V-prongs.
- Ship corner-protected in divided trays, never in a loose pouch.
- Require measured squareness so the stone seats cleanly in a square mount.
- Request a princess sample: MOQ 10 pcs, ships in 5 business days.
Browse our princess cut moissanite, read the prong setting guide, or view engagement settings for square stones. Boutiques can request a princess sample directly.