Engagement Ring Stone Finder
Use this 3-minute tool to compare lab diamond, moissanite, and natural diamond based on your priorities—then get a shareable brief you can bring to a jeweler.
Selecting the perfect stone is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make when designing an engagement ring (and often the most confusing).
Lab diamond, moissanite, or natural diamond? Larger size or traditional heritage? Most sparkle or traditional brilliance? Ethical considerations, budget, resale value, or “mind clean” sourcing?
Engage Studio’s Stone Finder is an interactive 3-minute recommendation tool designed to make this decision easier for you. We ask you just enough questions about your budget, values, style, and preferences to provide you with a clearidea of what you’re looking for.
How this stone finder works
It’s not just another quiz. It’s designed using the same decision-making criteria we do in our real engagement ring consultations—because most people don’t get stuck because there aren’t enough options; they get stuck because they don’t know what they value most.
Step 1: Clarify Your Priorities
You’ll answer brief questions about:
- Budget range
- Visual size goals (carat Look, face-up Size, “wow factor”)
- Sparkle preference (white brilliance vs. rainbow fire)
- Tradition and symbolism (rarity, tradition, heirloom quality)
- Sourcing preferences (traceability and sustainability concerns)
- Long-term expectations (upgrade potential, resale value, durability and maintenance tolerance)
Step 2: Weigh the Trade-Offs
All of our options can be beautiful choices. The difference is what you want to optimize for.
The Stone Finder helps you compare trade-offs such as:
- Cost per size vs. “diamond identity”
- Sparkle style (brilliance vs. fire)
- Tradition vs. modern alternatives
- Sourcing documentation
- Realistic long-term expectations
Step 3: Get Your Recommendation + Brief
In the end, you will receive:
- Recommended stone type
- Your priorities (ranked)
- Notes for a jeweler to actually use
- Next steps for sourcing and design
What’s the difference between lab diamond vs. moissanite vs. natural diamond?
This is a simplified comparison to help you quickly get your bearings (A “deep dive” is best left for in-depth guides and resources):
Lab Diamond vs Moissanite vs Natural Diamond
A quick orientation table (the Stone Finder applies these trade-offs to your priorities).
| Feature | Lab Diamond | Moissanite | Natural Diamond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Origin | Grown in a lab | Lab-created silicon carbide | Formed naturally over billions of years |
| Chemical composition | Real diamond (carbon) | Not a diamond | Real diamond (carbon) |
| Sparkle style | Bright white brilliance | More rainbow “fire” | Classic white brilliance |
| Price per size | Lower than natural (often more size per dollar) | Typically lowest | Highest |
| Resale expectations* | Often lower than natural | Often limited | Often stronger vs lab/moissanite |
| Tradition factor | Modern alternative | Non-traditional | Most traditional |
| Ethical / traceability | Often easier to document | Often easier to document | Varies by sourcing & certification |
*Note: Resale value can vary widely based on market conditions, stone quality, documentation, and buyer demand.
For more in-depth comparisons, visit our lab-grown vs. moissanite and lab-grown vs natural diamond guides.
What stone is “best” for an engagement ring?
There isn’t one singularly “best” stone; there’s one that’s best for your priorities. Most decisions fall into one of a few common paths:
- If you want the largest size for your money: many people are choosing lab diamonds or moissanite because they offer more for your money
- If you want the most traditional option: rarity & symbolism: Many people are choosing natural diamonds for this reason – it’s a nod to “formed in the earth.”
- If you want the most sparkle intensity: moissanite has a lot more fire. While some people love it, others prefer a more traditional look
- If you want the most mind clean option: many people are choosing lab diamonds for this reason – documentation is often easier.
The Stone Finder helps you stop debating which one is “better” and start thinking: “Which trade-offs am I comfortable making?”
How do I decide between sparkle, carat size, and durability?
1. Sparkle isn't one thing
When people talk about sparkle, what they really want is usually one of the following:
- Brilliance – bright white light reflection (like diamonds)
- Fire – flashes of rainbow color (moissanite has even better fire)
- Scintillation – pattern of flickers when you wave your hand
It’s a beauty preference, not a moral or right/wrong preference. We treat sparkle as such in the Stone Finder.
2. Virtual size isn't just about carat weight
Two gemstones can have the same carat weight and still vary in size based on:
- shape (ovals and marquise cut gemstones can look bigger)
- cut quality
- depth
If this is important to you – how big the gemstone looks – then this is taken into account in the recommendations and brief.
3. Durability and wearing is important (especially in some cases)
When you wear a gemstone as a ring every day, durability isn’t just about hardness – it’s about how well the gemstone performs in real life and how well the setting protects the gemstone.
This can include things like:
- prefer a setting type that protects the gemstone
- consider the number of prongs on the setting
- avoid ultra-thin bands if you tend to abuse your jewelry
4. What does "ethical" and "sustainable" this even mean?
It is completely fair to want to help the earth and to want to support “good causes.” However, in reality:
- lab-grown gemstones can have varying environmental impact depending on source of electricity and other factors
- natural diamonds can have varying environmental impact depending on source and other factors
We treat this as a preference and provide evidence of what you want – not as a hard and fast rule.
5. Resale value – what you want and what you can realistically get
Some people want gemstones for resale – some people don’t. Even for those who do want gemstones for resale, there is a lot of variation in what you can realistically sell for and what you want to sell for.
Who is this tool for?
First-time shoppers
Are you overwhelmed by Reddit, YouTube, and conflicting opinions? This tool will organize your thoughts for you.
Couples considering their options
You might be asking yourself:
- “Should we go bigger?”
- “Is lab diamond really the smart choice?”
- “Does natural diamond matter symbolically?”
“Is moissanite too different?”
Rather than arguing about opinions, the tool helps you clarify: what matters most to us?
Budget-conscious buyers
If you want to make the biggest impact for your budget within a certain number, then this changes everything.
Legacy buyers
If you value symbolism, rarity, and legacy above all else, then your framework will look very different indeed. The Stone Finder takes this into consideration too.
No matter where you are in the world relative to Toronto engagement rings, the goal is the same: clarity before commitment.
What do I get at the end of the finder?
At the end of the Stone Finder, you’ll receive:
- Your recommended stone type
- A summary of your priorities
- A short brief outlining your decision logic
You can:
1. Send us your brief
Bring it to our team and we’ll translate it into custom design options.
2. Book a complimentary intro call
We’ll walk through your recommendation, answer questions, and discuss next steps.
3. Visit our Toronto showroom
After chatting with one of our agents, you can book a walk through of the store so that you can begin to see your ideas become reality in our Toronto store.
We work with clients across Toronto and virtually across North America. The Stone Finder is simply the starting point, not the finish line.
Why couples choose Engage Studio
because this isn’t a catalog order — it’s a guided process. We help you compare stones in real life, source the right option for your priorities, and design a ring that feels intentional from the first sketch to the final setting. Explore our custom engagement rings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Moissanite a good engagement ring choice?
Yes. Moissanite is an excellent choice if you are a buyer who values carat weight, affordability, and brilliance. Moissanite is hard enough to wear daily and has a unique look due to higher fire.
Are Lab Diamonds Real?
Yes. Lab diamonds are chemically and physically the same as natural diamonds. The only difference is that one is created in a lab and the other is created in the earth.
Is Natural Diamond Worth It?
Yes. For a buyer who values tradition, resell value, and rarity, a natural diamond is a worthwhile investment.
Does Moissanite or Diamond have more sparkle?
Moissanite has more rainbow sparks. Lab diamonds and natural diamonds have more white sparks.
What is more ethical: Lab or Natural?
Lab diamonds and Moissanite have more transparent sourcing. Natural diamonds are dependent on the source.
Can this be made custom in Toronto?
Yes. We specialize in fully custom engagement rings from our Toronto location. Your Stone Finder will act as a guide to get started.
How long will it take to make a custom engagement ring?
Most custom engagement rings take 4-8 weeks from approval to completion.
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