Classic
Criss Cross
Halo
Tiffany
Side Stone
Vintage
Solitaire
Round
Princess
Emerald
Oval
Cushion
Radiant
Asscher
Pear
For UK buyers, Franc Laurent offers better value due to lower prices, faster delivery, and no import costs. Charles & Colvard provides more customization and brand legacy, but often comes at a higher price and longer shipping time. The global moissanite market is growing at over 8% annually, driven by buyers who refuse to overpay for sparkle.
But once you've decided on moissanite, the next question is: which brand do you trust with something this important?
Two names come up often in this comparison: Franc Laurent and Charles & Colvard. Both offer stunning moissanite jewellery. Both are committed to ethical sourcing. But they serve very different buyers. This detailed comparison covers everything from price and stone quality to customer service and shipping, so you can make the right call with confidence.
Franc Laurent vs Charles & Colvard: Brand History & Reputation
Franc Laurent:
Brand History: Founded recently, Franc Laurent is a UK-based jewellery brand specializing in affordable moissanite jewellery. The brand is focused on bringing ethical, lab-grown stones to the market, with a growing presence but still in the process of establishing itself as a widely recognized name.
Reputation: The brand is receiving positive feedback for its affordable luxury jewellery and quality moissanite rings. However, as a newer brand, it does not have the same extensive reputation or legacy as more established players.
Charles & Colvard:
Brand History: Founded in 1995, Charles & Colvard is a pioneer in the moissanite industry. It was the first company to commercially produce and sell lab-grown moissanite, positioning itself as a leader in sustainable gemstones.
Reputation: The brand enjoys a strong reputation in the US and globally as a trusted authority in the moissanite and lab-grown diamond market. Despite this, customer reviews are mixed, with some negative experiences regarding order fulfilment and customer service reported across multiple review platforms.
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Established |
Founded recently, specializing in affordable moissanite jewellery, aiming to bring lab-grown stones to mainstream fine jewelry. |
Founded in 1995, a pioneer in moissanite jewellery, and the first company to sell lab-grown moissanite to the market. |
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Reputation |
UK-based, with positive feedback around its affordable moissanite rings, but still growing in its global presence and reputation. |
Global leader in moissanite, strong brand recognition in the US market. Mixed reviews on some customer service issues from independent sources. |
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Brand Focus |
Ethical jewellery with a focus on moissanite and affordability. |
Pioneer in lab-grown gemstones and sustainability, with a long history of supporting eco-friendly initiatives. |
Franc Laurent vs Charles & Colvard: Product Range & Customisation
Franc Laurent:
Product Range: Franc Laurent offers a wide range of jewellery, including moissanite engagement rings, wedding bands, pendants and earrings. The brand focuses on providing affordable yet high-quality moissanite jewellery.
Customisation: While they offer some customisation in stone size, metal types, and design choices, their custom options are more limited compared to other players in the market.
Charles & Colvard:
Product Range: Charles & Colvard offers a comprehensive selection of moissanite engagement rings, lab-grown diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and other fine jewellery pieces. The brand also has a broader variety of gemstones available in its designs.
Customisation: Charles & Colvard provides extensive customisation options in terms of stone shape, setting, metal types, and engraving. They also offer bespoke design consultations, making them a top choice for those looking for a highly personalized jewellery experience.
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Product Range |
Moissanite engagement rings, wedding bands, pendants, earrings, bracelets, and custom designs. |
Moissanite engagement rings, lab-grown diamond rings, sapphire & ruby rings, pendants, wedding rings. |
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Customization Options |
Offers custom moissanite jewellery with personal design choices, including stone size and metal types. |
Customizations available for stone shape, setting, metal types, and engraving. Custom design consultations are available. |
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Material Variety |
Focuses on sterling silver and moissanite. Limited customization in terms of non-moissanite stones. |
Gold, platinum, lab-grown diamonds, and moissanite offer extensive design flexibility. |
Franc Laurent vs Charles & Colvard: Quality Comparison
Is Franc Laurent moissanite good quality?
Franc Laurent uses GRA-certified moissanite with DEF colour grading and VVS clarity, set in 925 Sterling Silver with rhodium plating. Stones score 9.25 on the Mohs hardness scale, making them highly durable for everyday wear including engagement rings. The focus is on delivering diamond-like brilliance at an accessible price point.
Craftsmanship: The brand emphasizes handcrafted jewellery, with a focus on ethical sourcing and quality control. Every piece comes with an authenticity card confirming the stone's grade.
Durability: Moissanite is highly durable, rated 9.25 on the Mohs scale, which makes it comparable to diamonds in terms of hardness and ideal for lifelong wear.
Charles & Colvard:
Gemstone Quality: Charles & Colvard offers Forever One™ moissanite and lab-grown diamonds that are both highly brilliant and IGI certified. Their Forever One™ moissanite is known for its exceptional clarity and diamond-like quality.
Craftsmanship: Charles & Colvard is known for its high-end craftsmanship and ISO certifications for quality assurance.
Durability: Moissanite from Charles & Colvard is extremely durable with a 9.25 Mohs hardness, and their lab-grown diamonds are equally durable, with similar qualities to mined diamonds.
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Gemstone Quality |
Focuses on moissanite, known for its high brilliance and affordability. |
Known for the high brilliance of Forever One™ Moissanite and lab-grown diamonds with IGI certification. |
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Craftsmanship |
Handcrafted with emphasis on quality and ethical sourcing. |
High-end craftsmanship, ISO-certified, and high-quality standards. |
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Durability |
Moissanite is highly durable (9.25 on the Mohs scale), offering longevity comparable to diamonds. |
Moissanite and lab diamonds provide excellent durability, on par with diamonds, with lifetime warranties. |
Franc Laurent vs Charles & Colvard: Design Comparison
Franc Laurent:
Design Style: Franc Laurent’s designs focus on timeless elegance, with a lot of their pieces featuring simple, minimalist designs. Their engagement rings, wedding bands, and other jewellery are designed to have a classic and understated look.
Customization: Offers custom design options with stone size and metal choices but with fewer options for personalized engravings or bespoke styles.
Charles & Colvard:
Design Style: Charles & Colvard offers a wide variety of designs, from vintage-inspired rings to bold, modern pieces. Their designs cater to a broader range of tastes, offering something for traditionalists and contemporary jewellery lovers alike.
Customization: The brand provides extensive customization choices, including stone shape, setting styles, and engraving, and their website offers a personalized shopping experience that helps guide customers through the design process.
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Design Style |
Focuses on timeless elegance and modern accents with minimalist and classic designs. |
Offers both classic and contemporary styles with a focus on versatile designs like halo rings, three-stone settings, and vintage-inspired pieces. |
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Stone Cuts |
Primarily features round, oval, princess, and cushion-cut moissanite stones. |
Round, oval, princess, and cushion-cut stones, alongside lab-grown diamonds, providing more variety and luxury options. |
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Customization |
Offers customization in metal choice, stone size, and some design options. |
Highly customizable, offering personalized engagement rings with custom engraving and metal type options. |
Franc Laurent vs Charles & Colvard: Price
Which brand is more affordable for UK buyers?
Franc Laurent engagement rings start from £215, with the full range priced between £215 and £2,000. Charles & Colvard rings typically start around $500 and can reach $5,000 or beyond. For UK buyers, Franc Laurent is the more affordable choice, and there are no additional import costs or currency conversion surprises.
Franc Laurent:
Affordability: Positioned as an affordable luxury brand, Franc Laurent offers competitive prices, with engagement rings starting at £215. You can explore the full range of affordable moissanite under £500 on the Franc Laurent guide.
Price Range: The price of their products varies between £215 to £2,000, depending on the design and customization. This makes it an attractive option for customers looking for affordable fine jewellery.
Value for Money: Offers good value for money compared to diamonds, with a focus on affordability and ethical gemstones.
Charles & Colvard:
Affordability: Charles & Colvard offers affordable jewellery relative to mined diamonds, with engagement rings starting from around $500.
Price Range: Their engagement rings range from $500 to $5,000, depending on gemstone type, design, and customization. The lab-grown diamonds tend to push prices higher, but moissanite remains in the more affordable range.
Value for Money: Known for offering high-quality gemstones at a fraction of the cost of traditional diamonds, Charles & Colvard provides a luxurious feel at a competitive price.
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Affordability |
Positioned as an affordable luxury brand, with engagement rings starting around £215. |
Offers affordable luxury moissanite rings, with prices typically starting around $500 for engagement rings. |
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Price Range |
Engagement rings range from £215 to £2,000 depending on the design and customization. |
Engagement rings range from $500 to $5,000 depending on gemstone type, design, and customization. |
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Overall Value |
Competitive pricing compared to traditional diamonds, with excellent value for money. |
Offers high-quality moissanite and lab-grown diamonds, marketed as value for luxury. |
Franc Laurent vs Charles & Colvard: Online Shopping Experience
Franc Laurent:
Website Navigation: Franc Laurent offers an easy-to-navigate website, with clear categories such as engagement rings, wedding bands, and earrings. The site allows users to filter products by stone type, price range, and metal type.
Customer Support: Live chat is available for immediate assistance, and the site also provides a clear return policy. Pay-later options through Klarna and PayPal are also available, making it easier to spread the cost.
Payment Options: Secure credit card, PayPal, and Klarna payment options are available for customers worldwide.
Charles & Colvard:
Website Navigation: The Charles & Colvard website is user-friendly, with advanced filters for sorting by stone shape, metal type, and price. The design is elegant, with easy access to customisation tools.
Customer Support: Live chat, phone support, and an extensive FAQ section provide customer service options. However, multiple verified reviews on Trustpilot and the BBB report slow response times and unresolved warranty claims.
Payment Options: Credit cards, PayPal, and Apple Pay are available for payments.
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Website Navigation |
Easy navigation with product filters based on ring type, size, and metal type. Offers intuitive shopping experience. |
User-friendly website with filters for price, stone shape, and metal type; strong visual focus on quality and customization. |
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Customer Support |
Offers live chat and a contact form. The return policy is well‑detailed. |
Provides live chat, phone support, and a comprehensive FAQ section. The customer service is responsive. |
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Payment Options |
Secure payment methods available including credit cards and PayPal. |
Secure payments via credit card, PayPal, and Apple Pay. |
Franc Laurent vs Charles & Colvard: Ethical Practices & Sustainability
Franc Laurent:
Sustainability Focus: Franc Laurent focuses on lab-grown moissanite, positioning it as an ethical alternative to traditional mined diamonds. The brand also promotes eco-friendly sourcing of its materials.
Transparency: The brand emphasizes responsible production, but does not provide formal third-party sustainability certifications on its site.
Ethical Practices: Moissanite offers an ethical gemstone option, with the company’s ethical sourcing messaging strongly aligned with sustainable jewellery practices.
Charles & Colvard:
Sustainability Focus: Charles & Colvard has a long-standing commitment to ethical practices, offering lab-grown gemstones and recycled metals. Their commitment to sustainability is backed by third-party certifications and a clear ethical sourcing policy.
Transparency: Known for clear sustainability practices, including eco-friendly initiatives and carbon-neutral efforts.
Ethical Practices: The brand promotes sustainably sourced materials and ethical production as part of its commitment to environmental responsibility.
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Sustainability Focus |
Strong focus on lab-grown moissanite and sustainable sourcing of materials. Ethical and eco-friendly brand messaging. |
Focus on ethical sourcing of moissanite and lab-grown diamonds, reducing the environmental impact of mining. |
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Transparency |
Promotes responsible production, but doesn’t feature formal third-party audits or certifications. |
Known for eco-friendly practices, lab‑created gemstones, and a commitment to sustainable production. Certified by various sustainability bodies. |
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Charity & Giving Back |
Promotes ethical jewellery and some charitable contributions related to education. |
Actively involved in sustainable and eco-friendly causes, with donations to environmental organizations. |
Franc Laurent vs Charles & Colvard: Delivery & Shipping Charges
Which brand offers better shipping for UK buyers?
Franc Laurent offers free worldwide delivery with no minimum order threshold, and UK orders typically arrive within 2 to 5 days. Charles & Colvard offers free US shipping on orders over $75, but UK buyers pay additional international shipping costs and may face import duties. For UK shoppers, Franc Laurent's delivery setup is significantly more convenient.
Franc Laurent:
Shipping Costs: Free shipping is available on orders over £250 within the UK, and international shipping is offered at an additional charge.
Delivery Time: Typically 2-5 days for UK orders, and 3-7 days for international orders. Custom orders may take longer.
Return Policy: Returns are accepted within 30 days for standard items, but customized jewellery cannot be returned unless faulty.
Charles & Colvard:
Shipping Costs: Free shipping within the US on orders over $75, with international shipping available at additional costs.
Delivery Time: Standard delivery is within 4-7 days in the US, with rush delivery options available. International deliveries can take longer.
Return Policy: 30-day returns for moissanite products, with the customer responsible for return postage in international orders.
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Shipping Costs |
Offers free shipping on orders over a certain threshold (e.g., £250). International shipping is available. |
Offers free shipping on orders over a set threshold (e.g., $75). |
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Delivery Time |
Standard delivery: 2-5 days UK, 3-7 days internationally. Longer for custom orders. |
Free delivery within 4-7 days in the U.S. Rush delivery options available. International delivery varies by location. |
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Return Policy |
30-day returns for standard items, but customized jewellery cannot be returned. |
Returns within 30 days for moissanite products. Return shipping costs are the customer’s responsibility for international orders. |
Conclusion:
Choosing between Franc Laurent and Charles & Colvard ultimately comes down to your budget, location, and what you need from your jewellery brand.
If you're a UK buyer looking for certified moissanite jewellery at an honest price, with free worldwide delivery, responsive support, and a straightforward returns process, Franc Laurent is the clear choice. If you're looking for IGI-certified lab-grown diamonds, extensive bespoke customisation, or the assurance of a 30-year US heritage, Charles & Colvard has plenty to offer.
Either way, you're choosing ethical, brilliant moissanite over mined diamonds. That's always the right start.
Ready to find your perfect piece? Get in touch with the Franc Laurent team and we'll help you find exactly what you're looking for.
FAQs:
Is Franc Laurent cheaper than Charles & Colvard for UK buyers?
Yes. Franc Laurent engagement rings start from £215 with free worldwide delivery and no hidden import costs. Charles & Colvard rings start around $500 and UK buyers pay additional international shipping on top.
Which moissanite brand ships faster to the UK?
Franc Laurent. As a UK-registered brand, standard orders arrive within 2 to 5 days. Charles & Colvard ships from the US, meaning UK buyers typically wait longer and pay extra for international delivery.
Which brand is better for moissanite engagement rings in the UK?
Franc Laurent. It is UK-registered, offers certified moissanite from £215, free worldwide delivery, a 30-day return policy, and dedicated customer support, making it the most practical and affordable choice for UK buyers.
What makes Franc Laurent different from Charles & Colvard?
Franc Laurent specialises exclusively in moissanite jewellery with ethical sourcing, GRA-certified stones, and affordable pricing built in from the start. Charles & Colvard is a broader US brand with a premium price tag, whereas Franc Laurent focuses entirely on giving UK buyers the best moissanite experience at the fairest price.
