Moissanite grillz cost a small fraction of what diamond grillz cost and look almost the same to the naked eye, while diamond grillz carry the value and long-term resale of the real stone. For most people ordering their first stone-set grillz, moissanite is the smart pick. For a piece meant to hold long-term value, diamonds are the answer. If you are also wondering about CZ, opal, or colored stones, we cover those below. Here is the comparison from a family-owned shop that has set stones since 1991.
What is the difference between moissanite and diamond?
Diamond is carbon crystallized under natural pressure. It is the hardest natural stone, holds real market value, and has been the standard for fine jewelry for centuries.
Moissanite is silicon carbide, a lab-created stone that closely mimics a diamond's optical properties. It is nearly as hard as diamond and, in many settings, more brilliant.
Both are real stones. Moissanite is not "fake." It is a different mineral, engineered to give you the diamond look for much less.
Brilliance and fire: moissanite often wins
Diamond is prized for its balance of white brilliance and colored fire, the rainbow flashes when light hits it. Moissanite has more fire than diamond, with noticeably more rainbow color under direct light. Some people prefer that extra sparkle, and some prefer diamond's cleaner white flash. Neither is objectively better. It is a taste call.
Hardness and daily wear: diamond wins narrowly
Diamond is a 10 on the Mohs hardness scale. Moissanite is 9.25, the second-hardest stone commonly used in jewelry. In practice, both are more than durable enough for grillz.
Price: moissanite wins by a lot
The real difference is cost. A moissanite stone comparable in size to a diamond costs far less, and on a grillz set with multiple stones that adds up fast. The same set starts much lower with moissanite than it does with diamonds.
This is why moissanite has become the default choice for stone-set grillz. You get the look, and your budget goes toward more piece.
See moissanite on a real grill
Custom Grillz: Open Face Canine & Moissanite Tip - Handmade Fit, Impression Kit
From $219
An open face canine with a moissanite tip, a simple way to see how the stone reads on a grill. Impression kit included. Gift box included. Solid gold pieces are hallmarked with their karat.
See the moissanite tipResale and long-term value: diamond wins
As gold buyers, we want you to know this up front: diamonds hold resale value, and moissanite does not. A diamond piece can be sold, appraised, or insured against a real market value. A moissanite piece is worth the gold it is set in, and the stone itself is not a resale asset.
If long-term store of value matters to you, that is diamond's argument. If you are buying jewelry to wear rather than to resell, moissanite's argument is that you get much more piece for the same budget. We can source certified natural or lab-grown diamonds on request.
Can you tell them apart?
To the naked eye, most people cannot tell moissanite and diamond apart. A trained jeweler with a loupe can see the differences up close, and moissanite's higher fire is often the giveaway. At conversational distance, they look effectively identical.
What about CZ?
Cubic zirconia, or CZ, is a lab-made stone that is softer than both moissanite and diamond. It can look bright when new, but it tends to cloud and pick up wear sooner on something worn every day. We set CZ on grillz only when you request it, and our colored synthetic stones are CZ. If you want a white stone that holds up to daily wear, most people compare moissanite instead.
What about opal and colored stones?
If you want color instead of white sparkle, opal is the stone people ask about most. Opal is its own stone and is not CZ. Synthetic opal shows flashes of green, orange, and blue that change as the light moves, which makes it a strong choice for a single standout tooth next to a row of moissanite. You can see this in our synthetic opal incisor paired with a moissanite fang. Our colored synthetic stones are CZ, and other stones and colors are handled as a custom quote, so text us what you have in mind and our team will tell you what is possible.
So which should you choose?
Choose moissanite if you want the diamond look for much less, want more visible sparkle, are ordering a larger stone-set piece where diamonds would be out of reach, or are buying to wear rather than to resell.
Choose diamond if long-term resale value matters, this is an heirloom piece, or you specifically want a real diamond for personal or symbolic reasons.
Choose opal or a colored stone if you want one tooth to stand out and color matters more to you than white sparkle.
Whichever you pick, insist on the stones being set into solid gold or silver, not plated. That is what makes any set worth owning.
Color beside the ice
From $429
A synthetic opal incisor next to an open face canine lined with moissanite. Impression kit included, gift box included. Solid gold pieces are hallmarked with their karat.
See the opal setReady to see them on grillz?
Moissanite is available on our custom grillz, and diamond upgrades, certified natural or lab-grown diamonds, and other stones are quoted on request. Text our VIP line at 254-294-7865 for custom diamond work, or read our custom grillz cost guide to see how stones factor into total pricing. Grillz are made to fit each person individually and designs may differ based on dental structure.
Ready to see them on grillz?
Every custom order includes the dental impression kit, a gift box, and a karat hallmark stamped on every solid gold piece. Family owned in Central Texas since 1991, with two Texas stores you can walk into.
