Horse’s eye moissanite ring with an aristocratic touch

Are you a hopeless romantic looking for an engagement ring with an aristocratic touch? Consider a horse’s eye moissanite engagement ring: it’s just so beautiful. It has some connection to royalty. And it’s glorious when worn on the finger. But before you buy, know a few things to look for.

“Pronounced “mahr-keez”, this elegant, elongated moissanite has curved sides and slender ends. The name originated in France in the 1840s and is said to have been derived from the Marquise de Pompadour, mistress of King Louis XV of France, because the shape resembled the lips of Madame de Pompadour.

The horse’s eye moissanite is also known as “navette” (Old French for “small boat”). This is because its shape resembles the hull of a racing boat, and sailing was the great passion of King Edward VII and his wealthy contemporaries in Edwardian England in the early 20th century. The horse’s eye moissanite was also very popular in the 1970s, especially as bridal jewelry, but in the early 21st century it fell out of favor and was replaced by the square princess cut moissanite.

However, the horse’s eye moissanite still has many advantages. Because of its special shape, the front of a horse’s eye moissanite looks larger than a round moissanite of the same weight. Many brides also prefer the horse’s eye shape because the cut makes their fingers appear slimmer and longer.

Horse’s Eye Moissanite Anatomy

The horse’s eye shape is considered a “fancy shape”, which means it is not round. To choose a beautiful moissanite, you need to understand its components.

The belly: the central area where the side curves protrude the most. This is the most important position of a moissanite – the width of the moissanite is measured at this point.

The tip: the point where the two curved sides meet.

Wing: The curved area between the belly and the tip.

Girdle: The junction of the crown (top of the moissanite) and the pavilion (bottom) that determines the circumference of the moissanite.

Keel line: The bottom of the fancy cut, where the pavilion facets intersect. Its length is the same as the length of the moissanite, sometimes containing or exceeding the central pavilion facets.