Moissanite 101 ยท Shape vs Shape
Moissanite Pear vs Marquise: One Point or Two?
Two elongated brilliants with points โ compared on size, fire, bow-tie, prongs and how each sits on the finger.
Written by the Mapple Gems workshop, Surat ยท Updated 26 September 2026
Short answer
A marquise moissanite gives the most face-up size per carat โ about 10 ร 5 mm at 1 ct DEW โ but has two points to protect and the strongest bow-tie. A pear (about 8 ร 5.5 mm) is shorter, rounder at one end, needs only one V-prong, and is easier to fit with a wedding band. Both sparkle about equally.
A pear is half an oval and half a marquise: rounded at one end, pointed at the other. A marquise is pointed at both ends. Both are brilliant cuts that sit in the same tier of moissanite's fire ranking, both lengthen the finger, and both have a bow-tie. What separates them is the second point โ and everything that comes with it.
For all ten shapes, see our moissanite shape comparison.
Pear vs marquise moissanite at a glance
| Pear | Marquise | |
|---|---|---|
| Face-up at 1 ct DEW | 8.0 ร 5.5 mm | 10.0 ร 5.0 mm |
| Face-up at 2 ct DEW | about 10 ร 6.5 mm | about 12 ร 6 mm |
| Points | One | Two |
| Fire | High | High โ same tier |
| Bow-tie | Moderate | Strongest of any shape |
| Classic ratio | 1.50โ1.70 | 1.90โ2.00 (narrow) |
| Wedding band | Contour | Contour โ hardest fit |
| Orientation choice | Point to fingertip or wrist | North-south or east-west |
DEW = diamond equivalent weight. See the moissanite size chart.
Size and shape on the hand
The marquise is the longest-looking stone you can buy for the weight, and it makes the finger look markedly slimmer. The pear is shorter but broader at its rounded end, so it looks fuller and a little softer. At large sizes the marquise's length becomes a comfort issue: a 4 ct marquise runs about 15โ16 mm and can overhang the flat span between the knuckle joints, while a pear of the same weight is shorter and less likely to.
Fire and the bow-tie
Moissanite's dispersion is 0.104, more than twice diamond's 0.044, and both shapes show a generous share of that colour. The difference is in the bow-tie โ the darker band across the middle where the pavilion reflects whatever is above the stone. A marquise's long, narrow body gives it the strongest bow-tie of any cut. A pear's is milder because its rounded end behaves more like a round brilliant. In a well-cut stone of either shape, the bow-tie breaks up as the hand moves. Judge it only on a moving video in ordinary light.
From the workshop: count the points you are willing to look after.
Every point on a stone needs a V-prong, a small cup of metal that caps the tip. Moissanite has no cleavage planes, so its points are tougher than a diamond's โ what actually wears, over years, is the V-prong itself. A pear has one; a marquise has two, and they sit at the ring's most exposed positions. A quick bench check every couple of years keeps either one healthy.
There is a second, quieter check. On a marquise, both points must sit exactly on the stone's long axis; if one is off, the ring looks as though it leans. On a pear, the point must sit on the axis and the two shoulders must match. Neither shows in a still photo taken at a flattering angle โ ask for a straight-down view.
Wedding band and orientation
Neither shape takes a straight band flush. A pear needs a contour band shaped around one point. A marquise needs one cut around a point and its V-prong on each side of the ring's centre line โ the hardest band fit in jewellery, and one that only fits that ring. Order either with the engagement ring from the same design file.
Both shapes offer an orientation choice. A pear's point can face the fingertip (lengthening) or the wrist. A marquise can be set north-south along the finger or east-west across it, which removes the knuckle problem at large sizes and often lets a straight band sit closer.
How to decide
- Want the longest-looking stone for the budget? Marquise.
- Want less upkeep and an easier band? Pear.
- Want a softer, fuller outline? Pear.
- Want a dramatic vintage look? Marquise.
- Going above 3 ct? Pear, or an east-west marquise.
- Either way: V-prongs on every point and a moving video before you buy.
Keep reading
Frequently asked questions
Does a pear or marquise moissanite look bigger?
The marquise looks longer: about 10 ร 5 mm at 1 ct diamond equivalent weight, against a pear's 8 ร 5.5 mm. The pear looks fuller at its rounded end. The marquise gives the most face-up size per carat of any shape.
Which is more durable, pear or marquise moissanite?
The stones are equally hard, Mohs 9.25, and moissanite has no cleavage planes. A pear has one point needing a V-prong and a marquise has two, so the pear has less to maintain.
Which has a stronger bow-tie, pear or marquise?
The marquise has the strongest bow-tie of any cut. A pear's is milder because its rounded end behaves more like a round brilliant. In a well-cut stone of either shape it breaks up as the stone moves.
Can a marquise moissanite be set east-west?
Yes. Setting it across the finger removes the knuckle-span problem at large sizes and often helps a wedding band sit closer. Both points then face the neighbouring fingers, so V-prongs are essential.
Which is easier to match with a wedding band?
The pear. Both need a contour band, but a marquise's band must clear a point and V-prong precisely and fits only that ring. Order either band with the engagement ring.
One point or two?
Every ring is made to order in our Surat workshop, with V-prongs on every point by design.
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