Charles & Colvard Review: Your Ring Size Will Change
Charles & Colvard is the company that commercialised Forever One moissanite and now sells lab-grown diamonds under its Caydia line alongside it. It is a jewelry business with no health relevance, and this review will not manufacture one. But there is a genuinely useful, genuinely overlooked practical point for readers of this site: significant weight loss changes ring size, and people routinely lose rings — or pay to resize them twice — because nobody mentioned it.
Verified August 24, 2026. Charles & Colvard is a jewelry retailer. No health or medical relevance. For weight-loss medication see our GLP-1 provider rankings.
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Verdict: A credible lab-grown and moissanite specialist in a category built on inherited assumptions. Moissanite is not a fake diamond — it is silicon carbide, a distinct gemstone with higher refractive index and dispersion than diamond and a hardness just below it, meaning it is entirely suitable for daily wear at a fraction of mined diamond pricing. Lab-grown diamonds are chemically and physically diamond, produced in weeks rather than found. Both are legitimate choices, and the main risk in this category is resale value, which is poor for both.
What Charles & Colvard Costs
Pricing spans a wide range by stone type, size and setting. The structural point is the comparison to mined stones.
| Plan | What you get | Listed | Real cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forever One moissanite | Silicon carbide, high brilliance | Substantially below mined diamond | Best value in the range |
| Caydia lab-grown diamond | Chemically identical to mined | Below mined, above moissanite | For those who want diamond specifically |
| Settings and bands | Sold across metal types | Varies | Consider resizing potential when choosing |
| Resale value | Both categories | Poor | Buy to wear, not to hold value |
Wait before resizing during active weight loss
Significant weight loss reduces ring size, often by one to two sizes and sometimes more, and hands change late in the process rather than early. Resizing while you are still losing means paying for it twice. In the meantime, ring size adjusters or a temporary chain protect against the more expensive outcome, which is losing a ring that has quietly become loose. Wait until your weight has been stable for a few months before making it permanent.
If you are buying a ring during active weight loss, ask about the resizing policy specifically. Some settings resize easily; eternity bands and tension settings often cannot be resized at all.
The practical point for readers here
People who lose substantial weight consistently report that rings become loose, and the change is easy to miss because it happens gradually. Losing a ring down a drain or off a hand in cold weather is a common and entirely avoidable outcome.
The mistake that costs money is resizing too early. Hands continue changing as weight stabilises, and a ring resized at the halfway point usually needs doing again. Use a temporary adjuster, wear it on a chain, or simply keep it safe until your weight has held steady for a few months.
If you are buying new during this period, the setting style matters more than usual. Solitaires and simple bands resize easily. Eternity bands, tension settings and channel-set designs are difficult or impossible to resize, which is worth knowing before rather than after.
Moissanite versus lab-grown versus mined
Moissanite is silicon carbide — a different material from diamond, with higher dispersion producing more coloured flash, and a hardness of about 9.25 against diamond's 10. That is more than hard enough for daily wear. It is not an imitation; it is its own stone, and some people prefer its optical character.
Lab-grown diamond is diamond: identical chemical composition, crystal structure and physical properties to mined stones, distinguishable only with specialist equipment. The difference is origin and price, not substance.
Mined diamonds retain the traditional association and, marginally, better resale. Both alternatives have poor resale value, so the honest framing is that you are buying something to wear rather than an asset.
What to check before buying
Warranty terms, particularly on the stone itself, and the returns window. Also the resizing policy, which matters more than usual if your weight is actively changing.
For lab-grown diamonds, ask about certification and which laboratory graded the stone. Grading standards are not perfectly uniform across labs.
Pros and Cons
Strengths
- Established specialist rather than a recent entrant to lab-grown
- Moissanite offers genuine daily-wear durability at a fraction of mined pricing
- Lab-grown diamonds are physically and chemically identical to mined stones
- Both options avoid the sourcing concerns attached to mined gems
- Warranty coverage published on the stones
Drawbacks
- No health, medical or weight-loss relevance
- Resale value is poor for both moissanite and lab-grown diamond
- Some settings cannot be resized, which matters during weight change
- Moissanite's higher dispersion is a look some people dislike
Who Should Pick It — and Who Shouldn't
Good fit
Someone who wants a durable stone for daily wear at a sensible price and does not regard jewelry as an investment.
Look elsewhere
Anyone buying for resale value, and anyone commissioning an unresizable setting while their weight is still actively changing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my ring size change if I lose weight?
Very likely — often by one to two sizes with significant loss, sometimes more. The change is gradual and easy to miss, which is how rings get lost. Use a temporary adjuster and wait until your weight has been stable for a few months before resizing permanently.
When should I resize my ring after weight loss?
After your weight has held steady for a few months. Resizing mid-loss usually means paying for it twice. Until then, ring adjusters or wearing it on a chain prevent the more expensive problem of losing it.
Is moissanite a fake diamond?
No. It is silicon carbide, a distinct gemstone with higher dispersion than diamond and a hardness of about 9.25, which is entirely suitable for daily wear. It is not an imitation diamond; it is a different stone.
Are lab-grown diamonds real diamonds?
Yes — chemically, physically and optically identical to mined diamonds, distinguishable only with specialist equipment. The difference is how they were produced and what they cost.
Considering Charles & Colvard?
If you are buying a ring while your weight is still changing, ask about the resizing policy before you choose a setting. Some designs cannot be resized at all.
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Product lines and stone specifications read from charlesandcolvard.com on August 24, 2026 and subject to change. Charles & Colvard is a jewelry retailer with no medical function. Rx Saver Hub earns a commission on purchases made through links on this page.