My Visit to Charles & Colvard

Youtube personality, bride-to-be, and true Moissy Maven Tori Okoye recently visited Charles & Colvard® HQ in Morrisville, NC. Here is her recap of her fabulous trip!

A few months ago, Charles & Colvard® connected with me after watching my “Why I chose Moissanite/Engagement Story” video. Over the course of 2015, we had been in contact about collaborating to expose more brides-to-be be to this brilliant alternative gemstone! Last week, they were gracious enough to fly me out to their headquarters in North Carolina. I toured the lab and saw how each moissanite gem is created from the raw material. I was amazed by the production, and how each individual stone is inspected and cared for.

The day went something like this:

9:00 am: Ate a delicious breakfast before getting picked up from the hotel to head to Charles & Colvard®

9:30 am: A good portion of my morning was spent on introductions. Sarah, Vice President of Marketing at Charles & Colvard®, introduced me to Kristen, with whom I had been in correspondence over email. I also met people in a variety of departments, including Marketing & Creative, Lulu Avenue® (C&C’s direct sales division), Moissanite.com® (their e-commerce platform), Development, Production, and others.

10:00 am:  A tour of the lab! I was escorted into the security-guarded area of the building where the many stages of moissanite production occur – 15 steps over two months to create a single gem!

Loose moissanite gemstones I saw during the tour – the group on the bottom is awaiting final processing to shine them up!

11:00 am:  Began discussing a special project that will be announced next week – stay tuned!

12:00 pm: Sarah and Kristen accompanied me to Raleigh Times for lunch. Pizza wasn’t an option so I had a burger! The ladies gave me a small tour of the downtown area so that my trip wasn’t confined just to Charles & Colvard® HQ.

1:00 pm: Continued to work on a special project with Kristen

3:00 pm:  Played dress up and decided on my wedding band! It is a half eternity band with 2mm moissanite stones.

My dream wedding ring! And of course, my fabulous engagement ring – they look great together!

4:00 pm: Sarah, Kristen, and I solidified project details

4:30 pm: Explored Lulu Avenue®. I can totally see myself rocking the summer bouquet necklace. Maybe I’ll become a Style Advisor?

The summer bouquet necklace from Lulu Avenue® is fabulous – I think I need it

5:00 pm: Started my goodbyes

5:30 pm: Headed back to airport to fly home, bursting with excitement and so much to share!

A BIG BIG BIG thank you to Sarah, Kristen, and the Charles & Colvard® team for hosting me. Because I chose moissanite, I am able to have my dream engagement ring AND my dream wedding band. My visit to the lab solidified the choice my fiancé and I made to go with moissanite, and I am so grateful.

Stay brilliant!

~Tori

Tori Okoye is a YouTube Content Creator. As a student pharmacist, dog mom, and wife-to-be, Tori is passionate about helping others achieve their dream by choosing moissanite. Inquiries may be sent to tidytor@gmail.com.