Where is the Best Place to Find Lab Grown Diamonds? Diamonds are a girl's best friend (and honestly, they're great for guys too), but there's one huge snag that keeps people from grabbing those glittery rocks: cost. Most people think of diamonds and think of dollar signs (and lots of ‘em). However, there are more cost-effective options. And, no, we're not talking about fakes or cubic zirconia lookalikes.
Best Option
Brilliant Earth is a jeweler that got its start in 2004. The founder and CEO, Beth Gerstein, wanted to find a diamond engagement ring that was ethical and struggled to do so. So, she founded Brilliant Earth to offer a more sustainable and ethical way to buy diamonds and other gemstones. Brilliant Earth promises full transparency: the company tracks where all of its precious metals and gemstones come from and can tell you exactly how each piece of jewelry is made. That way, you never have to question the supply chain or carbon footprint of your beautiful lifetime pieces. As a bonus, 99% of the gold and 95% of the silver used in the jewelry at Brilliant Earth is recycled.
Selection of 391,000+ diamonds
Brilliant Earth has a massive selection of lab grown diamonds. You can expect to see 11 shapes including round, oval, emerald, cushion, elongated cushion, pear, radiant, princess, marquise, asscher, and heart. You can find diamonds from 0.25 carats up to 56.77 carats, and a range of fun collections like 100% Renewable, Carbon Capture, Flawless Collection, and more. There are 391,079 lab grown diamonds available at Brilliant Earth, with 89,698 of them in a round cut, 25,597 princess cut, and 10,723 heart-shaped diamonds in total.
Helpful previews of all diamonds
Browsing lab grown diamonds on Brilliant Earth is simple. You can either choose to shop for a ring type (engagement ring or wedding ring) or jump straight into loose diamonds themselves. The top filter bar offers an easy-to-find button that limits the listings only to lab grown diamonds, since Brilliant Earth offers natural diamonds as well. Each diamond has a live video that shows you a 360-degree view of your chosen gemstone. You can look at it close up or far away to give you an idea of how it will look in person and at the size it will be in your ring or other setting.
Pricing from $160 to $163,050 across all diamonds
When we compared prices for lab grown diamonds at each retailer, we looked at two things: the price range for all the lab grown diamonds and the individual costs for round and oval diamonds (the most popular shapes for engagement rings). For the round and oval diamond prices, we also limited our search to diamonds that were 1-2 carats, clarity levels VS1-F, colors F-D, and only ideal or astor ideal (the top two cut levels at Brilliant Earth) cuts. Here's what we found:
Free warranty and diamond replacement
You can feel a sense of security when choosing Brilliant Earth. This retailer offers a free lifetime manufacturing warranty with every order, which protects against any manufacturing defects. Brilliant Earth will also replace any damaged fine jewelry within 60 days of purchase. Outside of those 60 days, Brilliant Earth will replace any jewelry pieces under $1,000 in value. Brilliant Earth also offers a free lifetime diamond upgrade, which includes lab grown diamonds. Any loose diamond purchased can be exchanged for a credit of your diamond's original value that allows you to upgrade to a stone at least 2x greater in value.
Free shipping and 30-day refunds
On top of protection and replacement, Brilliant Earth offers impressive free shipping both ways, whether it's to you or as a return. The shipping includes insurance and registration of all items for their full value. You'll also get free 30-day returns for any purchase (for a refund or an exchange), and up to 60 days to resize your ring free of charge.
High praise for quality and service
Brilliant Earth has a top-notch reputation with the Better Business Bureau, including an "A+" rating and accreditation. You can also find highly-satisfied customers posting tons of 5-star reviews on Trustpilot. The average rating for Brilliant Earth is 4 stars out of 5 with over 60% of all ratings showing a full 5 stars. According to recent verified reviews, Brilliant Earth offers reasonable prices for lab grown diamonds, quick delivery, and top-notch packaging. Customers felt they received the same level of personalized service in person and online, and praised specific team members at Brilliant Earth in their reviews.
Ethical and brilliant diamond buying
With 11 lab grown diamond shapes, reasonable prices, free shipping, and a diamond replacement policy, as well as top scores for quality and customer service, Brilliant Earth offers you a great spot to check out lab grown diamonds of all shapes and sizes. Plus, with the heavy focus on sustainability and ethical sourcing, you can be sure that your purchase is traceable and feel good about grabbing your lab grown diamond from Brilliant Earth. For these reasons, it earns a full 5 stars in our review as a jeweler with a versatile selection and an ethical ethos you can stand behind.
Great
Grown Brilliance is a site that offers only the most sustainable and ethical methods for diamond buying. Instead of offering a range of natural and lab grown diamonds, Grown Brilliance focuses 100% on conflict-free lab grown diamonds. On top of that, all of the jewelry made at Grown Brilliance is crafted from 96% recycled gold to reduce the mining of gold for better sustainability. The company was founded by Akshie Jhaveri, who is a third-generation jeweler, and she has maintained a 75% female-led company through Grown Brilliance's years in business.
Selection of over 164,000 diamonds
You can find a competitive selection of diamonds at Grown Brilliance, and rest assured that every one of them is lab grown. There are a total of 164,562 different diamonds to choose from. You can find options from 1-12.55 carats, and color options of F, E, and D. There are 11 different shapes including round, oval, cushion, pear, emerald, radiant, princess, marquise, asscher, heart, and elongated cushion. Grown Brilliance offers 19,813 options in round, 4,229 princess, and 1,008 heart-shaped diamonds.
Quiz helps you pick your diamond
The browsing experience at Grown Brilliance is a little odd. For example, when you look through the available diamonds, they are displayed in drawing images rather than clear images of each gem. If you want to see a 360-degree interactive image of each lab grown diamond (or even a photo of one), you'll need to click on the individual listing to find what you need. As a bonus, if you're new to diamond-buying or unsure what kind of stone will look best on your finger, you can take a quiz to help you find the best fit for your purposes.
Pricing from $630 to $69,025 per diamond
To do a full price comparison at each retailer, we looked at two things: the price range for all the lab grown diamonds in stock and the cost for round and oval diamonds, which are the most popular shapes for engagement rings. We also limited our search to 1-2 carats, clarity levels VS1-IF, colors F-D, and only ideal cuts (as there were no astor ideal diamonds offered at Grown Brilliance). Here's what we found:
30-day return policy
At Grown Brilliance, there are plenty of helpful policies to make you feel secure in your purchase. First, Grown Brilliance offers a 30-day return policy. This includes a free return shipping label through FedEx. You can make a return for any reason within that 30-day period. You also get access to a lifetime manufacturing warranty. The warranty applies to all products and includes anything to do with a manufacturing error. However, some things are not included like general wear and tear on your jewelry, trauma, loss of center stones, product loss, or problems caused by improper cleaning or storage.
Excellent quality every step of the way
Grown Brilliance has a stellar reputation with the Better Business Bureau where it holds an "A+ rating and accreditation. On top of that, this sustainable jeweler holds a top-notch reputation on third-party review sites like Trustpilot. Currently, its average rating is 4.4 stars out of 5. According to our research, Grown Brilliance "exceeds expectations" from everything to the settings, the jewelry itself, and the timely shipping. Customers loved the wedding bands they purchased with Grown Brilliance's lab grown diamonds, and most buyers posted in reviews that they intended to make other purchases with this retailer.
Best in class: ethical diamonds from a women-owned and operated company
Grown Brilliance is a heavy hitter when it comes to high-quality sustainable gemstones and jewelry. Although it doesn't have as wide of a selection as some retailers, it does offer 11 different diamond shapes, and some competitive options for returns too. If you're looking for a place that earns high praise and want to support an ethical women-owned diamond jeweler, you'll definitely want to check out Grown Brilliance.
Great
Blue Nile is a jeweler that has been around since 1999. It opened with the intent of disrupting the industry by making jewelry and gemstones more accessible with an online business model. On top of its impressive online services, you can also shop in person where Blue Nile's diamond and jewelry experts will help you find what you need. Their employees are not commissioned, so there's no pressure to make sales: the goal is to make customers happy. Whether you want to build your wedding ring online or meet an expert jeweler in person, Blue Nile has everything you need to find your perfect lab grown diamond and setting.
Selection includes 52,000+ diamonds
Blue Nile offers an impressive range of lab grown diamonds, and you can shop by shape, carat, price, color, clarity, cut, and by which items ship fastest. Blue Nile offers round, princess, cushion, emerald, oval, radiant, marquise, heart, and pear-shaped diamonds as well as carats from 0.05 up to 30. There were 52,775 lab grown diamonds total offered by Blue Nile and the breakdown includes 17,208 different round diamonds across all cut quality, colors, and sizes, 3,768 options for princess-cut, and 597 for heart-shaped diamonds.
See a live preview of your diamond
When you're shopping for a lab grown diamond, it's easy to get started with Blue Nile. If you're looking for just the stone, you can use a sliding tab that allows you to see either lab grown or natural diamonds. If you're looking to get a ring, Blue Nile allows you to start a "create your own ring" process using only lab grown diamonds, so you don't have to worry about the selection getting mixed up. One of the best features of Blue Nile is that you can see the diamond from any angle with a real 360-degree photo of each gem. This way, you can see how the diamond catches the light before you put it in a setting.
Pricing from $250 to $1,857,300 per diamond
When we priced out lab grown diamonds, we looked at two things: the price range for all the lab grown diamonds at each retailer or jeweler and the prices for the most popular size for engagement rings, which is 1-2 carats in the most popular cuts (round and oval). For these shapes, we also limited our search from clarity levels VS1-FL (the top five), colors F-D (the top three), and only cuts that are ideal or astor ideal. Here's what we found at Blue Nile:
Free services and 30-day returns
Your purchase from Blue Nile will come with a lifetime manufacturer warranty. All items will be free of manufacturing defects, and if you believe it is damaged due to a defect, Blue Nile will repair or replace the item. If you purchase a lab grown diamond ring from Blue Nile, you will be able to get free cleanings for your ring every six months (you only pay for shipping). Blue Nile also offers a diamond price match guarantee. This is a free service that promises if you find a diamond of comparable quality and characteristics that is a lower price, Blue Nile will match that price. However, the comparable diamond must also be graded by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Finally, Blue Nile offers a free return policy within 30 days. You'll get a free return shipping label, and the return won't cost you anything. The free label also includes insurance for your item.
Top scores for quality
Blue Nile has a top-notch rating from the Better Business Bureau with an "A+" and accreditation. On third-party review sites, it's got a decent reputation as well. Many customers on Trustpilot offered a full 5-star rating for Blue Nile and the average was a 3.9-star rating overall. According to recent feedback, Blue Nile earns praise for the diamonds and rings turning out exactly as they were displayed on the website. There were some concerns about long periods of waiting for shipping and delivery, but in terms of quality, customer service, and getting exactly what you want for a competitive price, Blue Nile was a favorite among those looking for lab grown diamonds.
Great if you want to build your own ring
If you're looking for a place to design your engagement or wedding ring with a lab grown diamond, Blue Nile is a great place to shop. With top scores from third-party review sites, price matching, and free returns, you can be sure you're getting a great deal on your lab grown diamonds as well as access to a jewelry one-stop shop. Want a matching necklace or a wedding band too? No problem. For these reasons, Blue Nile earns a very high rating in our review.
Great
Von Diamonds is a site that promises some serious savings on diamonds. Calling itself the "one-stop destination for all things that sparkle," Von Diamonds stands out as a jeweler that offers both lab grown and natural diamonds at discounted prices. Whether you're looking for loose diamonds, rings, earrings, bracelets, or other fine jewelry, you can find unique and sparkly designs at Von Diamonds. And even though you're getting discounts here, all of the lab grown diamonds over 1 carat are certified by official IGI or GIA certification laboratories.
Selection of over 250,000 diamonds
Von Diamonds offers 256,253 different lab grown diamonds. These include 11 different shapes like round, oval, emerald, pear, cushion, marquise, asscher, radiant, princess, heart, and elongated cushion. You'll also find carat options from 0.70-12.03, color quality from H-D, and cuts from good to ideal. Von Diamonds also offers clarity levels from SI1-IF. Across different popular shapes, you'll find 27,591 round, 8,792 princess, and 1,054 heart-shaped lab grown diamonds.
Drawings instead of photos of diamonds
Browsing is simple with a range of different filters to help you find your ideal diamond. Von Diamonds also offers a compare tool, so if you have a few favorites, you can look at them side by side. You can shop for lab grown diamonds loose or set in engagement, wedding, or fine jewelry rings. The only downside is that diamonds are initially listed with drawn pictures rather than photos of the diamonds themselves. To see your diamond in photos and a 360-degree view, you'll need to click through the listing.
Pricing from $90 to $6,545 per diamond
Our cost comparison included the price range for all the lab grown diamonds at Von Diamonds, and separately, we found the pricing for diamonds that are most popular in wedding ring settings. So, we looked at round and oval diamonds, and we also limited the filters to 1-2 carats, clarity levels VS1-IF, colors F-D, and excellent and ideal cuts. Here's what we found:
Price matching and price beating
Von Diamonds offers a price match guarantee that states that any loose diamond purchase from reputable online retailers (including Brilliant Earth, James Allen, Blue Nile, Jared, Kay, Zales, Helzberg, Rare Carat, Ritani, and With Clarity) can be matched at the lowest price certified by the IGI or GIA. Von Diamonds also promises that it will beat a competitor's loose lab grown diamond price by 10% with its limited-time price-beat guarantee.
45-day returns
In addition to these perks, Von Diamonds offers a longer-than-average return policy of 45 days. However, returns to Von Diamonds are not free. There are return shipping charges depending on the cost of your item. If you purchased a diamond under $350, the return fee is $10. If you purchased an item over $350, the return fee is $20. If you choose to return your item for store credit instead, you can get back the full amount you paid with no shipping fee.
Newer website but top-notch feedback
According to the Better Business Bureau, Von Diamonds holds an "A+" rating and accreditation. It's a little harder to find reviews for this site since its online presence is pretty new: the website for Von Diamonds launched in 2023. However, the actual business has been around for over 20 years. On the bright side, the reviews that are out there (like feedback for specific retail locations on Yelp) all have a 5-star rating. Further, wedding blogs and jewelry publications are also highly impressed with the quality of Von Diamonds' jewelry and gemstones.
Best pick: low-cost lab grown diamonds
While Von Diamonds is just getting its feet wet in the online scene, it's got a lot of good things going for it. With a competitive inventory, a promise to price match and price beat other certified retailers, and solid feedback across the board, there are almost no downsides to choosing Von Diamonds. We feel they could improve their return policy (return fees if you don't want store credit). Otherwise, if you want the lowest prices for certified lab grown diamonds, you'll want to check out Von Diamonds.
Very Good
James Allen is a leading jewelry retailer that was developed by four individuals who wanted to make a fun, stress-free way to get the perfect engagement ring. Amusingly, none of these founders are named James Allen. Instead, the store was opened by Oded Edelman, James Schultz, Michele Sigler, and Dean Lederman. The shop is mostly online retail, but you can visit in-person locations if you're near New York or Washington D.C. Otherwise, James Allen's collection of loose lab grown diamonds, engagement rings, and fine jewelry is all available online.
Selection of over 55,813 diamonds
James Allen offers a selection of 55,831 different lab grown diamonds in its collection. You can find 11 different diamond shapes including round, princess, cushion, emerald, oval, radiant, asscher, marquise, heart, pear, and octagon. James Allen also offers carats of 0.05-30, colors from J to D, and clarity levels from I1-FL. Across the inventory, you'll find 15,926 round, 3,198 princess, and 565 heart-shaped diamonds at this jeweler.
Helpful 360-degree view of every item
Finding what you need on James Allen is a breeze. The images show clear pictures of every diamond with 360-degree views of the gems if you mouse over them. If you click through, you'll get to see the dimensions of the diamonds and a sliding scale that will show you what different carat sizes in that color and shape would look like on someone's finger. Helpfully, the 360-degree view is offered on every jewelry item, not just loose diamonds, so whether you just want a lab grown diamond for another setting or you want to buy a wedding band, you can see every angle of your item before you purchase.
Pricing from $230 to $945,630 per diamond
When comparing lab grown diamond costs at each retailer, we researched two different ways to price out the diamonds. First, we looked at the price range for all the lab grown diamonds in stock. Second, we approached it from the perspective of someone buying a wedding ring and checked out the cost for round and oval diamonds (since they are the most popular shapes for engagement rings). For the round and oval pricing, we also limited the options to 1-2 carats, clarity levels VS1-IF, colors F-D, and only ideal and True Hearts cuts (the highest two tiers available at James Allen). Here's what we found:
Unreliable online servers
There was one snag while we were browsing: the site for James Allen temporarily went down. We checked it on multiple browsers, and the page for diamonds was unavailable for several hours during our research. While we were able to return the next day and get pricing, it was a noticeably different experience from other sites on our list.
Free diamond upgrades
There are a lot of perks to choosing James Allen over other lab grown diamond retailers. James Allen offers a lifetime upgrade option for any of their loose lab grown diamonds. You turn in your diamond for its original value and put that toward any diamond 2x or greater value. You also get access to a lifetime warranty for any manufacturing defects. Finally, you'll also have 1 year to get a free ring resizing if necessary. Plus, all rings can be returned in 30 days with free worldwide shipping on all orders (to and from James Allen).
A favorite with return customers
Like many jewelers in our review, James Allen holds an impressive rating from the Better Business Bureau. Currently, it holds an "A" rating and accreditation from the BBB. James Allen has also earned high praise on other third-party review sites like Trustpilot where it holds a 4.1-star average rating. According to reviews, James Allen has a top-notch return policy that made it simple to exchange something that didn't work for a better diamond ring. Customers also loved the competitive pricing for diamond rings and the full GIA certification and report that was included with orders. Many reviewers left notes that they plan to shop with James Allen again in the future.
Check out the designs for quality diamonds
James Allen is a competitive choice if you're looking for lab grown diamonds. While it doesn't have as broad of a selection as some retailers in our review, it's a great site with a full suite of diamond shapes and clarity levels. With perks like free shipping on all orders and a tested and customer-approved return policy, James Allen stands out from the pack. Only its slightly lower BBB rating and slightly smaller inventory keep it from our top picks, but if you love the designs for diamonds or rings at James Allen, definitely consider them for your next lab grown diamond.
Very Good
Vrai is an online jewelry retailer that's known for its commitment to sustainability and ethical practices, creating its own fine jewelry using only lab grown diamonds. The brand is known for being worn by stars like Taylor Swift, Emma Stone, Jennifer Lopez, Emma Watson, Zoe Saldana, and many more. Vrai offers a range of necklaces, bracelets, and rings (both for wedding needs and general wear) that include their lab grown diamonds that are cut in-house. You can also shop for loose diamonds that are all created in the USA and are made with zero carbon footprint.
Tons of new shapes you don't see elsewhere
There are thousands of diamonds to choose from at Vrai. There are a whopping 31 different shapes of lab grown diamonds in its inventory. There are the usual ones - round, oval, emerald, pear, cushion, elongated cushion, marquise, princess, asscher, and heart - but then Vrai also offers radiant, trillion, oval rose, shield, fusion, long hexagon, hexagon, felix, lozenge, lucky, capri, kite, octavia, and more. You can find carats from 0.5-13, cuts from excellent to Vrai's top cut Ideal + Hearts, clarity levels from S12-VVS1, and colors from J-D. However, due to how Vrai organizes its diamonds, it was unclear just how many of each diamond shape were available.
See what the pros see before you buy
Finding loose lab grown diamonds is easy shopping at Vrai. You can buy rings and settings too, but some diamond shapes (like kite) will need either a custom ring design consultation, or you can buy the stone by itself and have it set elsewhere. The only downside of browsing on Vrai is that the gemstones are not shown in photos until you click through. But once you do, you'll see a 360-degree image that you can turn to see the diamonds from multiple angles. This image is magnified up to 40x to be able to see all possible inclusions and imperfections in the diamond before you purchase.
Pricing from $342 to $36,935 per diamond
To compare costs at Vrai, we examined the full price range of their lab grown diamonds and also focused on the most commonly-chosen stones for engagement rings. Our search specifically included round and oval diamonds, with filters set to 1-2 carats, clarity levels from VS1 to IF, colors between F and D, and only the top two cuts offered at Vrai. After narrowing it down, here's what we discovered:
Limited upgrades and refund policy
When you buy from Vrai, the company offers a lifetime care guarantee. They promise that any diamond created by Vrai remains valuable. At any time, you can get a lab grown diamond upgrade to a larger stone worth 50% more. When you return your original Vrai diamond, you will get credit that equals the original purchase price. You can apply this toward any diamond jewelry (or a loose diamond) that is at least 50% greater in value. However, the return policy at Vrai is a little limited. For items under $15,000, you can return them within 30 days without any fees. If you buy something more costly than $15,000, you can only return the items to a Vrai brick-and-mortar location (and there may not be one of those near you).
Mixed reviews but high-quality customer service
Concerningly, Vrai holds an "F" rating from the Better Business Bureau. This rating is due to complaints that were filed against Vrai that the company did not respond to. On the other hand, Vrai has a much better reputation on third-party review sites like Trustpilot, where the jeweler currently holds a 4.6-star average rating. Buyers have high praise for the customer service. Almost all of the recent reviews talk about specific employees at Vrai who were particularly helpful and provided a stress-free shopping experience. Recent lab grown diamond buyers loved the wide variety of stone shapes offered by Vrai.
Best for those who want a unique diamond shape
While we'd love to see Vrai earn a higher rating from the BBB, it's clearly still a competitive lab grown diamond retailer. While the "F" score does keep it from being one of our top picks, the high quality of customer service, impressive list of diamond styles, and magnified photos make Vrai a great stop for your lab grown diamonds. Given these features and the high praise from reviewers, Vrai earns a solid rating in our review and a highlight as the option with the most diamond shapes.
Good
Reeds Jewelers was founded by Bill Zimmer, and he and his brothers began selling diamonds in 1946 in North Carolina. The company started towards its modern direction in 1981, and it now has retail locations in 13 states and a full online experience. Reeds Jewelers is known for its collection of fine jewelry, collectibles, watches, and more. This jeweler offers plenty of lab grown diamond jewelry and engagement rings to sift through to find the perfect fit.
Fewer diamonds than at other retailers
There are thousands of lab grown diamonds to choose from at Reeds Jewelers. There are eleven diamond shapes including round, oval, pear, marquise, cushion, princess, emerald, radiant, heart, square, and fancy. There are sizes from 0.25-5 carats (a smaller size collection than other retailers), colors from K-D, and clarity levels from S12-FL. There are a competitive number of round and princess-shaped diamonds like we've seen at other retailers; however, Reeds Jewelers does not list the number of diamonds in stock. What we did find was that although Reeds Jewelers does list the heart shape as an option, the company didn't offer any loose lab grown diamonds in a heart at the time of our visit.
Less intuitive website
Browsing is a little frustrating at Reeds Jewelers. You can find loose diamonds by doing a "build your own engagement ring" which allows you to search through different shapes and sizes. However, if you want to filter the products, you need to click the option and then click "apply filters" otherwise your selections won't take. This can cause some back and forth during browsing that is less intuitive than some other retailers. Reeds Jewelers also had some issues finding diamonds. For example, we saw prices over $28,000 on the full list, but when we used the filters to find the same price range, Reeds Jewelers' website said there were no diamonds found with those limitations.
Pricing as low as $347.49 per diamond
When comparing the cost of lab grown diamonds across jewelers, we looked at all the lab grown diamonds to get a full price range. Separately, we also priced out diamonds as if we were buying a wedding ring. So, we focused on round and oval diamonds, and we also limited the options to 1-2 carats, clarity levels VS1-IF, colors F-D, and did not limit the cut since there weren't cut filter options at Reeds Jewelers. Here's what we found:
Returns differ from store to online shop
Reeds Jewelers doesn't have much in the way of perks or bonuses. Returns and exchanges are only offered to customers in the US. If you buy your lab grown diamonds in-store, you will need to refer to the return policy on your printed receipt, which may be different depending on where you shop. If you purchase your lab grown diamonds on Reeds Jewelers' website, you have a 30-day window from the delivery date to request a return. Ring sizing fees are non-refundable, so if you got your diamond set in a ring, you may not get your entire payment back.
Top scores for customer service
Despite the website issues and some limitations in benefits, Reeds Jewelers is still a fan-favorite with third-party review sites. Reeds Jewelers holds an "A+" rating and accreditation with the Better Business Bureau, and it also holds a 4.5-star average rating out of 5 on Trustpilot. Recent reviews praise Reeds Jewelers for the low-pressure shopping environment, helpful photos of rings and lab grown diamonds, impressive shipping times, and high-quality final products. Many reviews praise particular team members at Reeds Jewelers.
Definitely check out its jewelry
Reeds Jewelers is a standout retailer for lab grown diamonds if you're looking for praiseworthy customer service and high-quality jewelry. While we would still like to see an upgrade to the browsing experience, before Reeds Jewelers gets a higher score in our review, it's worth a look for your next lab grown diamond purchase. For the browsing difficulties, it earns a just-above-average score in our review, but it does come highly recommended by recent shoppers, so keep that in mind.
Average
Ritani is an affordable jewelry site that promises access to beautiful designs that are never overpriced. One of the features of Ritani is its promise of transparent diamond pricing. The site will break down the costs that go into acquiring the diamonds, so you know exactly what you're paying for. It includes things like the cost for Ritani to purchase the diamond (whether it's lab grown or naturally acquired), fulfillment costs, and the Ritani markup.
Selection of 400,000+ diamonds
Ritani has over 400,000 lab grown diamonds in its inventory. You can choose from 10 diamond shapes including round, cushion, princess, oval, emerald, radiant, asscher, pear, marquise, and heart. Ritani offers carat sizes from 0.18-56.77, colors from L-D, clarity levels from S12-FL, and cuts from good up to ideal. Across different shapes, you'll find 149,424 round, 27,956 princess, and 8,909 heart-shaped lab grown diamonds.
Makes browsing easy
Whether you want to look at loose diamonds or rings that have diamond settings, the listings are easy to browse and the filters show you exactly what you need right away. You can limit to things like Ritani Reserve, Best Value, or Quick Ship Diamonds, for those that fit your budget or timeline. All of the listings also have a 360-degree video that plays when you mouse over it (no clicking through required).
Pricing from $110 to $1,573,504 per diamond
Our cost comparison for lab grown diamonds was done by looking at all the lab grown diamonds at Ritani to get a full price range. Separately, we found the pricing for diamonds most ideal for buying a wedding ring. This focused our research on round and oval diamonds, and we also limited the options to 1-2 carats, clarity levels VS1-IF, colors F-D, and ideal cut. For the oval diamonds, there were no ideal cut options, so we had to include all cuts for those. Here's what we found:
Free previews and free returns in 30 days
There are some fun perks when you buy with Ritani. For example, Ritani offers free in-store previews when you design a ring online. This means you can do all the work at home without any pressure and preview your ring in person before you buy. Ritani also offers a standard 30-day return policy. You'll be able to return your items for free within 30 days. Ritani provides a prepaid and insured FedEx 2-day shipping return label when you request your return. If you created a custom ring, however, these cannot be returned and are considered final sale.
Concerns about timelines at Ritani
According to our research, Ritani currently holds an "A+" rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau. However, on other third-party review sites, the feedback for Ritani is more nuanced. Currently, Trustpilot shows a mid-tier rating average of just 3 stars out of 5 for this jeweler. People have left recent complaints about slow or unreliable shipping dates, and about issues with customer service. Shoppers also had issues when sending in items for repairs or stone replacements, saying that some repairs were not completed when the items were sent back and that the entire process took weeks.
Good if you want a lot of options
If you're looking for a site with a massive diamond inventory and tons of custom designs, you'll probably enjoy shopping at Ritani. The prices are reasonable for lab grown diamonds. Regrettably, if you're in a rush to get your diamond (or ring setting), you may be disappointed. Reviews show that Ritani is a bit slow no matter what service you're getting from them. For this reason (and the lower ratings from customers overall), it earns an average score from us. But it's still worth a look if you want a massive inventory to pick through.
Subpar
Helzberg is a jeweler that's been around since 1915. The company got its start in Kansas City and promises that its original ethos, "the customer always comes first", hasn't changed since then. With a trusted website and in-person retail locations, you can grab a lab grown diamond ring or necklace from Helzberg any way you prefer. However, compared to some newer retailers, there are fewer lab grown diamonds to choose from at Helzberg. If you're looking for the most exciting collection, you may need to look elsewhere.
Just over 10,000 lab grown diamonds
Helzberg sells both lab grown and natural diamonds. So, when you're browsing, make sure to limit the selection before you start browsing to be sure you get the right ones. Helzberg has 10,619 lab grown diamonds to choose from. You'll find shapes like round, emerald, princess, oval, pear, radiant, and marquise. However, this is a much smaller selection (only 7 shapes) than we found at similar jewelers. Helzberg offers diamonds from 0.7 carats up to 10.09, colors J through D, and cuts that include fair, good, very good, and excellent. Across the inventory, you'll find 2,294 round diamonds and 1,518 princess diamonds. However, Helzberg does not have any heart-shaped lab grown diamonds in stock.
Not the most intuitive website
It's a little harder to find diamonds by themselves at Helzberg than with some other retailers. You'll need to use the top navigation bar to select "Customize", which takes you to a choice to create a custom engagement ring by starting with the diamond. From there, you'll see the entire inventory of lab grown diamonds at Helzberg. However, like some other sites in our review, the diamonds are initially listed with drawings of the stones rather than photographs. To see the stone itself, you'll have to click through, which can be more tedious for shopping if you don't already know what you want.
Pricing from $547 to $233,881 per diamond
When comparing lab grown diamond costs at each jeweler, we looked at prices two ways: the price range for all the lab grown diamonds in stock and the cost for round and oval diamonds (since they are the most popular shapes for engagement rings). For the round and oval pricing, we limited the options to 1-2 carats, clarity levels VS1-IF, colors F-D, and only very good and excellent cuts (the highest two tiers available at Helzberg). Here's what we found:
30-day returns but limitations on returns
Helzberg offers free standard shipping on any purchase $99 or more within the continental US. You can also complete a free return within 30 days of your purchase. You will need to have your item in unworn or brand-new condition for it to qualify for a return. While there is a basic warranty, it only lasts for 12 months - not very generous compared to the lifetime warranties offered by other jewelers. Instead, Helzberg offers care plans that can be purchased separately.
Low ratings for customer service
While our research shows that Helzberg has a top reputation with the Better Business Bureau, where it holds an "A+" rating and accreditation, it doesn't keep that score on other third-party review sites. For example, Trustpilot shows a dismal 2.8-star average with more than half of the total reviews at just 1 star. Customers are not impressed with Helzberg's customer service or prices. One customer claimed that Helzberg wouldn't price out a resetting for them. They would only offer an estimate, and the final price came back three times the cost of the estimate. While some specific retail locations had praise, the overall feeling is that this lab grown diamond retailer needs some serious work on its customer service.
Doesn't sparkle next to other diamond shops
Considering what our research showed in customer reviews, it doesn't seem like Helzberg is sticking to its promise to put customers first. Regrettably, it has poor recent reviews for dishonest pricing and lackluster assistance from Helzberg team members. Plus, with a much smaller selection of lab grown diamonds when compared to other jewelry retailers, Helzberg just doesn't stand out from the pack.
Weak
Jared is a massive name in wedding jewelry. It's one of the first names people think of when they imagine engagement ring shopping. Jared promises accessible luxury jewelry for customers who "want to express their love and emotions" through diamonds. Currently, Jared is one of the larger diamond retailers in the world as it runs more than 200 brick-and-mortar stores in the US. On top of standard engagement rings, Jared also offers bespoke services like custom jewelry in all stores.
Selection of 31,000+ diamonds
Despite being one of the largest retailers in the world, Jared doesn't have a very large selection of lab grown diamonds, even when you look at the lowest-quality gemstones offered through this jeweler. Jared currently only has 31,994 lab grown diamonds in its inventory. Further, it only has 10 of the 11 shapes for those diamonds that we've seen at other retailers. Jared does offer carats from 0.05 to 30, cuts from good to True Hearts (Jared's top quality cut), and clarity levels from I1 to FL. Across the diamond inventory, there is a slightly lower selection of individual shapes at Jared as well. There are 9,872 round, 3,893 princess, and 177 heart-shaped lab grown diamonds at this retailer.
Shop by customizing a ring
While browsing Jared's collection of lab grown diamonds, you'll find helpful high-resolution photos of each diamond. All lab grown diamonds will have a blue diamond shape in the corner of the listing photo, to help you be sure you're looking at the right thing. Natural diamonds will have the same shape on the photo but in grey. The easiest way to look at the lab grown diamonds at Jared is by choosing the "design-a-ring" option from the navigation menu. Then you'll be able to start by choosing your gem first, and you will see the entire inventory of loose diamonds.
Pricing from $230 to $21,070 per diamond
When comparing costs at different jewelers in our review, we researched two different pricing approaches. First, we looked at the cost for all the lab grown diamonds at Jared. Second, we checked prices from the perspective of someone buying a wedding ring. With this in mind, we researched round and oval diamonds (the most popular shapes for engagement rings). For the round and oval pricing, we also limited the options to 1-2 carats, clarity levels VS1-IF, colors F-D, and only ideal and True Hearts cuts (the highest two tiers available at Jared). Here's what we found:
30-day refund policy
Jared offers a Price Match Guarantee. This means that if you find a like-for-like similar stone (it must be a certified diamond that doesn't include the band or setting), Jared will match the price. However, you can only use this guarantee if you are shopping at another brick-and-mortar jewelry (not online-only) retailer. Jared also has a 30-day return policy where you can return or exchange your purchase. However, only returns can be handled online. If you want to complete an exchange, you will need to do so in person, but you will have 60 days to do so. Keep in mind that custom designs are not included in this policy.
Too much money and too little service
It's harder to find Jared on the Better Business Bureau, but that's because it isn't the main business. Jared, alongside other popular jewelry companies like Zales, Kay Jewelers, and more, is owned by the Signet Jewelers parent company. Signet currently holds an "A+" rating and accreditation with the BBB. Now, on other third-party review sites, Jared is rated on its own, but the news isn't great. Jared holds a 2.1-star average out of 5 on Trustpilot, where customers complained about the quality of the jewelry and lab grown diamonds in many of the reviews. There are also claims for overpriced items, issues using the warranty, and terrible customer service.
Not worth it if you want a unique diamond
While Jared is a popular name in the wedding industry, it turns out it isn't so popular with customers who've bought lab grown diamonds and fine jewelry there. Sadly, with low ratings for prices and customer service, Jared fails to impress. Further, it has a much smaller inventory of lab grown diamonds compared to other sites in our review, making it less ideal for those hoping for a truly unique gemstone. While Jared might be worth a look if you enjoy shopping in person, you may want to check one of our higher-rated sites if you want reliable customer service and more diamonds to browse.
Weak
Everyone has heard the Kay Jewelers' slogan, "Every kiss begins with Kay," so it's no wonder that this jeweler is one of the most well-known sites for engagement rings and lab grown diamonds out there today. Kay Jewelers has been in business for over 100 years and claims to have helped millions of couples, families, and friends express love with jewelry, and the materials at Kay Jewelers are promised to be 100% responsibly sourced.
Selection of over 30,000 lab grown diamonds
Similar to other brands that are handled by parent company Signet Jewelers, Kay Jewelers has around 30,000 total lab grown diamonds. The total at Kay Jewelers is 32,306, and you'll find a range of carats from 0.05 to 30 and clarity levels from I1-FL. However, there are limited cuts, as the options at Kay Jewelers don't go higher than Ideal. As for different shapes, this retailer has 9,665 round, 4,059 princess, and 178 heart-shaped lab grown diamonds in its inventory.
Helpful images to tell you what you are buying
If you start browsing the Kay Jewelers website and feel like it works pretty similarly to some of our other lab grown diamond retailers in our review (like Jared, for instance), you'd be right. The site and UI are almost exactly the same. Since multiple sites in our review are managed by Signet Jewelers, a lot of the functional parts of the websites are similar too. For example, the best way to find diamonds at Kay Jewelers specifically is through the custom ring section of the site. And when you get there, lab grown diamonds will be marked with blue symbols on the high-resolution photos, to make it easy to see exactly what you're browsing.
Pricing from $290 to $50,320 per diamond
When comparing prices across jewelers in our review, we looked at the cost for all the lab grown diamonds at Kay Jewelers. Separately, we also checked prices as if we were buying a wedding ring. With this in mind, we focused on round and oval diamonds (popular shapes for engagement rings). For the round and oval prices, we also limited the options to 1-2 carats, clarity levels VS1-IF, colors F-D, and only ideal cuts (since Kay Jewelers didn't have a higher tier cut available). Here's what we found:
Returns in 30 days and free diamond upgrades
According to Kay Jewelers' return policy, you have 30 days from the shipment date to make a return for a full refund. If you'd like to make an exchange, you have up to 60 days. However, you can't complete an exchange online and will need to go to a local Kay Jewelers branch to complete the exchange. Jewelry cleaning at Kay Jewelers is always free of charge, and you can get free upgrades by trading in a lab grown diamond for credit toward another of at least double the value of the original.
Almost no positive reviews for Kay
Unlike some of the other jewelers that are under the parent company of Signet Jewelers, Kay Jewelers does have its own page on the Better Business Bureau where it holds an "A+" rating. However, on third-party review sites, Kay Jewelers doesn't do nearly as well. According to customers on Trustpilot, Kay Jewelers holds a mere 2-star average out of 5. Recent buyers claim that the company doesn't "care" about having repeat customers and focuses on making a "quick sale" instead. Customers have trouble getting refunds even within the refund window, and there were issues with fraudulent charges when shopping through the website. There are complaints about in-person and online customer service, though there are no specific concerns about the quality of the lab grown diamonds.
Just o-Kay
Regrettably, there isn't anything exciting about Kay Jewelers that helps it stand out from the pack in a positive way. Unfortunately, it goes mostly the other way with rampant negative reviews, frustrations about the online shopping experience, and a limited inventory of lab grown diamonds. For these reasons, this may not be your first pick (or second, or third) for your lab grown diamond shopping spree. While it's worth checking out if you want to try a place that's easy to visit in person if needed, Kay Jewelers isn't a top pick for lab grown diamonds.
Poor
Zales is another jewelry retailer under the parent company umbrella of Signet Jewelers. First opened in 1924 by Morris Zale, William Zale, and Ben Lipshy, the original Zales was based out of Texas. Today, alongside its sister sites, Zales is a massive retailer. It has over 422 retail locations across the US. Zales offers both natural and lab grown diamonds alongside a one-stop shop of other diamond jewelry and fine jewelry selections.
Selection of just under 30,000 diamonds
There are fewer lab grown diamonds offered at Zales than with other sites in our review. Zales only offers a total of 29,329 different diamonds. This is similar in number to its sister sites (Signet Jewelers' brands generally carry around 30,000 lab grown diamonds in stock at each retailer). Zales carries 10 out of the 11 diamond shapes commonly found at other retailers, missing just one option. However, it does have plenty of carat options ranging from 0.05 to 30, as well as various cuts from good to True Hearts, and clarity levels from I1 to FL. As for different shapes, Zales offers 9,191 round diamonds, 3,021 princess-cut stones, and only 146 heart-shaped options.
A familiar browsing experience
While browsing Zales wasn't difficult, the site was slower than many of the jewelry stores we researched for our review. It has the same UI as its sister sites, Kay Jewelers and Jared. The filters, photos, and designs mirror one another almost exactly, to the point that you might be confused about which site you're on without the header showing the Zales company name. One of the easiest methods to browse diamonds at Zales is by heading to the custom ring section. Once you're there, lab grown diamonds stand out with blue symbols on the listing images.
Pricing from $280 to $50,320 per diamond
To compare costs at Zales, we found a price range of its entire inventory of lab grown diamonds and also priced out the most commonly-chosen stones for engagement rings. Our research focused only on round and oval diamonds, with filters set to 1-2 carats, clarity levels from VS1 to IF, colors between F and D, and only the top two cuts offered at Zales. Here's what we discovered:
30-day returns and 60-day refunds
Zales gives you 30 days from when your order ships to send it back for a full refund. If you want to exchange an item instead, you have up to 60 days, but keep in mind that exchanges can't be done online - you'll need to visit a Zales store in person. This is a similar policy to the one offered by Zales' sister sites. Zales also allows you to trade in your old lab grown diamond jewelry for free. You'll get the full value of your original stone back in credit to buy your next item that is at least 50% more than your original purchase.
No positive feedback for customer service
While Zales currently holds an "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau, it isn't popular with jewelry buyers at all. Currently, Zales holds a 1.5-star average rating out of 5 on Trustpilot. In general, the recent ratings complain (profusely) about the terrible customer service at Zales locations and online. Customers have had purchases from Zales re-appraised by other jewelers and have been told the diamonds are not worth what the customer paid at Zales. Across the board, customers found Zales associates rude and unhelpful. Reviews use words like "appalled," "disappointed," "discouraging," and other extremely negative words to describe the experiences at Zales.
Not worth the poor service
Considering that lab grown diamonds are a large purchase, you want to feel confident in the jeweler you're shopping with. In that regard, Zales falls to the bottom of the stack. Regrettably, this retailer doesn't have any positive reviews for its customer service or lab grown diamond-buying experiences, and there are plenty of other retailers that can give you higher-quality gems with top-notch service. So, for this reason, Zales earns a low rating and a cautionary note: if you're looking for customer service that's there to help, you may want to look elsewhere.
Continued from above...
Diamonds are a girl's best friend (and honestly, they're great for guys too), but there's one huge snag that keeps people from grabbing those glittery rocks: cost. Most people think of diamonds and think of dollar signs (and lots of ‘em). However, there are more cost-effective options. And, no, we're not talking about fakes or cubic zirconia lookalikes.
We're talking lab grown diamonds. These diamonds are just as real as the diamonds you find in the earth, but they come at a fraction of the cost. So, what exactly is a lab grown diamond? First - lab grown diamonds are real diamonds. According to diamond experts at the Gemological Institute of America, "lab grown" diamonds and "natural" diamonds have the same hardness and level of durability, the same level of clarity, and are both certified as diamonds.
Lab grown (or man made) diamonds have been created in a controlled laboratory environment. Using techniques like High Pressure High Temperature creation, diamonds can be crafted to look exactly like earth-mined diamonds and have the same chemical and physical makeup as their natural counterparts. The only differences between lab grown and earth-mined diamonds are so tiny no one will ever see them except under serious magnification.
For example, natural diamonds have nitrogen due to the process of being created over millions of years under the pressure of the earth. Lab grown diamond creation simulates that process and cuts down production time to a couple of months. Plus, there isn't any dangerous mining involved in lab grown diamonds, making it much safer, far less costly, and in many cases a more ethical or carbon-neutral choice. The price difference between lab grown and natural diamonds is usually around 30-50% less for a lab grown gem of the same cut and quality, making it possible to purchase a much larger certified diamond without breaking the bank.
So, whether you're looking to get a diamond for your engagement ring, hoping to buy something shiny to treat yourself, or looking to create a new family heirloom, finding a reliable place to get quality lab grown diamonds is important.
If you're not sure which lab-grown diamond jeweler or gemstone retailer is going to be your best bet, don't worry. We've put together a few factors to help you choose the best spot:
To help you enhance your sparkle, Top Consumer Reviews has researched and ranked today's most popular retailers and jewelers for lab grown diamonds. This way you can enjoy the discounts and know you're getting a certified diamond for you or for your special someone. Enjoy your new bling!
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