The 12 Best Lab Grown Diamond Stores
Where Can You Find the Best Lab Grown Diamonds?
Lab-grown diamonds, also known as synthetic or cultured diamonds, are man-made gemstones that are created in a laboratory environment using advanced technological processes that mimic the natural conditions under which diamonds form in the earth's mantle.
Sounds pretty technical, but the amazing thing is that these diamonds are essentially identical in chemical, physical, and optical properties to natural diamonds mined from the earth. They are also graded on the same 4Cs scale used for natural diamonds, which stands for cut, clarity, color, and carat weight. All of the same sparkle factor? Yes, please!
Tuesday, October 8th
2024 Lab Grown Diamond Store Reviews
James Allen
If you're in the market for lab-created diamond jewelry, James Allen is the name to remember. Their selection of both loose stones and ready-to-order pieces is exceptional, but what really sets them apart is their impressive array of customer benefits. This includes free worldwide shipping on every order, a lifetime warranty against manufacturer defects, and 24/7 customer service. With thousands of happy shoppers awarding this retailer a perfect five-star rating, we are glad to name it as our top choice for lab-grown diamond jewelry as well.
Grown Brilliance
Grown Brilliance is a smart way to shop for jewelry that uses lab-grown diamonds - or for loose stones - because there are no mined diamonds anywhere on the site. This retailer offers a vast selection of stones to choose from, plus beautiful pieces of jewelry that are sure to impress. With a more generous return policy than most retailers and the ability to book a virtual consultation for any questions you have, Grown Brilliance takes customer service to a new level. Thousands of clients give this store a five-star review, and we're sure you'll have nothing but praise for your lab-created diamond jewelry when you buy it from Grown Brilliance.
Ritani
Order lab-grown diamonds online and try before you buy? That's Ritani's specialty, with over 130,000 man-made stones to choose from, all with 360 degree video previews and the ability to set up an in-person appointment to see them up close and personal before committing to the purchase. Although Ritani doesn't make it quite as smooth to browse lab-created diamond jewelry outside of engagement rings, this retailer earns our recommendation.
12FIFTEEN
Everything you see in the 12FIFTEEN store is conflict-free: they only use lab-created diamonds in all of their jewelry, from earrings to engagement rings. You'll find a selection of over 17,000 loose stones that can be used to design the piece of your dreams, or browse this jeweler's inventory of about 200 non-engagement ring options like necklaces and bracelets. "A+” rated by the BBB and well-loved by customers, 12FIFTEEN is a reliable choice for lab-grown diamond jewelry.
VRAI
VRAI is one of the newer retailers in the lab-grown diamond jewelry industry, but thousands of people have already given it a flawless five-star rating. You'll see lots of sparkle in VRAI's selection of loose diamonds and jewelry, and the retailer's 30-day return window even applies to pieces you customize. While we wish VRAI offered live customer support via phone - for that extra reassurance, especially on big-ticket purchases like jewelry -this is still a top shop for lab-created diamonds.
Blue Nile
Blue Nile has a fantastic selection of more than 22,000 loose lab-grown diamonds, making this an excellent place to create an engagement ring. Options are much more limited for other types of jewelry, typically with just one style of stud earrings, tennis bracelet, and pendant to choose from (though all of them are available in an array of carats). There are a lot of great perks here, like free virtual consultations and a diamond upgrade program, and customer feedback is overwhelmingly positive. Blue Nile doesn't stand out for their selection of non-engagement jewelry, but they score well above average if you're planning a proposal and need the ring to go with it.
Brilliant Earth
Brilliant Earth is a company that has gained a reputation for its commitment to sustainability, ethical sourcing, and social responsibility in the jewelry industry. With over 170,000 loose lab-grown diamonds and 200 ready-to-order pieces to choose from, you won't be short on options here. However, despite an "A+” rating from the BBB, this jeweler still has issues with customer satisfaction that keep it from earning a higher ranking.
Zales
As a diamond specialist, it should be obvious that Zales would also have a good selection of jewelry made from lab-grown stones - over 400 choices, to be exact, including rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces. There's no option to design your own or to buy loose man-made diamonds here, but you still have access to some high-end and conflict-free engagement rings. Zales may not have as many options as its higher-ranked rivals, but it's a store you can trust if you see something you like.
Reeds Jewelers
Among jewelry stores overall, REEDS is a retailer we really like. Family-owned since 1946 and committed to customer service, it's a company anyone could love. But, when shopping for jewelry that uses lab-grown diamonds, the overall experience doesn't quite compete with rival retailers: the site can be glitchy, the selection of loose stones is small, and there's not as much information to consider when making a purchase.
Helzberg Diamonds
Helzberg Diamonds has retail locations scattered across the United States, but their online store provides customers with a more extensive inventory of lab-created diamond jewelry to choose from. Plus, if you prefer, you can have your purchases shipped to a store near you for safety and convenience. While you may not find anything particularly awe-inspiring here, Helzberg Diamonds is a dependable place to shop for jewelry if you happen to find something lab-grown that you like.
Kay Jewelers
While Kay Jewelers' tagline is "Every Kiss Begins with K(ay)”, you may want your shopping for lab-grown diamond jewelry to begin somewhere else. Although there are some benefits to shopping at Kay, like picking up online orders in-store and a decent return window, too many people have reported problems with this retailer. We recommend checking out the higher-ranked jewelry stores in our evaluation if you're looking for the best selection of lab-created diamonds and a customer service experience to match.
Jared
Even if "he went to Jared” for your lab-created diamond purchase, you might be wishing he wouldn't have. Despite Jared being part of a reputable brand family (that includes several other retailers in our evaluation), this jeweler just can't hold up its end of the customer service deal - refusing to stand behind what it sells and disappointing shoppers left and right. You'll almost certainly have a better experience buying your lab-grown diamond jewelry somewhere else.
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Better yet, lab-grown diamonds are generally less expensive than natural stones of the same size and quality. And, if you've ever been concerned by the idea of "blood diamonds”, lab-grown stones are perfect for you: they don't involve the environmentally damaging (and often unethical) practices associated with natural diamond mining.
However, lab-grown diamonds have a few small drawbacks. One major concern is that they may not hold their value over time as well as natural diamonds, since they aren't as rare or unique. Additionally, some people may prefer the idea of owning a natural diamond as a symbol of their love or commitment - even if lab-created stones are undetectable as such to the average person's eye.
When you realize that some jewelers offering lab-grown diamonds have an inventory of over 100,000 stones to choose from, you might feel a little overwhelmed. Take a deep breath, try to enjoy the process a little, and use these ideas to make your shopping easier:
- Filters. The quickest way to narrow down thousands upon thousands of choices is through smart use of filters. Most sites will let you select your preferred stone shape (round, oval, heart, pear) and set a price range. If you already know what clarity or color parameters you'll accept, indicate those as well.
- Consultations. It can be confusing to create an engagement ring or other custom piece of jewelry, or even to understand the ins and outs of lab-grown diamonds. Some retailers offer consultations, either virtually via video call or in-person at a location near you. Take advantage of this service if you're feeling nervous or you just want an extra set of eyes to look over your design or purchase.
- Customer benefits. Know what to expect with any jewelry store you're considering. How long will you have to make a return if the "Will you marry me?” doesn't get a "yes” answer, or if those earrings just don't look as good in person as they did online? What's the warranty coverage? Is there a price match guarantee if you find a similar lab-created diamond somewhere else?
- Reputation. Other shoppers' feedback is a great way to gauge if a retailer of lab-grown diamond jewelry is doing a good job. Check out customer photos of the rings, bracelets, and so on: how do they look in the "real world”? Is there any pattern of complaints? Has the store received a favorable grade from the Better Business Bureau?
Shopping for jewelry made with lab-grown diamonds can be an exhilarating experience, and Top Consumer Reviews has evaluated and ranked today's most popular retailers to give you an advantage as you browse. We hope this information helps take the edge off any nervousness you might be feeling, so that you can find - or create - the perfect piece of jewelry for that proposal, anniversary, or "just because” moment.
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