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Kay Jewelers Review

Wednesday, November 29th

2023 Lab Grown Diamond Store Reviews

Kay Jewelers Review 2.5 Star Rating

Kay Jewelers

2.5 Star Rating
  • About 300 options for jewelry with lab-grown diamonds
  • Prices range from $250 to $39,000
  • In business for 100+ years
  • "A+" rated and accredited by the BBB
  • 30-day return policy, 60 days for exchanges
  • Lots of delivery options

Kay Jewelers is one of several jewelry stores in our review that are owned by Signet Jewelers. Established in 1916, Kay has over 1,000 retail stores and is widely known for its tagline, "Every kiss begins with K(ay)," emphasizing their focus on jewelry for every love story.

Easy to shop for lab-created diamond jewelry

In order to browse Kay's selection of jewelry made with lab-grown diamonds, you can easily choose a particular type: engagement rings, earrings, bracelets, and so on: just look for those sections in the dropdowns at the top of the site. You can also start your shopping from the Lab-Created Diamonds page, which will give you some insights into the differences between natural and man-made stones, answer some of the questions you may have, and get you started with your shopping.

Selection is good

Kay's overall selection of jewelry made with lab-grown diamonds is decent. You'll choose among 130+ wedding/engagement rings, 60 necklaces, 80 sets of earrings, and about 20 bracelets. Compared with at least one of Kay's sister brands, this jewelry store has a better selection on a budget: you can get anniversary bands in yellow, rose, or white gold for just $250, several dozen necklaces for under $1,000, and so on. Even the highest-end rings don't go quite as high as Kay's jewelry store "relatives" , with prices here maxing out at "just" $39,000. There are plenty of solitaires and bridal sets in the $1,000-$5,000 range too, if that's what you're looking for.

Save when you accept emails

Signing up for Kay's email newsletter might save you $25 on your first order of $99+. However, with many exclusions in the fine print, including any Lab-Created by Kay solitaire rings, your particular purchase might not be eligible.

Lots and lots of delivery options

Kay goes to great lengths to offer you multiple ways to get your jewelry once you place your order. You'll see all of the standard shipping methods on your Checkout page, as well as the estimated arrival date based on the one you choose. But wait - there's more. If you're in a hurry, you can enter your zip code as you shop and select the location nearest you - then browse the inventory for what's in stock there and pick up your order in four hours or less. Need your diamond brought to you? Kay partners with Roadie for same-day delivery service if you're trying to hide the fact that you forgot your anniversary (again). And, naturally, you can always order online from Kay's entire inventory and pick up your jewelry in person.

Best Lab Grown Diamonds

30 days for returns, 60 for exchanges

Returns at Kay aren't anything particularly noteworthy. You'll have 30 days to return your purchase, and 60 days to make an exchange.

Customer feedback is inconsistent

Kay's reputation leaves room for improvement. Although Signet, Kay Jeweler's parent company, enjoys an "A+" rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau, customer feedback for this store is much less enthusiastic (and much less consistent). On Trustpilot, the retailer only had a 1.9-star average across 200+ reviews; looking at other places where shoppers leave comments, Kay had a 3.5-out-of-5-stars average in one spot and a surprisingly high 4.3 in another. It seems like your purchase of lab-created diamond jewelry is going to be a gamble, affected by whether you get your purchase delivered from Kay's main inventory or from your local store - and your experience with the local store (pick-ups and returns) could be amazing or awful.

Jewelry quality is disappointing

Unfortunately, the jewelry itself gets a lot of negative feedback too. It's not easy to tell if it's referring to lab-grown diamonds when reading through complaints about jewelry quality, but it's never encouraging to read words like "nightmare" and "disappointment" as descriptions of the quality of a high-spend item like jewelry. Customers said that they got items that were obviously used, jewelry under warranty wasn't replaced or repaired appropriately, and that the jewelry they received wasn't the quality advertised on the website. Sigh.

Better choices for lab-created diamond jewelry

We give Kay's lab-grown diamond jewelry selection a slightly higher ranking than its sister company Jared: you'll get a better range of options across price points here. But, as far as reputation and attention to customer service go, there isn't much difference between the two (and that's not a good thing). While we love companies with a long-standing history, Kay's 100+ years in business don't seem to translate to the kind of buying experience you'd expect. Try our higher-ranked jewelry stores when shipping for lab-created diamonds before buying from Kay.

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!

The Best Lab Grown Diamond Stores Compare Lab Grown Diamond Stores Compare Lab Grown Diamond Store Reviews What are the best Lab Grown Diamond Stores Best Lab Grown Diamond Store Reviews

Lab Grown Diamond Store FAQ

Lab-created diamonds are gemstones that are grown in a laboratory instead of being mined from the earth. They have the same chemical, physical, and optical properties as natural diamonds.
Yes! They have the same characteristics as natural diamonds and can only be distinguished from natural diamonds using specialized equipment. Your lucky recipient - or your friends at girls' night - will never know.
Lab-created diamonds are usually considered more ethical than natural diamonds because they are not associated with environmental destruction or human rights abuses. However, the environmental impact of producing lab-created diamonds and the working conditions of lab workers may also be factors to consider.
Yes, lab-created diamonds are typically less expensive than natural diamonds of the same quality and size. This is because the cost of producing lab-created diamonds is lower than mining natural diamonds.
Unfortunately, no. These man-made gemstones have lower resale value than natural diamonds because they are not as rare. However, this may change as lab-created diamonds become more popular and widely accepted in the jewelry industry.
Lab-created diamonds are made using two different methods: High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD). HPHT mimics the natural diamond formation process by subjecting a small diamond seed to high temperature and pressure. CVD uses a gas mixture to deposit carbon atoms onto a diamond seed, which eventually grows into a diamond.
100%. They have the same hardness, toughness, and resistance to scratching and chipping.
Absolutely! They are a popular and ethical alternative to natural diamonds and offer the same beauty and durability. It's a great way to get a stunning ring at a much lower price than you'd spend for jewelry with natural gemstones. And unless you tell her (or him), your intended will never know the difference.
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Continued from above...

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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  • James Allen
  • Grown Brilliance
  • Ritani
  • 12FIFTEEN
  • VRAI
  • Blue Nile
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  • Zales
  • Reeds Jewelers
  • Helzberg Diamonds
  • Kay Jewelers
  • Jared
James Allen vs Grown Brilliance James Allen vs Ritani James Allen vs 12FIFTEEN James Allen vs VRAI James Allen vs Blue Nile James Allen vs Brilliant Earth James Allen vs Zales James Allen vs Reeds Jewelers James Allen vs Helzberg Diamonds James Allen vs Kay Jewelers James Allen vs Jared Grown Brilliance vs Ritani Grown Brilliance vs 12FIFTEEN Grown Brilliance vs VRAI Grown Brilliance vs Blue Nile Grown Brilliance vs Brilliant Earth Grown Brilliance vs Zales Grown Brilliance vs Reeds Jewelers Grown Brilliance vs Helzberg Diamonds Grown Brilliance vs Kay Jewelers Grown Brilliance vs Jared Ritani vs 12FIFTEEN Ritani vs VRAI Ritani vs Blue Nile Ritani vs Brilliant Earth Ritani vs Zales Ritani vs Reeds Jewelers Ritani vs Helzberg Diamonds Ritani vs Kay Jewelers Ritani vs Jared 12FIFTEEN vs VRAI 12FIFTEEN vs Blue Nile 12FIFTEEN vs Brilliant Earth 12FIFTEEN vs Zales 12FIFTEEN vs Reeds Jewelers 12FIFTEEN vs Helzberg Diamonds 12FIFTEEN vs Kay Jewelers 12FIFTEEN vs Jared VRAI vs Blue Nile VRAI vs Brilliant Earth VRAI vs Zales VRAI vs Reeds Jewelers VRAI vs Helzberg Diamonds VRAI vs Kay Jewelers VRAI vs Jared Blue Nile vs Brilliant Earth Blue Nile vs Zales Blue Nile vs Reeds Jewelers Blue Nile vs Helzberg Diamonds Blue Nile vs Kay Jewelers Blue Nile vs Jared Brilliant Earth vs Zales Brilliant Earth vs Reeds Jewelers Brilliant Earth vs Helzberg Diamonds Brilliant Earth vs Kay Jewelers Brilliant Earth vs Jared Zales vs Reeds Jewelers Zales vs Helzberg Diamonds Zales vs Kay Jewelers Zales vs Jared Reeds Jewelers vs Helzberg Diamonds Reeds Jewelers vs Kay Jewelers Reeds Jewelers vs Jared Helzberg Diamonds vs Kay Jewelers Helzberg Diamonds vs Jared Kay Jewelers vs Jared
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