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Kay Jewelers Review

Thursday, April 24th

2025 Lab Grown Diamond Store Reviews

Kay Jewelers Review 1.5 Star Rating

Kay Jewelers

1.5 Star Rating
  • Pricing from $290 to $50,320 per diamond
  • Selection includes 32,000+ diamonds
  • 10 diamond shapes
  • Returns in 30 days
  • Exchanges offered in-store
  • Free diamond upgrades
  • "A+” rating from the BBB

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.

Best Lab Grown Diamonds

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:

  • Overall price range for lab grown diamonds: $290 to $50,320
  • Round: $1,070 to $7,140
  • Oval: $1,060 to $5,900

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.

Best Lab Grown Diamonds

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.

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.

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.

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...

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:

  • Price. Lab grown diamonds are less costly than their earth-bound counterparts, but there is still a difference in price depending on where you buy. Make sure the cost is worth the size (carat) of the gemstone you're grabbing.
  • Cuts. Not all diamonds are the same. Depending on your taste, you may want a different shape or cut that suits your style. Check if your chosen retailer offers your preferred cuts, whether you want round, princess, heart, pear, or something else entirely.
  • Grading report. Some sites sell diamond simulants which are listed as lab created diamonds. However, this isn't the same as a lab grown diamond. You'll want to look for a grading report from a reputable lab like the IGI, EGL, or GIA to ensure that you're getting a real lab created diamond and not a knock off.
  • Reputation. Look to see if your chosen retailer has a top-notch reputation. Check out customer reviews on purchases and returns before you buy. You can also look up your retailer on sites like the Better Business Bureau to see how it stacks up against competing retailers.

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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Brilliant Earth vs Grown Brilliance Brilliant Earth vs Blue Nile Brilliant Earth vs Von Diamonds Brilliant Earth vs James Allen Brilliant Earth vs Vrai Brilliant Earth vs Reeds Jewelers Brilliant Earth vs Ritani Brilliant Earth vs Helzberg Diamonds Brilliant Earth vs Jared Brilliant Earth vs Kay Jewelers Brilliant Earth vs Zales Grown Brilliance vs Blue Nile Grown Brilliance vs Von Diamonds Grown Brilliance vs James Allen Grown Brilliance vs Vrai Grown Brilliance vs Reeds Jewelers Grown Brilliance vs Ritani Grown Brilliance vs Helzberg Diamonds Grown Brilliance vs Jared Grown Brilliance vs Kay Jewelers Grown Brilliance vs Zales Blue Nile vs Von Diamonds Blue Nile vs James Allen Blue Nile vs Vrai Blue Nile vs Reeds Jewelers Blue Nile vs Ritani Blue Nile vs Helzberg Diamonds Blue Nile vs Jared Blue Nile vs Kay Jewelers Blue Nile vs Zales Von Diamonds vs James Allen Von Diamonds vs Vrai Von Diamonds vs Reeds Jewelers Von Diamonds vs Ritani Von Diamonds vs Helzberg Diamonds Von Diamonds vs Jared Von Diamonds vs Kay Jewelers Von Diamonds vs Zales James Allen vs Vrai James Allen vs Reeds Jewelers James Allen vs Ritani James Allen vs Helzberg Diamonds James Allen vs Jared James Allen vs Kay Jewelers James Allen vs Zales Vrai vs Reeds Jewelers Vrai vs Ritani Vrai vs Helzberg Diamonds Vrai vs Jared Vrai vs Kay Jewelers Vrai vs Zales Reeds Jewelers vs Ritani Reeds Jewelers vs Helzberg Diamonds Reeds Jewelers vs Jared Reeds Jewelers vs Kay Jewelers Reeds Jewelers vs Zales Ritani vs Helzberg Diamonds Ritani vs Jared Ritani vs Kay Jewelers Ritani vs Zales Helzberg Diamonds vs Jared Helzberg Diamonds vs Kay Jewelers Helzberg Diamonds vs Zales Jared vs Kay Jewelers Jared vs Zales Kay Jewelers vs Zales
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