Wednesday, November 29th
2023 Lab Grown Diamond Store Reviews
Kay Jewelers
- 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.
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.
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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!
Lab Grown Diamond Store FAQ
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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