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Friday, April 18th
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.
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!
Select any 2 Lab Grown Diamond Stores to compare them head to head