Wednesday, December 4th
2024 Lab Grown Diamond Store Reviews
VRAI
- Thousands of choices for lab-created diamond jewelry
- Prices range from $195 to $34,000+
- Eco-friendly approach to lab-grown diamonds
- Complimentary video consultations available
- Buy from in-stock inventory or create your own piece
- Complimentary delivery on all orders
- 30-day return policy (even on custom pieces)
VRAI is a jewelry company that specializes in lab-created diamonds and is based in Los Angeles, California. The company was founded in 2014 and is part of the Diamond Foundry family of companies, which is a leading producer of lab-grown diamonds. VRAI has been featured in several publications, including Vogue, Forbes, and Bazaar.
Environmentally-conscious and conflict-free
VRAI wants you to know from the outset that their lab-created diamonds are not just conflict-free, they're eco-friendly. The company uses its own zero-emission foundry in the Pacific Northwest to convert greenhouse gas into diamonds, which are then set in recycled solid gold. As they put it, "No mining. No emissions. No guilt.”
On a budget? No problem
The selection of lab-grown diamonds at VRAI is vast - as you'd expect from a retailer that specializes in man-made stones. If you're looking for something beautiful yet budget-friendly, we recommend going to the Jewelry section, clicking on "Explore all jewelry”, then sorting by price from lowest to highest. We spotted some cute yellow gold hoops with diamonds for $195 and a tiny ring with a small stone for the same price, plus lots of options for bracelets and stud earrings for under $300.
Higher-end options too
Then again, maybe you're looking for a piece that's designed to turn heads. Just flip the sorting on the Jewelry page to see the highest-end jewelry in VRAI's inventory. At the time of this review, that included a pair of tennis necklaces for $24,500-$26,500+, a suspended solitaire cross in platinum for $12,500, and several tennis bracelets in the $3,000-$9,000+ range.
Ample inventory for ready-made or custom-designed engagement rings
Engagement rings are a category of their own, and you can choose among ready-to-order rings or design a one-of-a-kind piece from scratch. The jeweler's inventory of lab-grown diamonds is always changing as new stones are created and purchased, so your options may vary based on when you're designing the engagement ring. When we visited VRAI recently, there were two diamonds available for over $30,000: a 12ct pear-shaped stone and a 14ct emerald cut. Not quite what you have in mind? No problem. Just use the filters on the left side of the page to indicate your preferred diamond cut, color, carat weight, and price range. There really is something for everyone.
Free delivery and discounts
If you're making a larger purchase at VRAI, watch for the pop-up as you browse the store. We were offered a $100 discount on a purchase over $750 if we provided our email address and phone number. You'll also get free standard delivery (2-4 business days) on all orders. If your order is over $700, you'll get complimentary delivery within two business days, and free overnight delivery if it's over $10,000.
No customer service via phone
We're not the biggest fans of jewelry stores that only provide online chat or email for contacting customer service. As some customers have reported, that can make it take a long time to get important questions answered, like "when is my bracelet going to arrive?”, or for resolving any discrepancies between what you ordered and what you received. But, one unique feature of VRAI is that you can also schedule a virtual appointment via video call - though those are best used prior to making your purchase, not for post-purchase questions. When scheduling an appointment, you'll have to indicate if it's for an engagement ring, wedding band, or to "build your perfect earrings or necklace” from VRAI's solitaire diamonds.
Numerous five-star reviews
When it comes to reputation, VRAI starts out a little shaky. The Better Business Bureau gives the retailer a "D” grade - but that's because of VRAI's failure to respond to one of the four complaints filed with the BBB. Four complaints, even with one unanswered, is hardly a pattern of terrible service. And it gets better from there, because in most places outside of the BBB, VRAI receives lots of 4- and 5-star reviews. On the VRAI site itself, you'll find more than 5,000 of them, and even on third-party sites people wax poetic about how pretty their lab-created diamonds are and how often they receive compliments on their jewelry.
30-day returns - even on custom pieces
VRAI also impresses us with its return policy. You'll get the industry-standard 30 days to request your money back (or 14 days when buying loose diamonds), but this jeweler goes above and beyond by allowing returns even on customized pieces. That goes back to VRAI's eco-friendly approach to jewelry: they'll unset the diamonds in your jewelry and melt the gold for recycling. You'll have to pay a recycling fee ($200 on engagement ring refunds, $50 on wedding bands or made-to-order fine jewelry pieces), but that's still a huge perk compared with jewelry stores that have "no returns allowed” policies.
Give VRAI a try
VRAI comes in with a solid rating. We put it a little behind comparable retailers who offer over-the-phone customer support (because, let's face it, sometimes you need that reassuring voice telling you that yes, your expensive jewelry is still safe and en route), but overall we give this jeweler high marks for selection, quality, and service. We recommend checking out what VRAI has to offer when you're shopping for lab-grown diamond jewelry.
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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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