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The Best Lab-Grown Diamonds, According To Jewelry Experts

Even the best lab-grown diamonds can stir up a bit of skepticism in shoppers—and for good reason. You might wonder: How can anything concocted in a laboratory compare to what’s organically found in nature? But with new technologies and sustainable practices, there are a lot of benefits to lab-created diamonds, which are very much “real.” Perhaps the biggest upside to choosing lab-grown is that there’s no mining involved, and many brands—including Vrai and Clean Origin—create these stones with renewable energy, leaving behind very little (or zero) emissions. Another perk of lab-grown is that it maximizes your budget without sacrificing quality

Below, you’ll find where to buy the best lab-grown diamonds, along with recommendations from Forbes Vetted’s certified fashion and gem expert Kari Molvar. In addition to recommending trusted retailers, Molvar advises on which pieces to buy—from timeless engagement rings to shimmering tennis bracelets—if you’re on the search for some sparkle.

  • Best Lab-Grown Diamonds Overall: Blue Nile
  • Best Lab-Grown Diamonds For Variety: James Allen
  • Best Premium Cut Lab-Grown Diamonds: Vrai
  • Best Lab-Grown Diamonds For Customizing: Grown Brilliance
  • Best Lab-Grown Diamonds For Price Transparency: Ritani
  • Best Eco-Friendly Lab-Grown Diamonds: Clean Origin
  • Best Lab-Grown Diamonds For Easy Shopping: With Clarity

Best Lab-Grown Diamonds Overall

Blue Nile: Beautiful Rings That Won’t Break The Bank

MOST POPULAR

Blue Nile French Pavé Diamond Eternity Ring (1/2 Carat)

Price range: Pieces start at $365 | Shipping and returns: Free shipping and returns within 30 days; full return policy | White-glove services: Complimentary ring resizing for 1 year; free polishing, cleaning, prong inspection every 6 months

Blue Nile has been around for over 20 years, so it’s a trusted authority in an otherwise newer space. All of its loose diamonds are analyzed and graded for quality by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), one of the most accurate labs in the diamond industry. Since the brand sells direct to consumer, it’s able to offer high-quality stones with low overhead costs and, as a result, attainable pricing. In addition to rings, Blue Nile also offers a gorgeous selection of bracelets, earrings and necklaces—its simple studs earned the top spot on our list of the best lab-grown diamond earrings.

What our expert says: “What sets Blue Nile apart is the custom rings, pendants and earrings you can make with lab-grown diamonds,” says Molvar. “The prices are great and you get nice extras—like a free gift box and notecard with purchases. For wedding rings, I love the French Pavé Diamond Eternity Ring; and for gifts, I’d suggest the half-carat diamond earrings or classic tennis bracelet.”


The 2024 Forbes Vetted Best Product Awards are here: Explore our 150 top-recommended items across categories after extensive research and testing.


Best Lab-Grown Diamonds For Variety

James Allen: Endless Options At Your Fingertips

James Allen 14K White Gold Petite Pavé Cathedral Engagement Ring

Get 30% off JamesAllen lab grown diamonds (no coupon code needed). This promotion can also be combined with additional JamesAllen discount offers!

Price range: Pieces start at $110 | Shipping and returns: Free shipping and returns within 30 days; full return policy | White-glove services: Free engraving for rings, prong tightening, re-polishing; real-time diamond viewing with expert gemologist online 

James Allen carries both natural and lab-grown diamonds. The New York-based jeweler is best known for its massive selection of stones in every cut, at every price point. Plus, it offers a virtual service for custom-made rings, and you can inspect your diamonds in real time, with a 360-degree view and advice of an in-house gemologist. Typically, if you shop for lab-grown diamonds you can get up to 30% more size for the same cost, which really helps maximize your budget.

What our expert says: “James Allen is located in the diamond district in New York, and has an excellent reputation for quality, service and expertise,” shares Molvar. “I own a gorgeous pair of James Allen lab-grown stud earrings, which actually sparkle more than one of my natural diamond pairs. The White Gold Petite Pavé Cathedral Engagement Ring is a favorite for rings, and I’d also recommend the diamond pendant and blossom tennis necklace.”


Best Premium Cut Lab-Grown Diamonds

Vrai: Gorgeous Diamond Selection Polished By Hand

Vrai Tennis Bracelet (Petite)

Price range: Pieces start at $125 | Shipping and returns: $10 flat rate for 2-day shipping. Free returns for in-stock jewelry under $700 within 30 days of delivery; full return policy | White-glove services: 1 complimentary ring resizing (up or down one full size), virtual appointments

Known for its commitment to sustainability, Vrai exclusively works with lab-grown diamonds. Stones are created in its zero-emissions diamond foundry, which is based in the Pacific Northwest and run on 100% hydropower. Leonardo DiCaprio is an investor is this forward-thinking jeweler and all lab-grown diamonds come with certification that includes country of origin (not all brands offer this), along with a lifetime warranty. Aside from preserving the environment, Vrai prides itself in hand-chiseled and polished diamonds by artisans. The attention to detail shows: Vrai’s diamonds have some of the best, sparkling cuts on the market.

What our expert says: “I like how Vrai is very transparent about prices and policies, which are listed right on every product page,” says Molvar. “Its styles are minimalist and elegant. Some of my favorites include the knife-edge solitaire setting, solitaire studs and tennis bracelet.”


Best Lab-Grown Diamonds For Customization

Grown Brilliance: Design Your Dream Rings, Necklace And More

Grown Brilliance Badgley Mischka Pear Diamond Solitaire Pendant

Price range: Pieces start at $170 | Shipping and returns: Free shipping and returns within 45 days of ship date; full return policy | White-glove services: Design your own ring, necklace, bracelet or earrings; price match guarantee

Grown Brilliance sources all of its lab-grown diamonds directly from trusted diamond growers, and sends them directly to a manufacturing facility that works exclusively on Grown Brilliance jewelry. There, expertly trained artisans customize your piece—in addition to engagement rings, you can also customize earrings, necklaces and bracelets—or you can shop the ready-to-ship pieces, including diamond studs, solitaire pendants and bangles.

What our expert says: “I love the convenience of being able to shop both pre-set and custom-designed jewelry, since it can be overwhelming to know where to start,” says Molvar. “The brand’s also partnered with wedding designer Badgley Mischka on a jewelry collection that’s truly one of a kind and very special.”


Best Lab-Grown Diamonds For Price Transparency

Ritani: Full Breakdown Of All Costs, No-Hassle Returns

Ritani Eternity Hoop Earrings (2 Carats)

Price range: Loose lab diamonds start at $50 | Shipping and returns: Free shipping and returns within 30 days of delivery; full return policy | White-glove services: Free FedEx pick-up from your home or office for returns; free lifetime care and cleanings

New York-based Ritani lets you start with your choice of diamond (lab-grown or natural) and shape, including classic options like round, cushion and princess cuts. The family-owned jeweler is transparent about pricing, giving a breakdown of costs, and also analyzes the prices of nearly 200,000 diamonds on the market daily. If a comparable diamond in its inventory has a lower price from another jeweler, it’s price matched.

What our expert says: “Ritani’s Petite 6-Prong Knife-Edge Solitaire Engagement Ring is one of its most popular, and it’s stunning and classic,” shares Molvar. “While you have the most choice for lab-grown diamonds in rings, I also love the bezel-set diamond bar necklace and eternity hoop earrings.”


Best Eco-Friendly Lab-Grown Diamonds

Clean Origin: Practices That Help The Planet

Clean Origin Solon Ring

Price range: Pieces start at $225 | Shipping and returns: Free shipping and returns within 100 days; full return policy | White-glove services: Virtual appointments; complimentary ring resizing for standard ring styles with free shipping both ways; ready-to-ship styles

Co-founded by Alexander Weindling, a third-generation diamond jeweler, Clean Origin works with exclusively lab-grown diamonds, using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and high pressure high temperature (HPHT) techniques, as well as recycled metals whenever possible. All engagement rings come with a lifetime manufacturing warranty against defects and center stones are fully certified by an independent diamond grading laboratory. Design a custom ring or shop the ready-to-ship rings that arrive within a few days.

What our expert says: “The Solon Ring is one of my favorite engagement rings—it catches the light every time you move your hand,” says Molvar. “Clean Origin also sells men’s diamond rings and bridal sets—with matching engagement and wedding bands—which are gorgeous and very well priced.”


Best Lab-Grown Diamonds For Easy Shopping

With Clarity: Try On At Home Services, Price Match And More

With Clarity Three Stone Marquise Fine Line Engagement Ring

Price range: Pieces start at $324 | Shipping and returns: Free shipping and returns within 30 days of order date; full return policy | White-glove services: Free engraving or any band or diamond ring; Home Preview service; 1 free resizing within 30 days of purchase

With Clarity works with a team of independently certified gemologists to help you create a unique ring: Start with a stone (conflict-free or lab-grown diamonds), setting or ring style from the many options, or shop pre-set rings and put your own spin on the design. Still undecided? With the Home Preview service, you can try on two sample rings at home, customized for carat, shape and metal, which are 3-D printed and shipped to you. The brand offers more than 8,000 ways to customize a ring and you can keep the samples for three days.

What our fashion editor says: “With Clarity is like the Warby Parker of engagement rings—I love that you can try on rings at home first before deciding. The brand’s selection of fine jewelry is also great; it’s sometimes to tricky to filter by lab-grown diamonds styles but you can narrow by category (earrings, necklaces) and then price (the most affordable options are lab-grown).”


Why Trust Forbes Vetted

  • At Forbes Vetted, we have published numerous jewelry stories, including guides to the best places to buy engagement rings and best jewelry stores online.
  • The publishing of this article was overseen by Forbes Vetted deputy editor Kari Molvar, who oversees the site’s fashion vertical. In addition to serving as Vetted’s in-house style expert, Molvar holds certificates in Design History from Sotheby’s Institute of Art, Lab-Grown Diamond Fundamentals from the International Gem Society and Jewelry Essentials from the Gemological Institute of America.
  • To gain a deeper knowledge of lab-grown diamonds, we also tapped Ankur Daga, a graduate of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the founder and CEO of Angara, a leading online jeweler.
  • This article is regularly updated to ensure all product information and pricing is accurate. In February 2024, fashion writer Claire Epting refreshed our list with jewelry picks from Vrai, Grown Brilliance and Ritani.


How We Chose The Best Lab-Grown Diamonds

  • The Forbes Vetted team spent hours researching top lab-grown diamond companies, considering factors such as the overall quality, range of styles, customer service, shipping and return policies and white-glove services that guarantee an excellent shopping experience.
  • We focused on companies with stellar reputations within the diamond industry for high-quality stones and environmentally-conscious practices.
  • We looked to retailers who offer certified reports from an independent organization, such as the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) of the International Gemological Institute (IGI).
  • We looked at return policies, warranties and the ability to contact a live human, in case you have a question or need assistance when shopping.


Ask An Expert: Everything To Know About Lab-Grown Diamonds

To separate fact from fiction about lab-grown diamonds, we reached out to Ankur Daga, the founder and CEO of Angara, a leading online jeweler. Daga is a graduate of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and holds a BS from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Harvard University. Here, we asked Daga for answers to readers’ commonly asked questions about lab-grown diamonds.

What Exactly Are Lab-Grown Diamonds?

Lab-grown diamonds are chemically, optically and physically identical to natural, earth-mined diamonds. However, while natural diamonds take millions of years to form, lab-grown diamonds are grown within weeks in a laboratory using cutting-edge technology that mimics the conditions in which natural diamonds are formed in the earth.

What Are The Benefits Of Lab-Grown Diamonds?

There are a few factors that go into choosing lab-grown diamonds, including:

  • Price: Lab-grown diamonds give an identical look to natural diamonds without breaking the bank. Although they do not retain any investment value, lab-grown diamonds are becoming a great value proposition. In 2019, the discount to natural was merely 20 to 30%. Today, at Angara, a 2-carat G color VS1 clarity lab-grown diamond retails for $2,000, whereas a natural 2-carat diamond of the same quality retails for $20,000.
  • Quality: Unlike their “wanna-be” simulant predecessors, such as moissanite and cubic zirconia, which are only diamond look-a-likes, lab-grown diamonds are indistinguishable from natural diamonds with a naked-eye—even by expert gemologists. Only machines at a gemological laboratory can tell the difference. Furthermore, in 2018, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ruled that lab-grown diamonds were, in fact, diamonds. They were no longer viewed as synthetic and could be marketed as diamonds as long as they were accurately described as lab-grown (or equivalent language).
  • Eco-friendly: In addition to being budget-friendly, lab-grown diamonds are also environmentally-friendly. Although there is a considerable amount of energy used to heat the chambers used to create lab-grown diamonds, it is still a fraction of what is used to mine natural diamonds. Furthermore, there is no direct impact on the earth. In the future, as growers of these diamonds embrace more solar energy, they will become even more sustainable.

How Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Made?

Lab-grown diamonds are produced using advanced technologies that recreate the conditions under which natural diamonds are formed in the earth’s crust. There are two main processes which are used to create lab-grown diamonds:

The Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) method involves a diamond seed placed in a vacuum chamber filled with carbon-rich gas. As the gasses break down, they form the diamond in layers within a few weeks, depending on the size.

The High-Pressure High-Temperature (HPHT) method exposes a diamond seed to the extreme temperature and pressure conditions typically found deep within the earth’s mantle that lead to the formation of diamonds. Producing diamonds with HPHT is faster than via CVD, but can also take a few weeks.

Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Flawless?

Just like natural diamonds, lab-grown diamonds can range from flawless to having various degrees of inclusions or blemishes. Because lab-grown diamonds are created in a controlled environment, they have fewer inclusions compared to natural diamonds. This is because the growth conditions in a lab can be more controlled than the natural processes that create inclusions in diamonds formed deep within the earth. However, lab-grown diamonds can still have a range of clarity grades and color variation if they are grown too rapidly or if there are traces of other elements. Thus, while a flawless lab-grown diamond is not guaranteed, inclusions can be minimized.

How Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Certified And Graded?

Lab-grown diamonds are certified and graded using the same scale as natural diamonds. Independent gemological laboratories clearly mark the origin of lab-grown diamonds on the certificate, often inscribing the girdle of the stone itself as “laboratory-grown.” They assess the quality of lab-grown diamonds based on the well-established 4 Cs criteria: Carat, Color, Clarity and Cut. These certifications provide valuable information about the diamond's characteristics and quality.

Do Lab-Grown Diamonds Have The Same Value As Natural Diamonds?

No. Lab-grown diamonds typically have a much lower market value than natural diamonds with similar characteristics. In recent times, the supply of lab-grown diamonds has increased substantially. As a result, their prices are in steady decline. So, while they make a great value proposal in terms of getting more for your budget, they do not make good investment pieces. Consumers looking for something truly rare and as an asset should purchase a natural diamond.

Do Lab-Grown Diamonds Sparkle The Same As Natural Diamonds?

Yes. If cut and faceted identically, a lab-grown diamond will exhibit the same stunning sparkle as a natural one. After all, they both have identical carbon crystal lattice structures giving them their unique ability to disperse light and create brilliance and fire. The cut is that main factor which determines how much a diamond sparkles. A poorly cut diamond, whether natural or lab-grown, may not display the same level of brilliance and sparkle as a well-cut diamond.

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