The best jewelry to buy lab grown are everyday pieces that look luxe, wear well, and cost less. Lab grown diamonds are chemically and structurally identical to mined diamonds, but they are produced quickly in factories instead of naturally in the Earth’s crust over millions of years. That makes them less rare and more affordable than their natural counterparts, and ideal for jewelry that is chosen for style rather than investment value.
Before exploring the best styles, it helps to understand how lab grown diamonds are made, how they are graded, and what makes them different from natural stones when it comes to pricing and resale. Lab grown diamonds have a clear advantage when it comes to the pricetag, but the majority of jewelry wearers have reservations about both their sentimental value and investment value.
What Are Lab Grown Diamonds?
Lab grown diamonds are real diamonds. They are made of pure carbon and have the same physical properties as natural diamonds. The difference lies in how they are formed.
Natural diamonds develop underground over millions of years, and many natural diamonds are over a billion years old. Lab grown diamonds are created in a matter of weeks using one of two methods that replicate the same conditions found deep in the Earth. The first method is called HPHT, which stands for High Pressure High Temperature. A small diamond seed is placed into a carbon source and exposed to extreme heat and pressure. This causes the carbon to crystallize around the seed, forming a larger diamond. The second method is known as CVD, or Chemical Vapor Deposition. In this process, a thin diamond seed is placed in a sealed chamber filled with carbon-rich gas. When the gas is heated, the carbon breaks apart and attaches to the seed, building the diamond layer by layer.
Once a diamond is fully formed, it is graded the same way as a natural diamond. It is evaluated for cut, color, clarity, and carat weight using the same diamond clarity scale and diamond color grade chart used across the jewelry industry, as well as cut grading standards and the same carat weights. Lab grown diamonds are to natural diamonds as IVF babies are to naturally-conceived babies: they weren’t made the same way, but they’re all the same after they get here.
Did you know…
-GIA
Labs have been able to synthesize lab grown diamonds since the 1950s, however, the size and quality of synthesized diamonds were not considered “gem quality” until the 1990s. The process of making these gem quality lab diamonds was not economically viable until the 2000s.
Understanding Lab Grown Diamond Pricing
When lab grown diamonds first gained attention around ten to fifteen years ago, they were priced about fifteen to twenty percent lower than their natural counterparts. At that time, limited production and newer technology kept prices relatively high. Today, lab grown diamonds are much more affordable. For example, a good quality engagement ring lab-diamond that sold for six thousand dollars in 2015 might now sell for less than three thousand. Meanwhile, a similar quality natural diamond purchased for $6000 in 2015 may now be worth eight thousand or more.
This shift has made lab grown diamonds more accessible to shoppers who want style without the same financial commitment. However, it also means that lab grown diamonds are not considered investment pieces. Their resale value has declined over time and may continue to do so. For more on this topic, visit: https://www.secrete.com/reselling-lab-grown-diamonds-is-it-a-bad-investment/
Best Jewelry to Buy Lab Grown
Lab grown diamonds work best in jewelry that is worn regularly, gifted for personal meaning, or selected for fashion. These categories allow you to enjoy the benefits of real diamonds without the pressure of long-term resale or legacy value.
Lab Grown Diamond Earrings
Lab grown diamond earrings are a top category for good reason. A lot of women love the look of diamond stud earrings, but may not have the budget for a $10,000 pair of earrings, for example, and may not want to compromise with smaller stones. Lab grown diamond earrings offer the exact same look, durability, and sparkle as their natural counterpart, but at a much more accessible price point.
Styles like studs, hoops, and drops all benefit from lab grown diamonds, too. Lab grown diamond hoops, for example, might be a nice little splurge purchase that can be made with a little less forethought than traditional diamond earrings.
Lab Grown Tennis Bracelet
A lab grown tennis bracelet offers classic style with a modern pricetag. Tennis bracelets feature a continuous line of diamonds, and are classic jewelry pieces from the tennis courts to the office to a night out. Because bracelets get a lot of wear (the wrist knocks into more things and has more movement than, say, your earlobes), it’s smart to choose durable luxury materials for a tennis bracelet. Diamonds, the hardest stone in the world, and real gold or platinum keep chips at bay and stones secure.
Depending on the size and quality, a traditional tennis bracelet can be very expensive as the low row of diamonds quickly adds up in carat weight. However, a lab grown tennis bracelet can be a great choice for making your tennis bracelet cost accessible without compromising on quality or durability. Also, most tennis bracelets feature diamonds on the smaller side of things (less than a half carat each), relying on the overall effect rather than the heirloom quality of a single stone. Because of this, it’s fine for the diamonds in a tennis bracelet to be lab grown. You’re not compromising on the overall visual effect, but you’re saving on the total cost.
When natural diamonds might be better: There are times when a natural diamond tennis bracelet is the better call for a tennis bracelet. Milestone anniversaries often come with heirloom expectations, and many people want the traditional symbolism of natural diamonds. Additionally, if you are already spending thousands on a fine piece of jewelry, going natural can better protect long term resale and investment value.
Diamond Cross Necklaces and Pendants
Cross necklaces and diamond cross pendants are meaningful, personal pieces. They are often worn daily and chosen for symbolism rather than resale value, which makes lab grown diamonds a practical option. Lab grown diamond cross pendants and necklaces are especially nice gifts for teens celebrating confirmation or for young grads. They feel meaningful, they are durable, and they can last a lifetime with simple care. At the same time, teens and college kids are famous for misplacing things, so it helps when the gift will not break your heart or break the bank if it goes missing.
When natural diamonds might be better: Natural diamonds can be the better choice for a diamond cross when the gift marks a major milestone and is meant to last for generations. If the pendant is for a big anniversary, a significant birthday, or a family heirloom, natural diamonds can carry more traditional sentiment. For example, many times the mother-of-the-bride will custom design a diamond cross pendant as a gift to her daughter on her wedding day (a “something new”). This type of heirloom gift may be more traditional with natural diamonds than with labs.
Jewelry You Buy for Yourself
Lab grown diamonds are especially well suited for self-gifting. These are the pieces you buy to celebrate your own milestones, try new trends, or simply add something special to your day-to-day wardrobe.
With lab grown stones, you can explore trendier styles, upgrade your go-to earrings, or stack rings without hesitation. Since there is no expectation of long-term value or resale, you are free to buy what you love and wear it often. Lab grown jewelry can be the best of both worlds: it offers the quality of fine jewelry and a pricetag a little closer to fashion jewelry.
When Lab Grown Diamonds Might Not Be the Right Choice
Lab grown diamonds are perfect for many jewelry categories, but there are situations where they may not be the best fit. Emotional weight, public perception, and value retention all play a role in certain purchases.
Engagement Rings and Heirlooms
While some couples view lab grown diamonds as smart and modern, others see natural diamonds as more meaningful. This matters when you are buying a ring that symbolizes commitment.
According to a 2021 poll of 5,000 United States consumers, 60 percent of people viewed natural diamonds as authentic, while only 6 percent said the same about lab grown. When asked which stones felt romantic, 41 percent chose natural. Only 6 percent said lab grown diamonds were romantic. Only 3 percent of people polled said that lab grown diamonds “make me feel special” compared to 37% who said natural diamonds did.
These numbers show that feelings around diamonds are still shaped by tradition. Before choosing a lab grown engagement ring, confirm she is comfortable with lab grown and sees it as a meaningful and special choice. Many brides are THRILLED to receive a lab grown diamond; some love the conflict-free nature of lab grown diamonds, some are happy that it means she can have a bigger diamond, and others are happy because it means there’s more cash on hand for the honeymoon. However, consumer data shows that the majority of Americans do not consider lab grown diamonds to be the same as natural diamonds, so choose wisely, and don’t make any assumptions.
Engagement rings are rich with symbolism. The millions upon millions of years it takes for a diamond to be formed symbolizes eternal love. The rarity of a flawless diamond symbolizes the once-in-a-lifetime quality of finding your person. The brilliance and purity of a diamond, down to the molecular structure, being formed by the sheer force of the earth is like poetry embodied for people whose love only gets more special through hard times. On the other hand, other couples find a certain kind of poetry in the technology, futurism, and ingenuity behind lab grown diamonds.
When lab diamonds are better: All of that being said, many, many couples choose lab grown diamonds for their engagement rings for a variety of reasons. Secrete Fine Jewelry loves working with lab grown diamonds for custom engagement rings because they often take away one of the biggest constraints on creative freedom: budget. Choosing a lab grown diamond allows many couples to choose diamonds of sizes and qualities that would have been out of reach in the traditional natural diamond market.
Long-Term Value and Stability
Lab grown diamonds have dropped in price, and the market remains unpredictable. While this is great for affordability, it also means they are not a strong choice for anyone focused on long-term value, inheritance, or future resale.
Jewelry meant to be passed down or hold its value over time may be better suited to natural stones.
Ethical Considerations and the Lab Grown Debate
Lab grown diamonds are often described as the ethical alternative to mined diamonds. While they do avoid certain concerns related to conflict mining and labor practices, their environmental impact varies by origin and method.
According to a JCK article, lab grown diamond manufacturing “is going to become a Chinese production market. The HPHT [high pressure-high temperature] goods coming from China will soon be a majority of supply, and there’s very little environmentally friendly about that. These are products that are manufactured with high energy, largely from energy sources that are not renewable.”
This means that lab grown diamonds are not always the cleanest or most responsible option. For buyers who prioritize sustainability and ethics, other options include certified origin diamonds from Botswana, antique stones that do not contribute to current market demand, or alternative gemstones entirely.
Final Thoughts
Some of the best jewelry to buy lab grown are earrings, tennis bracelets, and diamond cross pendants. These pieces are worn for style, meaning, and daily enjoyment. Lab grown diamonds allow you to prioritize design, size, and sparkle without the high cost of natural stones.
For engagement rings and heirloom pieces, it is important to understand how lab grown diamonds are perceived and how their value may change over time. Always make sure the person receiving the jewelry feels the same way about what lab grown means to them.
Lab grown diamonds are not right for every occasion, but they are an excellent option for buyers who want beauty, flexibility, and “real” diamond appeal at a lower price.
Your Opinion is What Matters Most
At the end of the day, this choice is personal. Trends shift, prices move, and people attach different meanings to lab grown and natural diamonds, but the only opinion that matters is yours. Whether your love everything lab-created, everything natural, or something in between, it’s your call. You are the one who will wear it, gift it, and live with it, so the right choice is the one that fits your style, your budget, and your values. Secrete Fine Jewelry makes custom jewelry just for you, and we are happy to create whatever you want using the stones that make the most sense for you.
Whether you’re in the market for an engagement ring or simply looking to update your earring collection (or anything in between), contact Secrete Fine Jewelry for the very finest custom made jewelry, no matter which stones you choose.
