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

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

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.