Best Lab-Grown Diamonds 2025 - Forbes Vetted

With new technologies and sustainable practices, lab-grown diamonds are becoming an increasingly popular choice among jewelry shoppers. They’re chemically and physically identical to earth-mined diamonds, but come at a fraction of the cost. Based on my extensive research and certification as a jewelry expert, I determined the seven online retailers that offer the best lab-grown diamonds; my top pick overall is Blue Nile, because it offers high-quality pieces at reasonable prices, along with complimentary ring resizing and polishing services.

I tapped into my knowledge as a gem expert to pick the best lab-grown diamonds for any occasion.

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. To make my selections, I tapped into my own jewelry knowledge as both a fashion and gem expert (I hold a certificate in Lab-Grown Diamond Fundamentals and another in Jewelry Essentials); I also consulted with Ankur Daga, the founder and CEO of Angara, a leading online jeweler. In addition to recommending trusted retailers, I’ve selected standout pieces to buy—from timeless engagement rings to shimmering tennis bracelets—if you’re on the search for some sparkle.

Blue Nile

Price range: $365 to $11,620 | Shipping: Free 2-day shipping on all orders | Returns: 30-day returns; full return policy | White-glove services: Complimentary ring resizing for 1 year; free polishing, cleaning, prong inspection every 6 months

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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 Round Brilliant Stud Earrings earned the top spot on our list of the best lab-grown diamond earrings.

The brand provides plenty of opportunities for customization, so you can create a bespoke ring, pendant or earrings with lab-grown diamonds. For wedding rings, I love the Scalloped Pavé Diamond Ring; and for gifts, I’d suggest the Half Carat Stud Earrings or the classic Tennis Bracelet. I also appreciate Blue Nile’s thoughtful extras, like a free gift box and notecard with purchases.

James Allen

Price range: $110 to $56,792 | Shipping: Free 2-day shipping on all orders | Returns: Free 30-day returns; full return policy | White-glove services: Free engraving for rings, prong tightening, re-polishing; real-time diamond viewing with expert gemologist online

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Located in the diamond district in New York, James Allen carries both natural and lab-grown diamonds. The jeweler is best known for its massive selection of stones in every cut, at every price point—it has an excellent reputation for quality, service and expertise. 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.

I can personally speak to the quality of the brand’s pieces: 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 Solitaire Diamond Pendant and the Blossom Tennis Necklace.

Grown Brilliance

Price range: $170 to $180,000 | Shipping: Free 2-day shipping on all orders | Returns: Free returns within 45 days of ship date; full return policy | White-glove services: Design your own ring, necklace, bracelet or earrings; price match guarantee

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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.

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. If you decide to go the pre-set route, the brand partnered with wedding designer Badgley Mischka on a jewelry collection that’s truly one of a kind and very special.

Vrai

Price range: $125 to $59,000 | Shipping: $10 flat rate for 2-day shipping | Returns: 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

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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 in 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. Some of my favorites include the Knife-Edge Round Brilliant Engagement Ring, the Solitaire Studs and the Tennis Bracelet. I also like how transparent the brand is about prices and policies, which are listed right on every product page.

Rare Carat

Price range: $390 to $8,746 | Shipping: Free insured shipping on all orders | Returns: Free 30-day returns; full return policy | White-glove services: Complimentary ring resizing for 90 days; free diamond analysis

Rare Carat offers a range of lab-grown diamond rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets and more. All diamonds are rigorously inspected and verified before the pieces are handcrafted in New York and New Jersey. The brand uses a “managed marketplace” model, which means it works with a supplier network to ensure variety and competitive pricing while allowing you to purchase directly from its site. To customize your ideal ring, sort diamonds by shape, carat, cut, color and price, then choose from white gold, yellow gold, rose gold or platinum metal options. Rare Carat also offers a free analysis service that provides expert insight on a diamond’s price and quality—and you can chat with one of its gemologists (who are trained to provide unbiased diamond advice) to help you make an informed purchase decision.

Ritani

Forbes Vetted readers get 10% off lab-grown diamonds at Ritani by entering code LAB10 at checkout.

Price range: $125 to $40,000+ | Shipping: Free overnight shipping on all orders | Returns: Returns accepted 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

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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. Ritani’s Petite 6-Prong Knife-Edge Solitaire Engagement Ring is one of its most popular items, and it’s a classic stunner. I also love the Bezel Set Diamond Bar Necklace and Eternity Hoop Earrings.

Clean Origin

Price range: $225 to $26,550 | Shipping: Free 2-day shipping on all orders | Returns: Free 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

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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.

You can design a custom ring, or shop the ready-to-ship rings that arrive within a few days. My personal favorite is the Solon Ring—it catches the light every time you move your hand. Clean Origin also sells men’s diamond rings and bridal sets, which are gorgeous and very well priced.

With Clarity

Price range: $324 to $56,600 | Shipping: Free 2-day shipping on all orders | Returns: Free 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

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With Clarity works alongside 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. It’s sometimes to tricky to filter by lab-grown diamond styles, but you can also narrow the selection by category (earrings, necklaces) and then price (the most affordable options are lab-grown). 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.

At Forbes Vetted, we have published numerous jewelry stories, including guides to the best places to buy engagement rings and the best jewelry stores online.

I spent hours researching top lab-grown diamond companies, considering factors such as the overall quality and white-glove services that guarantee an excellent shopping experience.

To separate fact from fiction about lab-grown diamonds, I asked Daga to weigh in on some commonly asked questions. Below, I’ve summarized everything you need to know about 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. There are two main processes which are used to create lab-grown diamonds:

Lab-grown diamonds offer a great value in terms of price and quality, and they’re often created using sustainable practices. Here’s a quick breakdown on the benefits of lab-grown diamonds:

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.

Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Real Diamonds?

Yes, lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds. If cut and faceted identically, a lab-grown diamond exhibits 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.

Is A Lab-Grown Diamond Worth Buying?

Lab-grown diamonds are more eco-conscious and cost-effective than natural diamonds, so they’re worth buying for those who prioritize sustainability and value. However, they 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, so their prices are in steady decline. Consumers looking for something that’s truly rare, and that can be considered a financial asset, should purchase a natural diamond.

Which Type Of Lab-Grown Diamond Is Best?

Just like natural diamonds, lab-grown diamonds can range from flawless to having various degrees of inclusions or blemishes. According to the GIA, Type IIa diamonds are chemically the most pure, with no measurable nitrogen or boron impurities. These are the highest-quality lab-grown diamonds, but they’re also rarer and more expensive than Type Ia diamonds.

Can A Jeweler Tell If A Diamond Is Lab-Created?

Most jewelers cannot tell if a diamond is lab-created with the naked eye, since lab-grown and natural diamonds share the same chemical composition. However, they can use specialized equipment to identify growth characteristics and microscopic engravings that indicate a diamond is lab grown.

We refreshed our FAQs and added more details on each retailer’s shipping policies.

We added two new FAQ and elaborated on the author’s gem expertise.