If you’re searching for the best place to buy lab grown diamonds, you’re in the right place.
Over the past few years, I’ve explored countless jewelry brands and compared their quality, pricing, and transparency to uncover the best place to buy lab grown diamonds — trusted retailers that deliver both exceptional brilliance and responsible sourcing.
Whether you’re choosing an engagement ring or upgrading your jewelry collection, knowing where to buy lab diamonds online can save you time, money, and effort.
To help you find the ideal lab-grown diamond for your special occasion, I’ve curated a list of the best place to buy lab grown diamonds, featuring trusted and reputable online retailers known for quality and value. This guide will help you make a confident and sustainable choice for your next jewelry purchase.
Why You Should Trust Us
At LearningJewelry.com, trust and transparency are at the heart of everything we do. Our content is written by certified experts with years of hands-on experience in the diamond industry.
Our lead author, Juli Church, is a certified diamontologist who has worked with major retailers like Kay and Zales, bringing insider expertise to every review.
With our professional knowledge and honest approach, you can rely on us to guide you toward the best place to buy lab grown diamonds online.
Best Place to Buy Lab Grown Diamonds Online :
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick overview of the top recommendations :
Best Overall: James Allen
Best Ethical Choice: Brilliant Earth
Best Upgrade Policy: Blue Nile
1. James Allen
James Allen is the best place to buy lab grown diamonds for brides.
James Allen stands out as the best place to buy lab grown diamonds for brides who value quality, variety, and transparency. With over 51,000 loose lab-created diamonds available, their selection includes everything from 0.30-carat stones to impressive 6.25-carat gems — making it one of the largest inventories among the best place to buy lab grown diamonds online.
Every lab-created diamond on James Allen is a genuine diamond, not a simulant like cubic zirconia. All of their stones are IGI certified (International Gemological Institute), ensuring authenticity and precise grading. While natural diamonds often carry GIA or AGS certifications, IGI is widely recognized as the most accurate for lab-grown diamonds.
Lab grown diamonds from James Allen under $500
Price is another major advantage. Lab-grown diamonds at James Allen are typically 20–30% cheaper than mined diamonds of equal quality. Combine that with their already competitive pricing, and you’ll understand why James Allen ranks among the best place to buy lab grown diamonds for budget-conscious yet quality-driven shoppers.
In short, James Allen offers one of the most trusted, affordable, and transparent shopping experiences — solidifying its reputation as the absolute best place to buy lab grown diamonds.
Check out the difference below to see what I mean:
Pretty amazing, right?
The best part is no one will know the difference — just you and your wallet! Every dollar you spend on James Allen’s lab-created diamonds is money well invested in brilliance and value.
Now, if you’d like a little help narrowing down your options, you’ll be glad to know that James Allen’s customer support team is exceptionally knowledgeable. They can guide you through choosing the best lab grown diamond for your budget and style, answering any questions about cut, clarity, or even high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) creation methods.
I personally consulted their gemologists about multiple aspects of lab-created diamonds, including quality grading, long-term value, and care. Their responses were detailed, transparent, and trustworthy — another reason James Allen consistently ranks among the best place to buy lab grown diamonds.
Aura Dangle lab grown diamond bracelet from James Allen
In summary, James Allen remains one of the most reliable jewelry retailers for both natural and lab-created diamonds. Their gems are conflict-free, beautifully cut, and come with a lifetime warranty covering wear and maintenance.
Visit their official website below to explore their collection and find the lab diamond of your dreams.
Read More: James Allen Full Review
2. Brilliant Earth
Brilliant Earth is one of the best places to buy lab grown diamonds online, known for its strong ethical standards and
commitment to sustainability. Like James Allen, they offer an impressive
selection of both mined and lab-created diamonds — all meticulously sourced and
transparently documented.
What truly sets Brilliant Earth apart is its dedication to
going Beyond Conflict Free™. While the Kimberley Process helped reduce
conflict diamonds from entering the market, it isn’t flawless. Brilliant Earth
takes it several steps further by tracing each diamond’s complete history and
origin, ensuring every gem is not only conflict-free but also ethically and
environmentally responsible.
They even trademarked the term Beyond Conflict Free™
to highlight their mission — guaranteeing that all their diamonds and metals
are sourced under fair labor practices, without human rights violations, and
through sustainable mining methods.
Lab grown diamond pendants from brilliant earth
With its deep transparency, ethical sourcing, and stunning craftsmanship, Brilliant Earth stands out as the best place to buy lab grown diamonds for conscious shoppers who value both beauty and integrity.
Thankfully, lab-created diamonds aren’t mined, meaning
brides can easily trace the entire supply chain and be confident that their
purchase wasn’t used to fund conflict or unethical labor practices.
Here’s where Brilliant Earth truly shines — their selection
is unmatched. They offer lab-grown diamonds ranging from 0.25 carats to an
impressive 25 carats, making them one of the best place to buy lab grown
diamonds for variety and customization. In fact, their collection includes
over 199,000 lab-created diamonds, more than the other three retailers
combined.
Lab grown diamond Wedding Rings
Another standout feature is their rare collection of colored
lab-grown diamonds, including blue, pink, and orange stones — perfect for
anyone seeking something truly unique. However, there’s a downside worth
noting: their warranty is somewhat limited. The manufacturer’s warranty only
covers design defects, and customers must pay a $50 shipping fee for
evaluation. While they do offer an Extended Service Plan, it lasts only three
years and can only be purchased by phone, which makes the process less
convenient than competitors.
Still, despite the warranty limitations, Brilliant Earth remains one of the best places to buy lab grown diamonds for shoppers who value sustainability, transparency, and a wide selection of ethical and colored gems — all aligned with their Beyond Conflict Free™ promise.
3. Blue Nile :
Blue Nile is undeniably the best place to buy lab grown diamonds for shoppers who value trust, certified quality, and long-term reliability. Combining decades of credibility with cutting-edge innovation, Blue Nile has built an outstanding reputation for transparency, craftsmanship, and customer satisfaction since its founding in 1999.
While they are best known for their extensive natural
diamond collection — over 200,000 stones of various grades and carat
weights — Blue Nile now offers more than 10,000 loose lab-grown diamonds,
each available in different cuts, clarities, and colors. This expansion firmly positions them as the best place to buy lab grown diamonds for both traditional and modern shoppers who appreciate quality, certification, and a trusted online buying experience.
Blue Nile lab grown diamond tennis bracelets
What truly sets Blue Nile apart is that all of their lab-grown diamonds are GIA certified, ensuring world-class grading and
quality assurance. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) remains
the gold standard in diamond certification, and Blue Nile’s ability to offer
such a large inventory of GIA-graded lab-created diamonds gives them a clear
edge over many competitors.
In short, Blue Nile has mastered the craft of merging luxury
with technology. With their history, trusted customer base, and commitment to
authenticity, they stand tall as the best place to buy lab grown diamonds
for those seeking unmatched credibility and consistent excellence.
Blue Nile is that retailer:
But here’s where the disadvantages come in:
Despite customer feedback requesting a service warranty, Blue Nile
continues to provide only a standard manufacturer’s warranty, which covers
design defects or ongoing issues with your lab grown diamond engagement ring.
While they do offer free cleaning and inspection, you must cover the shipping
cost to send the ring, though they handle the return shipping. Services like
retipping prongs, rhodium plating, or tightening stones come at an additional
cost.
To protect your investment, Blue Nile recommends getting
jewelry insurance through their trusted partner, Jewelers Mutual, which
is widely regarded as the best jewelry insurance provider. You can even get a
quote directly from Blue Nile’s website. Plus, every diamond purchased through
their Build Your Own Diamond feature includes a detailed appraisal,
simplifying the insurance process.
Blue Nile lab grown diamond stud earrings
Here’s something unique — unlike most diamond retailers,
Blue Nile offers an upgrade policy for lab-grown diamonds, a rare
benefit that solidifies their reputation as the best place to buy lab grown
diamonds. With flexible upgrade options, excellent GIA-certified stones,
and reliable after-sales support, Blue Nile stands out as one of the most
trustworthy and customer-focused choices for buying lab-created diamonds
online.
In their updated diamond upgrade policy, Blue Nile
now allows upgrades for both natural and lab-created diamonds — and even offers
flexibility to switch from natural to lab or vice versa. To qualify, you simply
need to spend at least twice the value of your original diamond, and you’ll
receive full credit toward your new purchase. It’s a policy that mirrors
premium in-store upgrade programs but with the convenience of online shopping.
Overall, while Blue Nile offers excellent value, transparency, and a trusted reputation — especially with its GIA-certified lab-grown diamonds and convenient 360° viewing feature — it earns the title of Best Upgrade Policy among all retailers. It’s considered the best place to buy lab grown diamonds for value and trust.
While their warranty may be limited, Blue Nile’s stellar reputation, ethical sourcing, and strong upgrade policy make it a reliable choice for anyone seeking certified quality, long-term assurance, and a smooth online buying experience.
reputation, ethical sourcing, and strong upgrade policy make them a go-to
destination for anyone seeking a certified, high-quality, and budget-friendly lab
grown diamond.
Read also: The Full Blue Nile Review
Lab-Grown Diamonds vs Natural Diamonds
The Process of Growing Lab-Grown Diamonds
Lab-grown diamonds are made in advanced laboratories using methods like HPHT and CVD that mimic how natural diamonds form deep underground. This video shows the entire process in detail — from carbon atoms to sparkling, sustainable gems.
How We Selected the Best Lab Grown Diamond Stores :
Selection
To identify the best place to buy lab grown diamonds, I spent weeks researching and comparing leading jewelry retailers online and in-store. My evaluation focused on the “Four Cs” — cut, clarity, carat, and color — the key elements that define brilliance and value.
I analyzed thousands of listings and customization options to ensure buyers can find diamonds that fit their preferences and budget. During this process, I explored popular shapes like round, princess, and rare colored options such as yellow and pink lab grown diamonds.
Each retailer claiming to be the best place to buy lab grown diamonds was carefully assessed for variety, transparency, and overall selection quality.
Quality
Quality starts with certification. I focused on retailers offering stones graded by reputable authorities like the International Gemological Institute (IGI) and the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Since 2020, GIA certifications for lab-created diamonds have become the gold standard for accuracy and trust.
Any retailer that wants to be recognized as the best place to buy lab grown diamonds must provide verifiable certificates to ensure transparency and authenticity.
Settings and Jewelry
Another deciding factor for the best place to buy lab grown diamonds is the diversity of jewelry settings. I examined collections in platinum, yellow gold, white gold, and rose gold — from engagement rings and wedding bands to necklaces and bracelets.
Retailers that allow customization and blend classic and modern styles stand out as true contenders for the best place to buy lab grown diamonds.
Pricing
Transparent pricing is essential. I reviewed retailers that offer fair and competitive prices with no hidden fees, flexible financing, and clear return policies. The goal was to find where quality meets affordability — proving that choosing the best place to buy lab grown diamonds doesn’t have to exceed your budget.
Website Experience
The best place to buy lab grown diamonds online should offer an intuitive interface, smooth navigation, detailed filters, and 360° diamond views. I also reviewed mobile usability and real customer feedback to assess trust and convenience. Only user-friendly, transparent retailers made the final list.
In-Person Experience
While online shopping dominates, I also assessed physical stores with high Google and Yelp ratings. I looked at store ambiance, staff expertise, and opportunities for gemologist consultations. Brands like Tiffany & Co., Macy’s, Jared, and Helzberg Diamonds now feature lab-created options — combining traditional luxury with ethical sourcing.
Customer Service
A reliable diamond retailer provides 30-day returns, lifetime warranties, and 24/7 support. The best place to buy lab grown diamonds isn’t just about the product — it’s about long-term trust and customer care.
Lab Grown Diamonds 101
There’s a lot of confusion about what lab-grown diamonds really are. Despite being called synthetic diamonds, they’re real diamonds — identical in physical, optical, and chemical structure to mined ones. The difference lies only in their origin.
Two main processes create them: High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD).
In HPHT, a diamond seed is placed under immense pressure and heat, causing carbon to crystallize around it — replicating the natural conditions deep within Earth. In the CVD process, a diamond seed is placed in a vacuum chamber filled with carbon gases, which ionize and form plasma, allowing carbon atoms to build up layer by layer into a diamond.
Both methods result in brilliant, durable, and sustainable gems — exactly the kind you’d expect from the best place to buy lab grown diamonds.
Read Also: Natural Diamonds Vs Lab Created Diamonds – which is better?
What Reddit Says About Lab Grown Diamonds
Reddit has become one of the most trusted online communities for honest opinions and real-life experiences — especially when it comes to engagement rings and jewelry shopping. The Engagement Rings subreddit, in particular, is filled with valuable discussions from everyday buyers, gem enthusiasts, and even professional jewelers.
Overall, the community’s reception of lab-grown diamonds is overwhelmingly positive. Many Redditors share stories about how they saved thousands of dollars while still getting the sparkle, durability, and beauty of a mined diamond. In fact, most users agree that the visual difference between the two is virtually impossible to detect — even by trained eyes without specialized equipment.
One common thread you’ll find on Reddit highlights how the price difference between lab-grown and natural diamonds has reshaped the jewelry market. While retailers typically say lab diamonds are 20%–40% cheaper than mined ones, several users have reported finding even larger discounts from reputable online stores. Many Redditors frequently recommend shopping from transparent and established jewelers — often naming James Allen, Blue Nile, and Brilliant Earth as the best place to buy lab grown diamonds for quality and trust.
Many Redditors confirm that it’s entirely possible — and increasingly common — to find lab-grown diamonds at even bigger discounts than before. As production continues to rise and more manufacturers enter the market, competition among the best lab-grown diamond companies has driven prices down significantly.
To stay competitive, many retailers now offer premium-quality stones at more affordable rates. Several Reddit users note that this trend has only accelerated since the pandemic, which disrupted the natural diamond supply chain and caused mined diamond prices to climb. In contrast, lab-grown diamond prices have continued to drop, making them a smarter choice for value-conscious buyers.
However, Redditors also caution that not all lab-created diamonds are equal in quality. With so many producers in the market, some stones may have visible inclusions or poor cuts that affect brilliance. This is why users often recommend purchasing from the best place to buy lab grown diamonds, where certification, transparency, and expert craftsmanship are guaranteed.
In short, while the market is growing rapidly and offering better prices, Reddit’s jewelry enthusiasts remind shoppers to do their homework — ensuring they buy from the best place to buy lab grown diamonds that balance affordability with authenticity and long-term beauty.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lab Grown Diamonds
Are lab grown diamonds real diamonds?
Yes, lab grown diamonds are chemically, physically, and optically identical to natural mined diamonds.
What are the benefits of buying lab grown diamonds?
The benefits of buying lab grown diamonds include their affordability, ethical and eco-friendly sourcing, and their quality and durability.
What are the most popular cuts for lab grown diamonds?
The most popular cuts for lab grown diamonds are round, princess, cushion, and emerald.
What percentage of people buy lab grown diamonds?
According to a 2021 study by the Natural Diamond Council, around 16% of engagement ring buyers purchased a lab-grown diamond, up from 5% in 2019. However, it’s worth noting that this percentage varies based on different factors such as location, age, and income level.
How do I choose the best retailer for lab grown diamonds?
Consider factors such as the retailer’s reputation, customer service, return policy, selection, pricing, and certification. Look for independent third-party certifications from organizations like the International Gemological Institute (IGI) or the Gem Certification & Assurance Lab (GCAL) to ensure the lab created diamond’s quality and authenticity.
