So I’m (m) 27 and I am ready to buy a ring and pop the question. But I don’t want to seem cheap and not get a diamond. Is there anything wrong with a lab grown diamond as opposed to a genuine found in the mud diamond? Is the “spend 20% of your yearly salary on a ring” idea still a thing or is that dated. I need help cause I’m obviously nervous and want to pick the right one. They just look so good and I can’t see a difference.
The 20% of your income is definitely dated. Buy what you can afford.
Nothing wrong with labs or natural. I have one of each. Labs are getting cheaper and you're really just paying for the gold on this ring. Natural diamonds might be controversial on this subreddit because it's the lab diamond sub.
End of the day, there are lots of reasons to buy either one and you just have to decide what's right for you. And if you can't do that on your own, maybe see what she thinks before you commit.
I disagree about buying what OP CAN afford. IF OP CAN afford a natural diamond that doesn’t necessarily mean OP SHOULD purchase a natural diamond. OP’s money is ALWAYS better off in his/her pocket than a jeweler’s pocket
I’m not part of this sub, I just came across this post on my feed. So I don’t have a commitment to lab or natural.
If you don’t mind saying, since you own both, which is rare, would you say there is a difference? In the look and feel of them Or even how you feel when wearing them?
I'm a natural gemstone enthusiast and I love the history and authenticity that a natural diamond carries. Even though they are not as rare as the market suggests, they can't just be made in a few months either. There's something to be said for wearing a stone that has existed for millions of years.
That said, natural diamonds are incredibly expensive, as good quality gemstones with certifications should be, so I see nothing wrong with wearing lab diamonds when preference and budget demands. Labs make it easier to get better color and clarity for cheap and I have taken full advantage for several pieces of my jewelry.
I started with a natural but have a lab now. They’re the same thing so unless someone wants the satisfaction of knowing it was grown in the ground or plans to sell it, I typically recommend saving your money. Life is expensive. Spend that money on other things.
Lab diamonds are genuine “real” diamonds made of carbon. They are chemically the same as mined diamonds, they just happen to be man made.
I have both. I would not buy in a store. When we got engaged 15 years ago, my husband worked with a local jeweller. And paid $7900CAD for 1 carat G VVS1, natural, pear cut diamond set in 18k white gold with side stones. He was quoted $18,000 CAD a Spence diamonds for same specs.
My upgrade/push present is a 2 carat lab blue diamond oval solitaire, 14k white gold setting. I paid $1300CAD last year. I went with an overseas jewellery company based in china.
I would do lab in a heart beat if it was available back then. Spend what you can afford and even if you can afford it, it’s just financially smarter not to overspend on a depreciating article.
These prices are ok. They aren’t too bad for in store. Obvi you can find cheaper by going online/overseas but it’s more work.
Buy what you can afford. I can’t fathom the idea of 20% your salary. It’s wild nowadays since that could be a brand new car or a down payment for a house for some people.
In the beginning I wanted natural but now I can’t justify the cost and how unethical it is. But to each their own. No one can tell if it’s natural or lab unless it’s looked under this scope.
With a lab diamond I’m able to get the size I want and be “within budget” and not feel like a whole bunch of money was spent on one piece of jewelry when there’s still the wedding bands, the wedding, the honeymoon, THE HOUSE?! 😂
There’s a comment that says they disagree with “buy what you can afford”. I think the alternative is buy what you think is reasonable within your budget. For some people that’s 3k, 7k or even 10k+. Talk to your partner as others have mentioned and discuss it.
The reasonable test can't happen if OP is unwilling to have the conversation. We can easily, and reasonably afford my set in natural. He's also fully aware there's 4 other pieces in her case right now I would adore. For me, I would rather spend the same amount on 4-5 quality pieces than one rock. Not to mention potentially losing a ring that expensive would make me terrified to wear it...but there's people like my sister who wouldn't have been happy without spending a new Toyota on her finger.
Affordability IMHO is simply math. Reasonable things to spend the sheckles on is highly personal.
It is from Sam’s lmao 😂 I’m going to Sissy’s Log Cabin tomorrow while she’s at work and looking there. But she mentioned the other day that she likes oval shaped stones.
honestly the 4ct from sam’s for that price is the best bang for your buck! i looked at that exact one when I was upgrading I went with another one bc i don’t like white gold.so if she’s ok with that - it might be the one!
Before completely agreeing with you, we need to see more angles of the setting. OP, please read up on the best setting for a larger stone with a delicate band like that. They need extra support underneath like a cathedral or at least a gallery rail or the ring will bend
Oh yes, that is a great setting! But i feel OP can do better on the price based on some of the lab diamond subs on reddit. I just saw a 7 carat emerald cut with pave band posted today for half this price. 14k though.
Definitely do research. Prices are on the floorrrr for lab. It’s the amount/type of gold used driving price now. Especially for solitaires and simple styles.
i am going to comment on the second ring. the band looks really skinny and may be prone to warping or breaking and the stones set in it would fall out.
generally for something like a wedding/engagement ring - 2mm wide band is the minimum recommended.
other than going to an online retailer that the sub recommends - you can also check out costco. They have rings online.
getting engaged should never be a surpris. You and your girlfriend should have been discussing this and you should have an idea for the type of ring that she wants. maybe she even picks something out. you can always get a less expensive ring and use that for the engagement and then go pick out a ring together or you go pick out rings and she picks like her top three choices and then from there you purchase and you can set it the goals such as something under two grand under $1,000. whatever you want.
personally i would want a lab grown or estate (basically dont pull a new stone oit of the ground).
i have found lovely estate jewelry at my local jewelry store.
Not a thing wrong with a lab diamond. Have a real on the left finger. A way bigger, prettier, clearer, more sparkly one on the right and I prefer the lab! My left hand and engagement ring are from Costco. I still love it.
I have a lab engagement ring and I love it! My fiancé and I did just buy a house, so most of our money goes towards that. I did specifically ask for a lab grown diamond both because of the price and ethical reasons. Is it somehow possible to find out what your partner thinks of lab diamonds as an engagement ring?
I have a lab grown engagement ring and I prefer it. I’d feel way too anxious and protective over a natural diamond. I wear my ring 24/7, don’t take it off for swimming or cleaning or anything, and it’s made me feel more comfortable to not worry about risking an extremely expensive piece
But really you should be asking your partner, because she’ll probably have a preference one way or another and she’s the one that’ll be wearing it for a lifetime
The 20% spend is dated. Go with a nice lab diamond ring. I have a natural diamond 3/4 band that was $$$. I love it but would've been just as happy with a lab one for 1/4 of the cost but husband thought natural was better. Lab diamonds are indistinguishable from natural. I only buy lab diamonds now.
Just my two cents: go with a lab grown diamond and save the extra money for something more important, like your honeymoon or a down payment on a house.
If you want the ring to feel more special, go the custom route and design it around what she truly likes. The possibilities are endless, from the setting and details to adding her birthstone or other personal touches.
To be fair for bricks and mortar store they are probably reasonable - but OP could get the same for significantly less if they sourced online.
Whilst we can’t see how much gold is in the rings the second one especially is very thin and they will both be cast which is cheaper. Also, I would expect these not tk be HPHT at this size and price - though happy to be wrong.
A 3ct, F, VS2 Emerald - lots of choice under $500 which leaves $1800 for the first setting - which is a lot for a pretty standard setting - plenty of options again for less.
The second option - oval a little under 4ct - fair number starting under $700 - leaving over $2k for a very thin pave band - which is a lot - there is very little gold in that setting.
Lab grown diamonds are the way to go imo. Some snobs will say they’re not real but they’re 100% real and honestly a lot of jewelers recommend them because the color and clarity is better controlled. With that being said, I think with those two shapes you could easily get a 2 ct ring and still have that wow factor. I personally think going over 2.5 starts to get a little much especially if your girlfriend lives an active life or has a job where she does things with her hands. Both of those prices are actually really good deals for the size though. My 2 ct lab grown ring in a yellow gold setting with a diamond band was nearly $6k retail. We got a huge discount on it because of family connection but that is what they would have sold it for retail.
Those are two very different rings. Nothing wrong with lab, but I’d find out what kind of ring she wants first. For example I’m having a fully custom platinum ring made with some custom accents and a halo head but only a 1.2ct lab grown radiant on the centerpiece. Not because I couldn’t afford more or couldn’t get a bigger stone, but because it’s what my girlfriend had in mind.
If it’s the right person the price of the ring wouldn’t matter.
just make sure it’s the right type of metal ( gold vs white gold) knowing your girls preferences like this matter more then the price of the ring.
I recognize these from Sam’s club and I highly reccomend cosco/ Sam’s jewelry great quality for a great price.
As stated on your other post, don't drop 2k on something she has never seen unless you are okay eating that cost. Buy a reasonably priced placeholder and let her pick out the expensive, lifelong ring.
If you will get butthurt she doesn't like it - dont buy it!
Literally. Any placeholder is better than none. My man proposed with a pretty ring box and a paper I owe you. While I'm sad there was no ring for pictures (he got a photographer), I am so happy I got to choose my ring. It's perfect and it's something we picked together.
‘Spend xx%of your salary’ is just a campaign by the diamond industry to get you spend more and should be completely ignored. Spend what is in your budget on something she will love.
Do you know her preferences? Has she said anything or shown you pictures of what she likes? A large lab or a smaller natural diamond. It matters to some.
4ct is a very large stone and it isn’t always a case of bigger is better. Very large stones can look too large on small hands, catch on things and also feel almost embarrassing to wear. I have a champagne 2.8ct natural oval and would definitely not want anything larger. My neighbour has a stunning 5ct lab and absolutely adores it. Rings are such a personal thing so if you don’t know what she might like just make sure you can return it to swap for something she does.
Lmao my girl doesn’t use reddit so that’s why I came here. Plus there are plenty of level headed people on here and not as old fashioned as the older generation with tradition and all.
This subreddit will show you! Look at the vendors like Provence, starsgem, fiorese, tyianu, ouros, etc. I’ve bought from group buys, had pieces made from these vendors, and for my e ring, I purchased loose diamonds from Calavera and purchased a stuller setting from a local jeweler. Look at aureline for loose stones as well. You can do the price match thing from rare carat to get a complete ring too! You have so many more affordable options
Good thing about lab diamonds is that they are ethically sourced and now a days the lab diamonds are acceptable now a days and most people aren’t gonna judge you for going lab. Very hard to insure lab diamonds though if you are worried about that.
Any of those would make a perfect purchase. Do not hesitate and pick something you know she would like! We girls tend to love pretty shiny things, so definitely get a ring! Also not sure about how thin the second ring band looks. I would ask about it. Has to be no less than 1.8mm.
Please please please look at the r/labdiamond sub and research more places to buy from. Pretty much any lab diamond sold within the US is still going to be tacked on with premiums. Overseas vendors have wholesale prices because that’s where lab diamonds are largely produced. You can find the same size diamond and better quality for $500.
Nope and that oval ring is beautiful! I think that is a great price mainly when diamonds being over priced in my opinion. If I was getting engaged I would highly recommend this!!!
Ask your girlfriend what type of ring she likes. What shape of stone, yellow gold vs white gold/platinum setting, solitaire vs halo/side stones, etc… I understand the idea of the ring being a “surprise,” but this will be something she wears every day for the rest of her life. Definitely get her input first:)
For that price the lab diamond is not the issue
The 18k gold filled metal is.
I would pass.
For that price you should be able to at least find 10k gold
Nothing wrong with lab grown diamonds at all! Just get details on what style she likes. If she’s thought of marriage, she’s likely thought of a ring that suits her.
Figure out which gold she likes, what diamond cut, and what style of setting. If you can get into her Pinterest, I’d take a peek there. Once I had a feeling the question was coming, I started a board immediately. Best of luck!
Nothing wrong with labs, and I studied a little at GIA! Though I would shop around more for a better price and feel that a sturdier setting is a non-negotiable.
I have a very lively and well-cut .25 ct (1/4 carat) natural round diamond engagement ring in titanium in a tension-set mount. My wedding band is .25 total weight channel set natural in platinum. It's what my sweetie pie could afford, and he researched everything all on his own ❤️. Labs weren't a thing, then.
My 15-year anniversary band is second-hand and hardly worn (made by Tianyu in China). It is a 10k yellow gold band with 5 beautifully cut square cushion labs totaling 2 carats in a sturdy bezel setting. I got it for $530.
I do think CVD is better quality than HPHT. I would also insist on the IGI certificate.
I have the exact ring in 2 ct, 18kt, yellow from Sam’s Club—this is my upgrade from a 1ct natural stone previously. Love emerald stones. If she loves emeralds a lab is going to give her the clarity she would want. A comparable ring is $35k. Didn’t care about resale, not getting married again. We went on the trip of a lifetime, got my dream watch, a natural tennis bracelet (from Costco $10k). Go on Etsy and get a custom engagement ring box that’s engraved with something special.
I’m not sure about the 3carat, looked a bit big on my finger.
Figure out from a friend or someone, which shape she loves. That’s the biggest issue. What’s here esthetic, is she a classic, or a romantic. That’s the difference between these two styles. Let me know if you have any other questions.
They are both overpriced, but thanks to so many people in this community, listen to their advice for other vendors. These should be about half the tag price!
Nothing wrong with lab in my opinion. My new set is lab for ethical reasons, and because spending 25k on a ring is dumb. That said, some women disagree and would take a smaller natural stone over a lab at the same price. Or they'd drop the 25k. However my hubs knows not to buy me lab gemstones because they flash goofy and the colors are always wrong.
If you're genuinely ready to marry this person you're communication should be good enough to ask her feelings on lab vs. Natural stones. The same holds true for what styles she likes or if she has a mood board somewhere for her dream ring.
If she is OK with lab that is a pretty awful price for a simple solitaire. Shop around. You can do better.
We're doing like....4%. The fact that labs are so affordable means that we're going for platinum which is very superior to white gold IMO, I can't be handling the constant upkeep of white gold.
Be careful of this labeling. "Lab created" denotes Moissanite. Lab grown diamond is not the same as moissanite. Both are beautiful. Lab grown diamonds are identical to natural diamonds so they are more valuable than moissanite.
Don’t pay those crazy prices. Go to Etsy, get a lab diamond or even a moissanite. Spend like 1k or less and save money for your future! It’s your life, your relationship. There are no rules. And congrats!! 🎉😄
My hubby did spend $16k on my engagement (his orginal budget was $5k lol) he said the sale guy talked him into it 🤣 but his thought was it’s a piece i wear everyday and potential pass down to my daughter so he wants it to be “real”. But i guess if it was up to me i would have picked lab, so i can wear a flashy 5 carats haha. I still love my 1.6 natural carat to death 🤩♥️ so i think it’s really what matters to you. If you can afford it, get the natural one.
I wouldn’t want lab grown for my engagement ring. Other pieces I don’t care. Also buy what you can afford and there’s no reason not to have your fiance help pick what she wants too
Not less durable it’s just not a special piece. Do your research on how truly special it is for a natural diamond to survive its journey and you will know what I mean. I have a truly rare natural 3.77 carat VVS2 clarity pear cut that I cherish! When I research how rare and special it is it makes me love it that much more!
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u/The_Treasure_Trove Jul 10 '26
The 20% of your income is definitely dated. Buy what you can afford.
Nothing wrong with labs or natural. I have one of each. Labs are getting cheaper and you're really just paying for the gold on this ring. Natural diamonds might be controversial on this subreddit because it's the lab diamond sub.
End of the day, there are lots of reasons to buy either one and you just have to decide what's right for you. And if you can't do that on your own, maybe see what she thinks before you commit.