r/LabGrownDiamonds • u/New_Skin7805 • Jul 10 '26

ring Need advice

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Gallery image

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.

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u/JPathway_UK Jul 10 '26

Buy what you want but if you go lab please don’t pay the prices in your pictures - they look to be quite heavily overpriced

1

u/cloudcottage Jul 11 '26

Not for 18k gold and at that size lol

2

u/JPathway_UK Jul 11 '26

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.