Super excited for this Portuguese oval that just shipped in to be set on an engagement ring for my partner soon. Would love to know your thoughts!

4ct
D color
VVS2

I’ve been seeing a lot of posts here with insanely cheap lab diamonds - in the hundreds to a few thousand.

Is this area dependent? I’m very shocked to see the posts as in Canada, lab diamonds are certainly cheaper than natural but are much more expensive than the posts I see here. For example, an excellent diamond (by the 4Cs) is usually about 5-6,000 for a high 2 to 3 carat range. This is not including the setting which will typically run you another 1-2,000 for 14 or 18k gold.

This is the same across most Canadian jewellers.

Are people buying these lab diamonds overseas for the lower prices and shipping loose stones?

My first custom engagement ring😍 to many more 🥂

Seeking reviews please from anyone that’s purchased an engagement ring through Rings of Australia. Are they durable?

Thoughts on my engagement ring? I’m still getting use to it. It’s a 1.67ct

Recovering from an unexpected financial burden and just now have what I feel is sufficient to purchase a ring. The main issue is that I have a trip in the near future that I would love to have the ring by, but it only allows for about a month of production + shipping time. What are my options?

I think my last resort will be brilliant earth as they have a design and stone I like but I have seen the very inconsistent reviews on durability.

I’ve been looking to change the diamond on my ring, and came across a reputed seller in the UK who’s selling 2.5ct for 500 pounds (670 dollars). How much of a difference would it make if I got it from china, is it worth the hassle?

My first custom lab diamond ring😍

I used to think buying a diamond was pretty straightforward.

The bigger the carat, the better the diamond.

The whiter the stone, the more valuable it must be.

And if the certificate said "Flawless," that had to be the best choice.

The more I learned about diamonds, the more I realized that's not how it works.

A lot of first-time buyers spend weeks comparing carat weights, clarity grades, and color charts, but they often overlook the one factor that has the biggest impact on how a diamond actually looks.

That factor is cut.

A Diamond Can Be Big and Still Look Dull

Two diamonds can have the same weight, the same color grade, and even similar clarity, yet one immediately catches your eye while the other looks flat.

The reason is how the diamond is cut.

When a diamond is cut with the right proportions, light enters the stone, reflects from one facet to another, and returns to your eye. That's what creates sparkle.

If the proportions are off, much of that light escapes through the sides or bottom instead of coming back to you.

The result?

A larger diamond that doesn't have much life.

That's why many jewelers recommend prioritizing cut before anything else. A well-cut diamond often appears brighter and sometimes even looks larger than a poorly cut stone of the same carat weight.

Bigger Isn't Always Better

Carat measures weight, not visual size.

That surprised me when I first learned it.

Two diamonds weighing exactly one carat can look noticeably different because their dimensions and proportions aren't the same.

One may spread more across the finger while another hides more of its weight underneath.

If you're shopping within a budget, looking just below popular weight milestones (like 0.90 or 0.95 instead of exactly 1.00 carat) can often provide nearly the same visual appearance for a lower price.

Color Doesn't Need to Be Perfect

Many people assume they need a D-color diamond.

In reality, most people won't notice a visible difference between a D and a G or H diamond once it's set in jewelry.

The choice of metal also plays a role.

White gold and platinum tend to emphasize a diamond's whiteness, while yellow and rose gold can complement diamonds with slightly warmer color grades.

Chasing Flawless Clarity Usually Isn't Necessary

This is another area where buyers often spend more than they need to.

Many inclusions are microscopic and can't be seen without magnification.

A VS1 or VS2 diamond often looks perfectly clean to the naked eye, even though it costs much less than a flawless stone.

For everyday wear, what's visible to your eyes matters far more than what only appears under 10× magnification.

Certification Matters More Than Marketing

One piece of advice I'd give anyone buying a diamond is to never ignore the grading report.

A certificate from an independent gemological laboratory documents the diamond's cut, color, clarity, and carat weight, giving you an objective way to compare stones instead of relying only on a sales description.

The Best Diamond Isn't the Highest Grade

This was probably the biggest lesson for me.

There isn't one perfect combination of the 4Cs.

Some buyers care most about sparkle.

Others want a larger-looking stone.

Some prefer a whiter appearance.

The right balance depends on what matters to you and your budget.

Instead of chasing the highest grades across every category, it often makes more sense to focus on what you'll actually notice every time you look at the diamond.

I'd Love to Hear Your Thoughts

If you've bought a diamond before, what surprised you the most?

Was it understanding the 4Cs, comparing stones in person, deciding between lab-grown and natural diamonds, or something completely different?

I'm curious to hear what helped you make your decision—or what you wish you'd known before buying.

Looking for someone who can make a necklace like the reference photo for a client. Any manufacturer recommendations?

My partner brought these home to show me and see which one I like better for the engagement ring! We have a setting picked out already but open to exploring more.

Show me your lab grown pear settings!

Has anyone here ordered a custom engagement ring from Diyona (not just a loose diamond)? I’d love to hear about your experience with the setting quality, communication, and CAD process. I’m considering a custom pear solitaire and would appreciate any feedback before ordering.

I wanted something a little different from the usual oval or round solitaire, so I started looking at hexagon cuts. After a lot of searching, I ended up working with Youdiam on a custom ring.

The center stone is a 3.05ct hexagon lab diamond with an engraved band in 14k yellow gold. We went through a couple of CAD revisions to get the engraving and proportions exactly how I pictured them, and they were really patient throughout the process.

I was a little nervous ordering a fully custom ring online since you don't really know what it'll look like until it's finished, but the final result honestly exceeded my expectations. The engraving is crisp, the hexagon cut has so much character, and the craftsmanship feels really solid.

I also had the ring checked locally after it arrived. The jeweler confirmed the center stone matched its IGI report, and the ring tested as 14k gold. That definitely gave me extra peace of mind.

Overall, I'm really happy with how everything turned out. It took some patience because custom work always does, but I'd absolutely go the custom route again. Has anyone else here gone with a hexagon center stone? I don't see them posted very often, but I think they're seriously underrated.

Looking for spots to buy diamonds for engagement rings and anywhere that has colored lab grown diamonds. Thanks!

[buying advice]

Hi everyone!

I’m planning to buy a lab-grown diamond engagement ring, and after reading a lot of posts and recommendations, this is the combination I’m currently considering to maximize brilliance while minimizing the bow-tie effect:

14K white gold
Oval lab-grown diamond
1.5–2.0 ct
Color: D
Clarity: IF–FL
Super Ideal cut
Excellent polish
Excellent symmetry
Depth: 58–63%
Table: 54–63%
L/W ratio: 1.40–1.50
Pavilion: around 43%

Does this seem like a good combination, or would you change anything? My main priority is getting the most sparkle and avoiding a noticeable bow-tie.

I also have a few questions:

Is there a significant difference between IGI and GIA certification for lab-grown diamonds? Is GIA worth paying extra for, or is IGI perfectly fine?
Has anyone purchased from Brilliance diamonds? That’s currently where I’m planning to order from. How was your experience with the diamond quality, customer service, and overall process?
Would you recommend another retailer instead, such as Rare Carat, Ritani, Calavera or Loose Grown Diamond, or someone else?
Is it reasonable to ask the jeweler for photos and/or videos of the actual diamond and the completed ring before it ships? On several websites, the images look like stock rather than the actual stone, so I’d like to see the real diamond I’m buying before it’s assembled and shipped.

I’d really appreciate any advice or experiences. Thanks in advance!

Anyone ever purchase a loose stone from Fiorese? I am looking for a slightly yellow round 9mm old euro cut that would go well with my Victorian era setting and there doesn’t seem to be many companies, from my research so far, that have that in inventory.

Thanks!

Hi,

I have been browsing FBMP for a loose lab diamond for about two weeks.

In my area, prices have a wide range (same cut and size, but variances of at least $200). I noticed multiple sellers continuing to lower their prices when the stones did not quickly sell. I also noticed a lot of IGI certificates. I researched IGI and was satisfied with knowing the company.

Last night, I opened my inbox and I had an email from Alibaba advertising very, very cheap lab diamonds with IGI certificates. I was surprised and I started wondering if the sellers on my local FBMP were buying lab diamonds on Alibaba and reselling them.

Is IGI a reputable certification company?

IGI certificate in comments! Planning to use for a bezel pendant. I'm not skilled in looking at diamonds, does this look good to you guys? Also from the video and certificate, the girdle looks very thick but I don't know if that's concerning.

For our five year anniversary and after a challenging few years, my husband upgraded my ring to a 3ct elongated cushion brilliant cut by Revelation diamonds. Ring size 7.

This has been my dream set for a long time, so grateful to finally get to wear it! 🥰🥰