Why we love it: You can trust that a company with a century-long legacy knows what it’s doing. Zales has been in the fine jewelry biz since 1924, while never missing a beat on what’s trending, what’s lasting, and what will pop. You’ll easily find affordable lab-grown diamonds here under the $500 mark, making it a great place to find gifts for someone getting their first serious piece of jewelry. A number of dazzling lab-grown diamond engagement rings are offered as well—I personally recommend the Vera Wang collection. Plus, with a huge retail footprint, the brand makes it easy to browse in-store or online.
Best for: Gifts and milestone jewelry purchases | Price Range: $50–$5,000 | Shipping: Free standard shipping | Return Policy: 30 days
Best Custom: Vrai
Pros: Beginner-friendly, fair pricing
Cons: Vrai uses its own diamond grading system and is not GIA-certified
Why we love it: Since its founding in 2014, Vrai has never worked with mined diamonds. Instead, it focuses solely on lab-grown gems, crafting eye-catching fine jewelry that’s dainty, but far from boring. While there are plenty of customization capabilities for its engagement rings, it’s in a way that doesn’t feel overwhelming to a beginner. It provides visual guides every step of the way, ensuring your final creation is exactly what you had envisioned.
Best for: Ethically sourced fine jewelry | Price Range: $200–$7,000 | Shipping: Free shipping | Return Policy: 30 days
Pros: Expert craftsmanship; classic, goes-with-everything designs
Cons: Pricier than standard lab-grown diamonds
Why we love it: Jean Dousset comes from a long lineage of jewelry designers; the founder is the great-great-grandson of Louis Cartier. (Yes, that Cartier.) He is also the designer behind Paris Hilton’s engagement ring and worked with high-end houses like Van Cleef & Arpels before founding his namesake jewelry brand, this time focusing solely on lab-grown diamonds. His deep understanding of diamond design makes his engagement rings (among other jewelry pieces) among the most mesmerizing on the market. He’s not afraid of crafting big, chunky diamond pieces that scream opulence.
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