Shopping for an engagement ring is an unforgettable journey—one that captures the excitement, commitment, and timeless beauty of a love story about to begin. These are cherished reminders of happy times that bring a smile to our faces even after years. This is why we put in so much thought and effort to find the perfect diamond for engagement rings —one that will help preserve that special feeling forever. After all, no engagement is complete without the timeless sparkle of diamonds.
While couples have a world of choices before them, lab grown diamond rings are especially popular. Created using advanced technology in controlled environments, they offer a more ethical, eco-friendly, and budget-friendly choice to traditionally mined diamonds with the exact same beauty (or even better).
Before choosing the perfect ring, ensure you consider key factors that will add style, elegance, and lasting value to your new journey together. This blog will detail some essential tips to help you choose the ideal lab grown diamond engagement ring with confidence.
8 Tips for Choosing Lab Grown Diamond Engagement Rings Wisely
Like any other piece of bridal jewellery, an engagement ring is a precious purchase you don’t want to rush. Considering these eight tips will ensure you have a fuss-free shopping experience:
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Check the 4Cs
For starters, prioritise diamond quality by considering the four Cs—carat weight, cut, clarity, and colour.
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Carat weight: This measures the weight of a diamond. Given that the other Cs remain constant, a higher carat weight typically increases the stone’s value, as higher-weight diamonds are rarer and more desirable.
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Cut: A diamond’s cut (proportion, symmetry, and polish) impacts the way it interacts with light. Hence, a diamond's brilliance or brightness, sparkle or scintillation, and colour flashes or fire depend on its cut quality.
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Clarity: This particular C indicates the absence of blemishes on a stone’s surface and inclusions inside it. Flawless gems are extremely rare and expensive in mined diamonds. However, lab grown diamonds, particularly those made using the CVD method, offer this flawless quality at an affordable cost, making high-clarity diamonds much more accessible.
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Colour: Diamond colour ranges from colourless to slightly yellow or brownish. Naturally, the less the obtrusive colour, the higher the price.
For starters, prioritise diamond quality by considering the four Cs—carat weight, cut, clarity, and colour. Learn more in our detailed guide on the 4Cs of Lab Grown Diamonds.
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Consider Shapes and Cutting Styles
When it comes to engagement jewellery, the shape of your diamond ring may say a lot about your choice and personality. Like any other jewellery, these rings also feature diamonds of different shapes (referring to the stone’s outline when viewed from above). While round is the most popular, you can also go for fancy shapes like pear, marquise, rectangle, oval, heart, and square.
Cutting style, on the other hand, refers to the arrangement of a diamond’s facets. While the brilliant-cut ensures maximum possible brilliance, the step-cut involves sleek and long lines for a classy gleam. Another common cut is the emerald, characterised by its square or rectangular shape, step-cut facets arranged in concentric rows, and bevelled corners. The radiant cut has a similar shape but offers a more modern and defined cutting style, resulting in a slightly smaller face-up appearance.
Round and brilliant cut diamonds typically cost the most, owing to their sparkle and high demand.
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Examine Diamonds Under Different Lighting Conditions
Diamond jewellery pieces, including rings, appear different depending on the type of lighting. While the stones dazzle the most under spotlighting (used by jewellers), check how they perform under diffused lights and in the daylight. You'll notice a diamond's brilliance more under fluorescent lighting, while incandescent lights enhance its flashes of colour.
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Choose a Metal
When it comes to the bands of diamond engagement rings, you can either go for yellow, white, rose gold, or platinum:
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Yellow gold: A classic choice, yellow gold is lustrous and easily complements other bridal jewellery. Diamond rings usually use 18K or 14K gold for their durability and resistance to scratches.
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Rose gold: If you want a retro look, rose gold is perfect. A popular metal from the Victorian era, the metal’s charming pinkish hue comes from gold blended with copper and silver, offering the wearer a softer, romantic look.
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White gold: Usually obtained by combining pure gold with palladium and nickel, white gold is a long-lasting and beautiful choice. Its stunning silver colour compliments the diamond’s brilliance, essentially allowing the diamond to shine without being overshadowed by the metal.
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Platinum: Though costlier than gold, platinum makes for bands that are super durable and hypoallergenic. Platinum, in fact, has a very sought after presence in jewellery design due to its endurance and eternal natural beauty.
While platinum or white gold bands best complement colourless gems, yellow and rose gold bands are more appropriate for coloured stones.
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Pick a Setting
In diamond jewellery, rings included, the setting holds the stones in place and keeps them safe against damage. Prong and bezel are the popular setting types. In the first case, rounded or sharp prongs (4 – 6 in number) hold the diamond in place. In the case of the bezel, which is more protective, a sleek strip of metal is hammered around the gem. It is especially suitable for diamonds that are prone to chipping or have sharp points.
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Spare a Thought for Side Stones
Side stones elevate lab grown diamond engagement rings in incredible ways, from making them look bigger and lavish to intricate and personal. A three-stone or trilogy ring represents love, friendship, and faithfulness, while a halo setting where small diamonds are arranged in unique designs around a single dazzling solitaire amplifies the sparkle. Adding birthstones or coloured precious stones on either side of the central diamond is a great look, too. Specialising in solitaire-based designs, Limelight Diamonds is your go-to choice for year-round jewellery shopping.
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Consider Varied Styles and Trends
There are many designs and trends in lab grown diamond rings, from minimalistic and modern designs to ornate and engraved vintage pieces. A simple ring featuring a diamond and a coloured birthstone can make for a timeless statement, too.
Add a touch of romance by choosing a heart-shaped-centred diamond ring encircled by small diamonds, embracing your special moments. Consider buying on-trend bohemian pieces that boast fancy diamonds in unique, quirky setting styles, and designs.
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Trust Only Reputed Jewellers
Since you will be spending a decent amount of your money on a lab grown diamond ring, opt for a reputed jeweller/brand who has been in the industry for a long time. They should be able to explain the details of diamonds and help you compare and choose from a large collection. The jeweller should also provide necessary certifications or grading reports that clearly indicate the quality and worth of the ring as well as the diamonds used. The documentation must mention the use of lab grown gems and the process used for manufacturing them.
All Limelight stores offer certified diamonds rings along with a valid warranty card that enables all their customers to make an ensured purchase with absolute transparency.
Conclusion
All in all, when shopping for diamond engagement rings, consider multiple factors—from the 4Cs, shapes, metal, and setting to style, side stones, and the jeweller's reputation. If you're unsure about the right design, explore our guide on Halo vs. Solitaire: Find Your Perfect Lab Grown Diamond Ring Design.
Make sure the ring size of the wearer is accurately measured, and if possible, go for a design that is easy to resize up or down if required. Additionally, remember that the price will depend on all the factors discussed in this guide, so decide which attributes matter the most for you while deciding on a budget for the lab grown diamond ring.
FAQs
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Why should I opt for a lab grown diamond ring for my engagement?
Lab grown diamonds are real diamonds that are more ethically created than naturally mined ones, are more environment-friendly, and are relatively affordable. They are identical to mined stones in physical, chemical, structural, and optical properties, offering the same durability, brilliance, and beauty (sometimes even better) at a fraction of the cost, allowing you to buy a bigger and better rock within your budget. Learn more about why lab grown diamond rings are the perfect proposal choice.
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What kind of metal is used for lab grown diamond engagement rings?
Diamond jewellery rings are typically made using metals like yellow gold, white gold, rose gold, and platinum. White gold offers a contemporary choice, rose gold has a retro-chic appeal, and yellow gold is a timeless option. Platinum is the most expensive out of the four but is extremely durable and hypoallergenic, becoming a much preferred choice as well.
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How to save money while buying diamond jewellery like an engagement ring?
To avoid overshooting your budget, opt for simple, sleek designs, fancy-shaped diamonds, and rose gold bands. Opting for a smaller diamond carat instead of a bigger rock will also cost less.