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Is this LGD ring expensive enough to be considered respectable?

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Chelsea Palmer

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Mar 8, 2023
Messages
602
Hello, and thank you for reading my post. This LGD ring cost over $12,000. Is that a high-enough cost to make it a “respectable” engagement ring in your opinion? (I realize this would cost a lot more had the diamond been mined from the Earth. That is not the point.) There seems to be a stigma in that LGD engagement rings are not “expensive”enough. Interested to hear your thoughts and opinions.IMG_1348.png
 
I don't really see why the cost would make it more respectable? I don't think so. That would imply that a lower cost engagement ring, lab or mined, would be less respectable than a more expensive ring.
I feel sorry for those who think labs are less respectable. Seems like an opinion that leads to a waste of money. But everyone are entitled to their own opinion. Some people look down upon big stones (lab or mined), thinking they are gaudy. I feel sorry for those people also!
 
Yeh, I dont use the price as an indicator of respectable or not. Actually, "respectable" is not an adjective I use with diamonds
(lab or Earth mined) or jewelry.
 
It is such a tough world now -- I can empathize.

"Back in the day," I sprung for the biggest and best that I could readily afford, and retail price for a loose (natural) diamond in a big-city "diamond district" was a decent proxy for quality. (This is sort of the question I think you are asking.)

If I were doing it now, with the resources I have decades later, I would "want" to spend (very low) five figures on a ring. But i would not want to overpay to get there. For your commitment and budget, you can go natural and smaller or lab and larger. Even a lovely mounting like that should not add more than maybe $4K.

I love that look -- although I would much prefer white metal -- would really elevate the whole thing. Everything I see for the last few weeks is elongated cushion "OMC-ish" -- kudos for not going there (and with apologies to Taylor -- I love her ring but have no interest in copying it).
 
LilAlex said:
It is such a tough world now -- I can empathize.

"Back in the day," I sprung for the biggest and best that I could readily afford, and retail price for a loose (natural) diamond in a big-city "diamond district" was a decent proxy for quality. (This is sort of the question I think you are asking.)

If I were doing it now, with the resources I have decades later, I would "want" to spend (very low) five figures on a ring. But i would not want to overpay to get there. For your commitment and budget, you can go natural and smaller or lab and larger. Even a lovely mounting like that should not add more than maybe $4K.

I love that look -- although I would much prefer white metal -- would really elevate the whole thing. Everything I see for the last few weeks is elongated cushion "OMC-ish" -- kudos for not going there (and with apologies to Taylor -- I love her ring but have no interest in copying it).
Click to expand...

I assume you mean you got a decent price for quality. That’s really wasn’t my question. Now one does not have to get something “ decent” for the price. You can get “spectacular” nowadays, thanks to LGDs. And yes, this particular ring is over priced. That was why I posted it. Is the price high enough to make it respectable. Since for some reason that seems to be part of the decision-making. You said you would want to spend low five figures. So if you could get the same diamond quality that is in this ring for $3000, you would not do it because it’s not a five-figure diamond? You would purchase this one specifically because it’s low five figures, correct? So that does make it respectable? That’s the gist of my question.
 
One other item - no one should buy an emerald cut without laying eyes on the exact stone, regardless of price.

This is a bait for people who want to have peace of mind through their pocketbook. There's absolutely no way that buying an EC blind for five figures will guarantee that you'll get a decent stone. Finding a good EC is so so so hard!

@Karl_K, do you have thoughts?
 
IMO jewelery is a sort of forever token, meant as a reminder or physical manifestation of love. The only reason price pays a part is because craftsmanship is not cheap.

If I wanted to be "bought", I'd ask for cash, not a token.
 
Chelsea Palmer said:
I assume you mean you got a decent price for quality. That’s really wasn’t my question.
Click to expand...

No. I mean that the whole mess was not contaminated by lab diamonds back then. There were no "bargains" then, ether, but it was a more level playing field. I knew I wanted a > 1 ct decent-enough diamond by the readily-available 4Cs standards of the day. (There was no cut grading visible to the public but you could sort of use your eyes.) And if you wanted a little-over-one-ct, excellent-but-not-superb color in SI1 or better, you knew where you would be, price-wise.

I'll be blunter now -- and this is what others have been saying. If you are only using price as your proxy for quality instead of knowing what quality is, you will get ripped off. If you go to the used car lot and ask what you can get for $12K, you will get a sh*tty deal. If you are determined that $12K is some minimum sacrifice to sanctify this moment, there are better values to be had. You are not just giving the receipt; you are giving a ring that you want to be beautiful and to have some intrinsic value.

I can't tell what part of the dyad you are. Maybe your partner has given you this budget and you are trying to fill it? Or maybe someone stumbled across the ingenious De Beers "two months' salary" guidance?

With labs, you should be able to find or create a lovely ring at almost any price point.
 
OP seems to have a bit of a hate on for labs. For me personally I don’t care what you spend on a diamond - I would hope that it wouldn’t matter if it was a natural or lab diamond just do your research and aim for the best quality your budget would allow for.
 
I believe OP currently owns a lab diamond ring and is very happy with it. However, there has been some flack given by a few on PS regarding lab diamonds not being "real" diamonds or cheap knockoffs, in part because they do not cost as much as an earth mined diamond. It is my opinion, that this is the point she is making.
 
HGar said:
OP seems to have a bit of a hate on for labs. For me personally I don’t care what you spend on a diamond - I would hope that it wouldn’t matter if it was a natural or lab diamond just do your research and aim for the best quality your budget would allow for.
Click to expand...

“OP” is original poster, correct? If so, i recently swapped my 1.5 very nice natural round diamond for a 2-carat spectacular LGD that DejaWiz found for me and Dan at Concierge Diamonds procured for me. I LOVE my diamond. And, for ONLY monetary reasons, would only purchase LGDs going forward. I love diamonds regardless of source. But LGDs are more affordable. That’s there only reason I “prefer” them.
 
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RMOO said:
I believe OP currently owns a lab diamond ring and is very happy with it. However, there has been some flack given by a few on PS regarding lab diamonds not being "real" diamonds or cheap knockoffs, in part because they do not cost as much as an earth mined diamond. It is my opinion, that this is the point she is making.
Click to expand...

You nailed it, RMOO.
 
LilAlex said:
No. I mean that the whole mess was not contaminated by lab diamonds back then. There were no "bargains" then, ether, but it was a more level playing field. I knew I wanted a > 1 ct decent-enough diamond by the readily-available 4Cs standards of the day. (There was no cut grading visible to the public but you could sort of use your eyes.) And if you wanted a little-over-one-ct, excellent-but-not-superb color in SI1 or better, you knew where you would be, price-wise.

I'll be blunter now -- and this is what others have been saying. If you are only using price as your proxy for quality instead of knowing what quality is, you will get ripped off. If you go to the used car lot and ask what you can get for $12K, you will get a sh*tty deal. If you are determined that $12K is some minimum sacrifice to sanctify this moment, there are better values to be had. You are not just giving the receipt; you are giving a ring that you want to be beautiful and to have some intrinsic value.

I can't tell what part of the dyad you are. Maybe your partner has given you this budget and you are trying to fill it? Or maybe someone stumbled across the ingenious De Beers "two months' salary" guidance?

With labs, you should be able to find or create a lovely ring at almost any price point.
Click to expand...

I’m not talking about quality. I believe RMOO understands my query, despite my obvious-to-me failure to clearly convey what I was asking
 
If my partner proposed with a $12k LGD ring I’d find that less respectable than if he proposed with that specific ring at market value (something like this where I live would be <$2k). I hate overpaying. I would want my partner to put in the effort to research and pick out a ring I’d love, that’s made well, with well cut stones, and pay a fair price for it.

Price isn’t what makes a ring “respectable”. People who don’t want LGDs (of which I admit I’m one) don’t make that decision because LGDs are cheaper. And it doesn’t make it “more worth it” to them just because someone slapped on an undeservingly high price tag on it. To me this actually makes it less worth it, because now it erodes LGDs best feature - it’s price effectiveness.
 
if the bride loves it and the intended sentiment behind it then that is enough

my grand parents were married in the depression and her earth mined diamond is very small by PS standards but it represents their love for each other

i do not think the way to start a marrage is by trying to keep up with the Jones' or to impress relatives or to meet others' expectations much less by anybody who tries to shame someone on the internet
the only people that matter is the couple themselves
 
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"Respectable enough." ARGH. Whomever thinks this way, whomever decides something isn't respectable not because of it's own qualities but merely because of it's price tag: that's a red flag that you may need to kick that person out of your life.

Listen, maturity is learning to live for yourself instead of others. People pleasing leads to dissatisfaction and depression.

Tell anyone who judges an LGD to stuff it. And most importantly internalize the fact that their judgement is a reflection of THEIR inadequacies not of anything to do with you.

People who need price tags and labels to enjoy things... these aren't happy people. And their judgement is their way of spreading their unhappiness around.
 
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So I put your question into chatgpt and this is the response.

That’s a really good question — it touches on both psychology and social norms.

When people ask “Is this LGD (lab-grown diamond) ring expensive enough to be considered respectable?” they’re usually grappling with a few things:

1. Social Validation

Engagement rings especially have a cultural link to status, love, and “what one deserves.”

Some worry others will judge them (family, friends, peers) if the ring seems “cheap,” even if it’s beautiful.



2. Old Norms vs. New Options

Traditionally, mined diamonds were marketed as the “standard of respectability” (thanks to De Beers’ decades of advertising).

LGDs are chemically identical but much more affordable, which creates anxiety: “Will people see this as less meaningful because it cost less?”



3. Respectability = Price in Some Minds

In some cultures or social groups, cost is (wrongly) equated with respect or effort: a more expensive ring means the giver values the recipient more.

So the question comes from fear of being seen as cutting corners.



4. Transition Period

LGDs are still fairly new in mainstream jewelry. Some people proudly embrace them; others worry about lingering stigma.

Asking the question is really about testing whether society has “caught up” yet.




The truth: “Respectability” isn’t about cost but about design, sentiment, and the values of the couple. But the question keeps popping up because people want reassurance that choosing a practical or modern option won’t make them look stingy.
 
Chelsea Palmer said:
I assume you mean you got a decent price for quality. That’s really wasn’t my question. Now one does not have to get something “ decent” for the price. You can get “spectacular” nowadays, thanks to LGDs. And yes, this particular ring is over priced. That was why I posted it. Is the price high enough to make it respectable. Since for some reason that seems to be part of the decision-making. You said you would want to spend low five figures. So if you could get the same diamond quality that is in this ring for $3000, you would not do it because it’s not a five-figure diamond? You would purchase this one specifically because it’s low five figures, correct? So that does make it respectable? That’s the gist of my question.
Click to expand...

I am not sure I am getting your question, even though you rephrased it here. When someone is going for a mined diamond (versus a lab diamond), I can see higher price being used as a proxy for quality and thus, “respectability”. When talking about lab diamonds, though, most of us are drawn to them because of the incredible buying power - a comparable stone in mined would cost 10x-100x. I love finding an incredible, well priced lab stone, (e.g. 4.5 ct, E, round brilliant, VVS1 for 1.5k, say) for as little as possible and having it set in a fabulous setting. I will price-match the hell out of the lab diamond I have my sights on to get the best deal, as I know exactly the specs I am looking for and what a quality stone is. So, given all that, I am never ever looking to overpay on a lab stone. Thus, I would never buy the stone/ring you posted because I know I can do much much better on price. A lab diamond shopper is inherently a price-savvy shopper - we want tremendous specs and a low price. The better the price on the most stunning lab stone I can find, the happier I am. What you are asking seems to apply more to land-diamond shopper mentality, not to lab-stone shopper mentality.
 
PNWRockHound said:
I am not sure I am getting your question, even though you rephrased it here. When someone is going for a mined diamond (versus a lab diamond), I can see higher price being used as a proxy for quality and thus, “respectability”. When talking about lab diamonds, though, most of us are drawn to them because of the incredible buying power - a comparable stone in mined would cost 10x-100x. I love finding an incredible, well priced lab stone, (e.g. 4.5 ct, E, round brilliant, VVS1 for 1.5k, say) for as little as possible and having it set in a fabulous setting. I will price-match the hell out of the lab diamond I have my sights on to get the best deal, as I know exactly the specs I am looking for and what a quality stone is. So, given all that, I am never ever looking to overpay on a lab stone. Thus, I would never buy the stone/ring you posted because I know I can do much much better on price. A lab diamond shopper is inherently a price-savvy shopper - we want tremendous specs and a low price. The better the price on the most stunning lab stone I can find, the happier I am. What you are asking seems to apply more to land-diamond shopper mentality, not to lab-stone shopper mentality.
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I would never overpay either. I am of the opinion that my money is always better off in my pocket than in someone else’s.
Sometimes folks (I won’t call out anyone in particular) disparage LGDs for their low cost, as ridiculous as that is to me. So if someone can spend $12,000 on an LGD ring such as this one, will that make it more worthy of respect? Because $12,000 is $12,000, and that’s a decent chunk of change for a lot of folks. That was the gist of my question.
 
Chelsea Palmer said:
I would never overpay either. I am of the opinion that my money is always better off in my pocket than in someone else’s.
Sometimes folks (I won’t call out anyone in particular) disparage LGDs for their low cost, as ridiculous as that is to me. So if someone can spend $12,000 on an LGD ring such as this one, will that make it more worthy of respect? Because $12,000 is $12,000, and that’s a decent chunk of change for a lot of folks. That was the gist of my question.
Click to expand...

oh! i see what you are saying now. It is funny to me also when diamond professionals discount lab diamonds as “fake imitations”, “total cheapies” perhaps as an attempt to protect their mined diamond businesses with insane markups. Well, if someone has to buy all those cheap, incredibly clean, brilliantly white lab diamonds cut to near-perfection just for the sheer joy of it, I guess that could be me :) Yes, 12k is a respectable amount to spend. And yet I think for those who deal in mined diamonds and are attempting to discredit lab diamonds, no amount spent on “worthless” lab diamonds will be respectable. Only a ground diamond will do.
 
PNWRockHound said:
oh! i see what you are saying now. It is funny to me also when diamond professionals discount lab diamonds as “fake imitations”, “total cheapies” perhaps as an attempt to protect their mined diamond businesses with insane markups. Well, if someone has to buy all those cheap, incredibly clean, brilliantly white lab diamonds cut to near-perfection just for the sheer joy of it, I guess that could be me :) Yes, 12k is a respectable amount to spend. And yet I think for those who deal in mined diamonds and are attempting to discredit lab diamonds, no amount spent on “worthless” lab diamonds will be respectable. Only a ground diamond will do.
Click to expand...

I don’t blame the mined diamond industry for doing everything they can to protect their business. As someone who recently “upgraded” my natural diamond for a larger lab diamond, that I love by the way, I still struggle with the fact that the gem on my finger is, in fact, a DIAMOND. LGDs are, for lack of more original phrase, a game-changer. A shocking game-changer, in fact.
 
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