Need some guidance - engagement ring

[chudly]

Looking for some guidance here.
I've looked on and off for a diamond for an engagement right. I'm not sure if the best plan is to get a loose diamond and a setting since I'm not sure about the process. Seeing a diamond in the flesh vs photos online I'm sure looks a bit different. I guess I need to be put at ease that the diamond will sparkle enough in person

I do know that I'm looking for a round ideal cut around 1.5+CW for under 10k with a solitaire 6 prong setting.

I've looked at James Allen and there's extremely few MMD that fall in that category. I found out about distinctivegem.com today. What are other reputable vendors? Do you usually work with a specific person at a vendor that helps you pick a diamond?

Thank you!

 

[sprinklesparkles]

Diamond Foundary is a good one in my experience.

 

[MelloYello8]

You can start here.

List of MMD / Laboratory Grown Diamond sellers

So, as we don’t have a sticky detailing potential vendors of MMDs / LGDs, I thought I’d make a thread :)) In terms of ‘Pricescope-recommended’ (i.e. ‘safe’ sellers) I think the following would be correct? Brilliant Earth (BE) https://www.brilliantearth.com/lab-diamonds-search/ Large range...

www.pricescope.com

I’ve gotten rings with lab diamonds both ways. There are pros and cons to both. The easiest route is to choose a diamond from a vendor that also makes settings, then either choose a setting they already make or have the vendor work with you on a custom setting. I’d offer this route would have an additional plus side of having lifetime cleanings and prong checks, but tbh my experience is vendors only selling lab diamonds don’t have decades of being in business and don’t have ubiquitous brick and mortar presence. We loved the vendor that sold us our lab and recycled engagement and wedding rings but it folded maybe within 5 years after we got married. I’d say the overwhelming majority of the vendors linked in the page above have not been in business for more than 2 years, particularly if they only sell lab diamonds. Lately some more established vendors that sell mined diamonds have started to sell lab diamonds too, and may have better prospects of long term customer service.

 

[chudly]

thanks for the insight MelloYello8