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JEWELRY

The 13 Best Places to Buy an Engagement Ring Online

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Whether you’re just browsing virtually or ready to make this monumental purchase, stick to these trusted retailers when you shop.

<p>Courtesy of Catbird, Jared, Brilliant Earth</p>

Courtesy of Catbird, Jared, Brilliant Earth

Like most major life milestones, purchasing an engagement ring requires careful consideration and—typically—a considerable amount of funds. That’s why you want to make sure that the retailer you choose to buy a diamond (or stone alternative!) from is transparent, reputable, and trust-worthy, whether you’re shopping online or in-person at a brick-and-mortar shop.

If you’ve chosen to shop (or at least browse!) virtually, you’re in luck: Our editors and experts put together a list of vetted online websites for engagement rings. Stick to these companies, and you won’t just find a ring that expresses how you feel and lasts forever—you’ll find a partner that will guide you on your search, so you can make that monumental final decision with confidence.

Related: The 9 Best Places to Buy a Lab-Grown Diamond Online

Beverly Diamonds

<p>Courtesy of Beverly Diamonds</p>

Courtesy of Beverly Diamonds

Beverly Diamonds is a family-owned business that provides several stone options, from natural to lab-grown diamonds, says Kimmie Smith, a celebrity fashion stylist. They also offer Moissanite, a growing category that’s slightly different from lab-grown or natural diamonds—which means there’s something for anyone at almost every price point. “In addition to Beverly’s offerings, the website features plenty of trustworthy information about the brand and its vendors,” Smith says.

David Yurman

<p>Courtesy of David Yurman</p>

David Yurman is a classic jeweler that is well-known for making high-quality pieces, says Suzanne Halaska, a certified wedding planner and the founder and owner of Couture Events. “For someone looking for a bold engagement ring that still has a modern touch or an

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JEWELRY

Lightbox Now Offers Lab-Grown Diamond Engagement Rings

In a move sure to further disrupt the jewelry industry already disrupted by consumers’ rapid turn to lab-grown diamonds, De Beers has introduced engagement rings under its lab-grown jewelry brand Lightbox, a category it once reserved exclusively for its Forevermark natural, mined diamonds. Now it offers a selection of 16 lab-grown diamond engagement rings priced from $500 to $5,000.

While the company positions the move as a limited market test, it is groundbreaking for De Beers, whose fortunes have been inextricably linked to natural diamond futures.

De Beers is the world’s leading natural diamond company, with its reach into diamond exploration, mining, grading, marketing and retail. It singlehandedly made the diamond engagement ring the symbol of everlasting love in its famed 1947 “A diamond is forever” ad campaign.

Into The Lab-Grown Diamond Fray

When De Beers first dipped its toes into the lab-grown jewelry market with Lightbox in 2018, it was positioned as fun, pretty, affordable fashion jewelry that “may not be forever, but is perfect for right now,” said Bruce Cleaver, then-CEO De Beers Group and now its co-chairman.

At the time, LGD were reserved for earrings and necklaces set with an emphasis on colored stones, but also available in clear-white diamonds.

Initial prices were set at $800 per carat, exclusive of the setting, and the company has held the line on per-carat price since then. However, it has since added a finest grade above its standard offering, priced at $1,500 per carat for LGD stones of finer cut and clarity with the clearest color rating.

It stepped deeper into the bridal waters

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JEWELRY

De Beers’ Lightbox Launches Test-run of Lab-grown Diamond Engagement Rings

It appears that De Beers has spotted the writing on the wall in an increasingly crowded lab-grown diamond market.

The diamond behemoth has begun testing engagement rings under its lab-grown subsidiary, Lightbox, after years of avoiding the category. It is understood that the company had long tried to maintain natural diamonds’ position as engagement ring stones, while attempting to silo lab-grown diamonds as fashion jewelry.

More from WWD

De Beers established Lightbox in 2018 in order to help steer the lab-grown diamond narrative. It set a strict per-carat pricing model for the stones (pro-rated at $800 per carat, regardless of the stone’s size or color) in an attempt to lead the industry’s treatment of lab diamonds.

As newly instated Lightbox chief executive officer Antoine Borde told WWD earlier this month, the company is focused on designs intended for self-purchasing and personal expression.

“We are pursuing the positioning of the brand around fashion, freedom, fun — it’s a good dynamic that we are seeing this happen,” Borde said.

Since its launch Lightbox had sold loose lab-grown stones that could be set as engagement rings, but the company had never sold ready-made engagement rings as part of its own distribution.

Now as more and more players enter the lab-grown arena, it appears that De Beers and Lightbox had little choice but to test the engagement category.

The company’s website has launched a limited series of 16 solitaire rings — all priced at $5,000 or less, with the average hovering around $2,500. They are offered with stones from one to two carats and come in settings that range from very simple gold bands to more elaborate halo styles, set alongside smaller pavé lab-grown stones.

Borde said in a statement: “As part of Lightbox’s promise to bring transparency to lab-grown

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JEWELRY

Best Engagement Rings 2023 – Forbes Vetted

Every couple has their own unique style. The best engagement rings capture your personality in bold or subtle ways, depending on what look you go for: The first step is figuring out the cut of stone you’d like—round, cushion, emerald—from the many options out there. The cut, or shape, brings out features of the diamond itself, including its clarity, brilliance or craftsmanship, and it’s what sets each ring apart.

If you’re not a gemologist, it’s easy to get lost in all the facets of diamond research. With that in mind, we had an independent diamond expert explain what makes each cut special and then found stunning engagement rings that highlight the shape beautifully so you can find a look that matches your style and has sentimental value. From classic cushions to unique emeralds to timeless princess cuts, here are the best engagement rings. (And for more inspiration, we also rounded up the best place to shop for diamonds and the best lab-grown diamonds from top jewelers).

Engraving Offered: Yes | 360 Degree Viewing: Yes | Shipping: Free, fast shipping (speed depends on ring cost) | Return policy: Free 30-day returns | Virtual consultations: Yes

Round cut diamonds are one of the most popular because it has the most facets, and is therefore, “the most sparkly,” says gemologist and jewelry designer Ashley Fox of Ashley Fox Collection. “It’s the only cut that gets a cut grade, which indicates superior sparkle and craftsmanship of a diamond. This is typically the most expensive cut because you lose the most rough when cutting it.” This particular setting from Blue Nile is both timeless and simple, letting the stone itself take center

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JEWELRY

Engagement Rings For All At The Love Ring Showcase

An international jewelry design showcase at London jewelry gallery Tomfoolery, is putting alternative bridal jewelry from a host of international designers and artists in the spotlight. Gallery Director Laura Kay is taking a more inclusive stance for the selling exhibition this year, which was previously known as alt.BRIDE and has now been rebranded as Love Ring, featuring jewels that everyone can wear as an expression of love.

Kay started the showcase in 2014, when she identified a gap in the market for “unique and sculptural engagement rings”. In the intervening nine years, the event has evolved with societal attitudes to love, and how we celebrate it.

“We wanted to fully represent love in all its glorious forms,” says Kay, “and acknowledge the many different ways in which we can joyously express love outside of a wedding ceremony, for ourselves, our family, friends or a partner. Love Ring is the definitive destination for all people who want to celebrate their love through individual style.”

Set up by Nicki and Peter Kay in 1994, as a contemporary fine and costume jewelry gallery, Tomfoolery is one of the London design scene’s hidden gems. Today, the team focuses on artistry and craftsmanship in an eclectic selection by jewelry designers from around the world.

Highlights at the showcase include Brooke Gregson’s recent explorations of enamel and engraving, and the opal Monolith by WWAKE, an exploration of the beauty of the brand’s signature stone. Ruth Tomlinson, who has recently

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JEWELRY

Lab-Made Diamonds Made up Over a Third of Engagement Rings Bought Last Year

Looks like lab-grown diamonds are shedding their stigma.

More than a third of engagement rings with a center stone sold last year were made in a lab, according to a survey from the Knot cited in The Wall Street Journal on Friday. On top of that, some jewelers—from legacy houses to upstart brands—are focusing their efforts on man-made stones.

More from Robb Report

“Consumers are smart,” said Benny Landa, the founder of the lab-grown-diamond company Lusix. “When they see a two carat lab-grown diamond for not much more than a one carat mined diamond, it’s a no-brainer.” (Currently, a one-carat lab–grown diamond retails for about $1,430, while a traditional mined gem of the same size sells for $5,635.)

Tag Heuer Carrera Plasma

Tag Heuer Carrera Plasma

Lusix has teamed up with brands such as the LVMH-owned TAG Heuer, which used the company’s diamonds in its Carrera Plasma watch. The crown is made of one whole diamond, while the rest of the timepiece is encrusted with stones of different shapes. Doing the same with mined stones would have been wasteful, given the cutting and shaping that would have needed to go into the project, according to the company. Comparatively, the lab-grown diamonds could be created in the exact shape required.

TAG Heuer isn’t the only luxury brand getting into the man-made game. Both Gucci and Breitling have incorporated such stones into their accessories; the latter of which has even said all of its watches will use only lab-grown diamonds by next year. In 2022, the Swiss watchmaker debuted its first timepiece using man-made stones, the Super Chronomat 38 Origins.

Breitling’s Super Chronomat 38 Origins

Breitling’s Super Chronomat 38 Origins

Not all legacy jewelers are on board with the transition, though. At this year’s Watches and Wonders, the CEO of Cartier stood by traditional diamonds, at

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