Our verdict on Jared's lab-grown diamonds
Jared is a legitimate jeweler with an advantage that many online sellers cannot offer: somewhere nearby to try on a ring, discuss a setting and return for repairs. Whether that makes it worth the price depends on how much you value that service.
Our review was less impressed by the online lab-grown selection and prices. We still recommend comparing Jared with specialist online jewelers before buying, particularly if you already know the shape and setting you want. Our rating remains 3.3 out of 5. Jared can make sense for local service, but it would not be our first stop for the best-value lab-grown diamond.
What are Jared lab-created diamonds?
Jared sells real diamonds grown in a laboratory, as well as mined diamonds. Lab-grown diamonds have the same basic chemical composition and crystal structure as mined diamonds. They are not cubic zirconia or another imitation stone.
You can buy a loose lab-grown diamond for a ring or choose a finished piece of jewelry. The important part is the particular diamond and setting you are buying, not simply the word “lab-grown.”
The history of Jared Jewelry
Jared began in 1993 and is part of Signet, the group behind several well-known jewelry brands. The longer history of its former parent, Sterling Jewelers, is sometimes confused with the age of the Jared brand.
That group connection helps explain familiar features across its stores and websites. It does not mean that every group brand sells the same diamonds at the same price.
What is special about Jared?
The strongest reason to consider Jared is its combination of stores and online shopping. You can try different ring styles, see how a setting sits on your hand and ask about adjustments before ordering.
Jared also advertises custom-design studios and ongoing jewelry care. Those services may be worth paying for if you prefer dealing with a local store. Ask which work is done there, what costs extra and how long it will take. A convenient store is more useful when you know what it can actually help you with.
Jared Jewelry lab-grown diamonds
Jared's range covers engagement rings, wedding jewelry and gifts, including earrings, necklaces and bracelets. Its loose-diamond search also lets you choose a stone for an engagement ring.
Why choose lab-grown diamonds?
For most shoppers, the appeal is straightforward: a larger or better-specified diamond for the same budget. That can leave more money for a setting you love, or simply reduce the total cost.
We would spend on a well-cut stone before paying for grades you cannot appreciate without magnification. “Eye-clean” means you cannot see inclusions with your naked eye under normal viewing conditions. It is more useful than assuming that every diamond with a particular clarity grade looks the same.
Lab-grown does not automatically mean a finished piece has no environmental impact. Jared publishes responsible-sourcing information through its own and Signet's programs. That is different from having a measured footprint for the exact diamond in your ring.
Jared lab-created diamond selection
Loose lab-grown diamond selection and quality
In our research, we looked for round diamonds around one carat rather than judging the catalog by its headline size. We used a 0.93–1.07-carat range, I–J color, VS1–VS2 clarity and the best available cut labels.
The old Jared searches returned thousands of lab-grown stones overall, but far fewer in the color range we wanted. Many results were in higher color grades. That matters because a higher grade can add cost without an obvious improvement once the diamond is set.
Some of the website design looked familiar from James Allen's previous search.
Today, James Allen is a collection at Blue Nile, not a separate store. the Dated screenshots are useful for showing what we compared, but similarities in a website do not establish that two jewelers currently share an inventory or supplier.
One Jared diamond in our dated search had inclusions that stood out in the magnified view. We preferred other options rather than choosing it purely from its VS grade.
Magnification makes small marks look much larger. This image is a reason to inspect the actual stone and ask questions, not proof that every Jared diamond has poor clarity or that the marks would be visible on the hand.
Our advice: get the grading report and actual video for your shortlisted stone. Check its proportions and appearance, not just the seller's cut label. If you cannot inspect the diamond adequately online, ask to see it in person before committing.
Lab-grown diamond jewelry selection
Jared offers both finished jewelry and ring customization. Those are different shopping decisions. A preset pair of earrings may be convenient, while choosing a loose center diamond gives you more control over an engagement ring.
We also compared the ring-building experience with Kay and Zales. Their presentation had similarities, but a similar-looking setting is not enough to make the complete rings equivalent.
For a finished piece, check the metal, minimum diamond grades, dimensions and total carat weight. For a ring you build yourself, also check the center stone's report and whether the setting can be returned after it has been made for that diamond.
Shopping on Jared's website
We found the previous site harder to navigate than our favorite specialist diamond sites. Moving between the main jewelry catalog and the loose-diamond search changed the layout and menus.
The lab-grown category was not always as easy to find as we expected.
Our practical advice is to start with the relevant lab-grown category and keep the product details for anything you shortlist. When you compare options in a store, use those exact specifications rather than relying on a similar display ring.
Jared lab-created diamond prices
Price was the main reason we did not recommend Jared more highly in our review. The useful comparison is the complete price for the diamond, setting and services you need, not the size of an advertised discount.
Loose lab-grown diamond prices at Jared
Our earlier near-one-carat search recorded $1,470–$2,670 at Jared. Among the stones we preferred, prices were around $1,800. Those findings shaped our value assessment at the time.
They are historical prices, not current quotes. Lab-grown diamond prices have changed considerably, so use our one-carat price guide for more recent examples and compare the exact Jared stone you are considering.
Avoid paying more for a high color or clarity grade while overlooking cut. A bright, well-proportioned diamond with sensible grades is usually a better use of the budget than a higher-grade stone you have not inspected.
Prices of lab-grown diamond jewelry
Finished jewelry is harder to compare because the setting and diamond specifications may differ. Even “one-carat studs” can describe pairs with different color, clarity, cut information and gold weight.
Jared lab-grown diamond stud earrings
The Jared pair in our comparison cost $1,500 for one carat total weight, with F color and SI2 clarity. The listing did not give us a usable cut grade. We would not assume the cut was Very Good simply because that label appeared in an old summary table.
Here is the dated comparison we recorded:
| Seller | Original price | Listed color and clarity | Cut information recorded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jared | $1,500 | F / SI2 | Not established from the listing |
| Ritani | $1,360 | H+ / VS2+ | Ideal |
| Clean Origin | $1,350 | F+ / VS2+ | Very Good |
| Grown Brilliance | $1,750 | F+ / VS2+ | Excellent |
| VRAI | $1,900 | J+ / VS2+ | Excellent |
These are historical examples with different specifications, not a current price ranking. In particular, VRAI's standard in-house grading is not the same arrangement as an independent grading report. Clean Origin is also no longer one of our leading recommendations.
For studs, total carat weight means the two diamonds combined: a one-carat pair is usually about half a carat per ear. Ask whether the pair is well matched and whether actual stone images or reports are available.
Jared shipping, returns and aftercare
Jared's published US policy allows eligible returns within 30 days of purchase, or shipment for online orders. Exchanges are handled in stores. Custom designs and engraved items have exclusions, so check Jared's return policy before personalizing a ring.
Default expedited shipping is currently free on orders over $199, and ship-to-store is free. Processing and customization come before delivery, so the transit service alone does not tell you when the ring will arrive. Check the delivery estimate for your order.
The diamond guarantee requires documented inspections every six months. If aftercare is a reason for choosing Jared, make sure those visits are realistic for you. A guarantee with maintenance conditions is not a substitute for insurance against theft or accidental loss. The Jared Promise explains its services and conditions.
Alternatives we would compare first
Ritani
Ritani remains our favorite starting point for a low-priced loose lab-grown diamond. We like its cost breakdown and the ability to inspect and compare individual stones. Our own ring purchase also gave us a good experience with its recommendation and delivery.
Why we prefer Ritani for value
If you are comfortable shopping online, compare your Jared shortlist with Ritani before deciding what local service is worth. Our Ritani review explains both the strengths and the practical limitations.
Read our Ritani review Visit Ritani
James Allen is now at Blue Nile
James Allen was one of our strongest recommendations when this Jared review was first written. We keep that history because its diamond tools and our own earring purchase were an important part of the comparison.
Comparing the James Allen collection today
The current place to shop the collection is Blue Nile. Read our James Allen review for the transition and our Blue Nile review for the current shopping experience. Do not assume that every former James Allen service or promotion carries over.
Read our Blue Nile review Visit Blue Nile
Jared lab-created diamonds: frequently asked questions
Are lab diamonds from Jared real?
Yes. Lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds. Their origin differs from mined diamonds, but they are not diamond simulants.
Does Jared sell lab-created diamonds?
Yes. Jared sells loose lab-grown diamonds and finished lab-grown diamond jewelry. Make sure the product you select is labeled lab-grown, since Jared also sells mined diamonds.
Where do Jared's lab-grown diamonds come from?
We have not established a single producer or country for every Jared lab-grown diamond. Ask for the specific stone's report and any origin information Jared can provide. Lab-grown diamonds can be produced by CVD or HPHT; the category name alone does not establish which method was used.
Is Jared Jewelry overpriced?
We found better-value alternatives in our research. That does not make every current Jared item a bad buy. Compare the actual diamond and setting, then decide whether the store access and aftercare justify any extra cost.
Where is Jared headquartered?
Jared is part of Signet's US jewelry business, associated with Akron, Ohio. For help with an order, the relevant store or Jared customer service is a more useful first contact than the corporate office.
Does Jared sell Pandora lab-grown diamonds?
Do not assume that a store stocking Pandora charms also carries Pandora's lab-grown diamond jewelry. Ask about the exact collection and piece. Our Pandora lab-grown diamond review covers that range separately.
How we reviewed Jared
Original research by Rolf Hartmann
This review builds on our earlier online research into Jared's diamond search, ring builder, finished jewelry and prices. We have retained the research screenshots and the buying questions they raised.
For round diamonds, we focused on 0.93–1.07 carats, I–J color, VS1–VS2 clarity and top available cut labels. We also explored broader searches to assess the selection. The price tables show each example's specifications so you can compare the diamonds as well as their prices.
The screenshots show the sites at the time of that research. Their prices, stock and layouts may no longer match today's pages. For this September 2026 update, we checked Jared's Returns & Exchanges, Your Shipping Choices and Jared Promise pages, retained the existing 3.3/5 assessment and updated the James Allen alternative.
Selected updates
We have updated this review since its original 2023 publication. The main changes include:
- 2023–2024: original diamond searches, jewelry comparisons and site observations.
- September 2026: updated services and policies, clearer historical price comparisons, and current alternatives following James Allen's move to Blue Nile.