6 Lab-Grown Diamond Pendant Gift Ideas

Last Updated on September 18, 2023 by Rolf Hartmann

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• Save 25% on jewelry sitewide at James Allen!
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• $200 off your first $1000+ purchase at Grown Brilliance!
• Free gift w/purchase at Brilliant Earth!
• $100 off at Clean Origin w/code: LABGROWNCARATS! (min. purchase applies)

In this guide to lab-grown diamond pendant gift ideas, we’ll walk you through what pendants jewelry is, why you should consider diamond pedants, and why lab-grown diamond pendants should be chosen over mined diamonds.

When you’re convinced of the merits of the lab-grown diamond pendant, we’ll share our 6 lab diamond pendant gift ideas.

But first, let’s learn a little about pendants. To learn more, read our complete guide to lab-grown diamond pendants.

3 best places to buy lab-grown diamond pendants

Best quality diamond inventory, lowest prices

Lowest prices, dedicated to lab-grown diamonds

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What is pendant jewelry?

A pendant is a piece of jewelry featuring one large part, often a gemstone, suspended from a chain. This type of jewelry is most often seen on necklaces and earrings, but bracelets and other types of jewelry can also feature pendants.

Pendants have come a long way since they were first worn as amulets or talismans 25,000 years ago. They have been used for healing, as charms to ward off evil, for spirituality, sentimentality, and for various religious purposes throughout the ages.

Pendant jewelry today can be an intimate reflection of love, and they add a touch of glamor and elegance, making a fashion statement about the wearer. The design you choose says something about you or the intended recipient. The choices are endless, from heart shapes to lockets, circles, stars, medallions, and fashion pendants.

Pendants make for an eye-catching accessory and often highlight the jewelry piece suspended from the chain, such as a diamond.

Diamond pendants are some of the most beautiful and spectacular pendant jewelry. However, as with any diamond jewelry, the cost can be prohibitive for many. Luckily, with lab-grown diamonds, diamonds are now much more affordable, and lab-created diamond pendants are accessible to most.

Introduction to lab-grown diamond pendants

People have been trying for centuries to duplicate the look and quality of mined diamonds, but until relatively recently, it hasn’t been possible. General Electric developed the first technique in the 1950s, but the diamonds were only used for industrial purposes and were not suitable for high-quality jewelry. It wasn’t until the 1970s that gem-quality stones were produced in any quantity for jewelry use.

And it wasn’t until recent years that technological advances allowed lab-created diamonds to become an alternative to mined diamonds. Before, gemstone-quality lab diamonds were simply too expensive!

How that has changed! Today, lab-grown diamonds are up to 60-80% cheaper than mined diamonds of the exact same quality and diamond 4Cs. In the space of a few decades, the lab-grown diamond industry has grown exponentially and is the choice of a new and more conscious generation of diamond buyers. It has quite literally turned the diamond business upside down.

And yes, lab-created diamonds are real diamonds. Just as real as any diamond pulled from a mine.

Lab-grown diamonds are physically, chemically, and optically identical to mined diamonds and are cut, polished, and set into jewelry in the same way. They are becoming increasingly popular due to their lower cost and more ethical and environmentally friendly production process compared to mined diamonds.

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) evaluates and grades lab-grown diamonds the same way as mined ones, so the stone you buy can be assessed for clarity, color, cut, and carat weight, using the same criteria as for mined diamonds. The GIA has an interesting way of thinking about the difference between lab-grown and mined diamonds:

Laboratory-grown diamonds are like ice from your refrigerator; mined diamonds are like ice from a glacier. Both are the same in composition but have been formed in very different ways.

Would you pay 4-5 times as much for glacier ice to cool down your drink? Maybe leave the glacier (and the environment) alone and save the money.

How are lab diamonds created?

Lab-grown diamonds are diamonds that are created in a controlled laboratory setting. Like mined diamonds, they are composed of tightly bonded carbon atoms, which are processed in two different ways, either by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or high-pressure high temperature (HPHT).

These methods mimic the way natural diamonds are formed under the earth’s crust – that is, by subjecting carbon atoms to extreme pressure and hot temperatures. The process is the same, but it takes only weeks or months for a lab-created diamond to form in a laboratory. In contrast, a mined diamond takes millions of years to form and become ejected from the earth’s crust by a volcano eruption.

There are two overall methods by which lab-grown diamonds are made:

Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD)

This technique enables scientists to grow laboratory-grown diamonds using moderate temperatures (700°C to 1300°C) and lower pressures. Carbon-containing gases such as methane and hydrogen are pumped into a vacuum chamber and deposited onto a diamond seed, crystallizing as a laboratory-grown diamond. The eventual size of the diamond depends on the time allowed for growth.

High Pressure, High Temperature (HPHT)

This method produces laboratory-grown diamonds using high-pressure, high-temperature conditions, similar to what natural diamonds experience in the earth, at temperatures of 1300–1600°C.

When ready, the finished diamond is cut and polished to reveal its final beauty.

Both the CVD and HPHT methods have been developed to accurately mirror conditions under which diamonds form naturally in the Earth. However, the laboratory process allows for greater control over the growth conditions, producing high-quality diamonds with fewer impurities and inclusions.

That, in part, makes lab-created diamonds cheaper than their mined counterparts, but there are more benefits to lab diamonds for pendants.

Benefits of lab-grown diamond used in pendants

When you buy a lab-grown diamond pendant, you can be sure that it was created in an ethical manner with less environmental damage and no human exploitation involved in its production.

Creating these diamonds is much more efficient than traditional mining methods and produces fewer emissions. In addition, since they’re not mined from the earth, there’s no risk of conflict diamonds entering circulation.

Importantly for most buyers, another benefit of buying lab-grown diamond pendants is that lab diamonds cost significantly less than traditionally mined stones due to lower overhead costs associated with producing them in a laboratory setting rather than extracting them from nature.

See, for example, our overview of how much a 1-carat lab-grown diamond costs or how much a lab diamond engagement rings cost.

It makes a huge difference when shopping for diamond pendant jewelry because now you can afford a bigger, more substantial piece to give to your loved one – or as a special gift to yourself.

In summary, lab-grown diamonds allow you to buy your diamond pendant jewelry at a much lower cost or to get a much better diamond. Rather than paying way too much for a limited quantity, millions of years old product that is extracted from the earth and causing substantial environmental damage.

Now that you may be considering lab-grown diamond pendants (if you were not already), it’s time for our recommended lab-grown diamond pendant gift ideas.

Our 6 Recommended Lab-Grown Diamond Pendant Gift Ideas

Choosing a lab-grown diamond pendant puts a huge selection of affordable options at your fingertips. But what should you buy, and where should you look for the best-priced and best-quality lab-grown diamond pendants?

Look no further. Below are our suggested best lab diamond pendant gift ideas, followed by our recommended places to buy lab-grown diamond pendants.

Lab-grown diamond solitaire pendant

James Allen carries this simple and adorable lab-grown diamond solitaire pendant. It highlights the beauty of the diamond and draws subtle yet focused attention to the pendant.

It is available in custom precious metals paired with your choice of diamond carat weight. You can opt for a .25, .5, .75, or 1.00-carat weight in 14k white, yellow, or rose gold, platinum, 18k white, yellow, or rose gold. Go for the look you love. Prices start at $470.

Classic three-stone lab-grown diamond pendant

This classic three-stone round-cut lab-grown diamond pendant from Clean Origin stopped us in our tracks. It has a total carat weight of 1.00, with I/J average color and VS/SI average clarity. It is set on an 18″ cable chain with a lobster claw fastener. You can choose between 14k white or yellow gold precious metal.

Heart-shaped lab-grown diamond pendant necklace

Our next pick is an irresistible, heart-shaped lab-grown diamond pendant necklace from Ritani. Who doesn’t love a heart pendant? Perfect for any romantic occasion, such as Valentine’s Day. This one says it all. It is a 1.00-carat total weight and is priced at $650.

Twisted floral solitaire lab-grown diamond pendant

Here is a beautiful diamond pendant design, this time from Grown Brilliance.

It features a 1.0-carat weight round lab-grown diamond set in a four-prong twisted floral setting and suspended from a single bail. The 18″ adjustable chain comes in your choice of 14K white, yellow, or rose gold. It is well priced at $1,695. Wear it and add a touch of sophistication to any outfit.

Signature letter lab-grown diamond pendants

With Clarity has created a beautiful line of signature letter lab-grown diamond pendants. They are very reasonably priced at $530, featuring 0.20-carat of accent diamonds surrounding the signature letter created in 14K yellow gold.

With Clarity offers some spectacular variations on the lab-grown diamond pendant necklace, showing that you don’t have to settle for a simple solitaire. They have crosses, key pendants, star-shaped pendants, circle and infinity pendants, and many more.

Pear-shaped solitaire bezel lab-grown diamond pendant

This pear-shaped solitaire bezel lab-grown diamond pendant from Brilliant Earth features a dainty combination of a pear-shaped diamond and a bezel solitaire pendant setting for a classic, dazzling look. The adjustable chain can be set at 16″ or 18 inches, according to your particular preference. At $495, this makes the perfect gift.

Best places to buy lab-grown diamond pendant gifts

At LabGrownCarats.com, we not only help you find the best lab-grown diamond gift, but we also review diamond jewelers. See, for example:

• The best places to buy lab diamonds online
• The best places to buy lab diamond engagement rings
• The best places to buy lab diamond earrings

Below, we have listed the best places to buy lab-grown diamond pendants. Each of the below offers high-quality lab diamonds and pendant jewelry at the best possible prices with excellent shopping experiences and customer service.

Summary of the 6 best lab-grown diamond pendant gift ideas

Lab-grown diamonds are the smart choice these days. You will be able to afford a bigger diamond for the same budget because they are less expensive but with the same quality. They also look the same as mined diamonds in terms of their sparkle and clarity. But lab-grown diamonds typically have fewer inclusions and blemishes, as you’ll learn in our guide to lab diamond clarity.

Buying someone a lab-grown diamond pendant shows that you have an eye for style but that you also respect the environment, which is important to many consumers these days. Lab-grown diamonds are more sustainable and eco-friendly, with none of the human rights violations associated with so-called “blood” diamonds.