There’s a quiet decision that lives at the heart of every diamond purchase.

It can be difficult to tell how it starts. Perhaps you start imagining the ring that symbolizes a new stage in your life while scrolling late at night. Or maybe it happens during a conversation, about the future, about love, or money. It's the moment where you ask yourself: is it possible to select something beautiful without losing your beliefs or setting a budget? 

At Purple Carats, we think so. And apparently, so do thousands of conscious shoppers who are purchasing Lab Grown Round Diamond Ring as a new kind of luxury, one that encapsulates values of ethics, affordability, and polished self-expression.

Let's examine why this trend, however popular, isn't a trend but a change that is redefining shared experiences of love, milestones, and notions of individuality.

 

Why Lab Grown Diamonds Are More Ethical Than Mined Diamonds?

The process of mining diamonds is often physically harmful to the environment and profits from labor, often both in invisible ways. Sustainably mined diamonds sometimes cannot avoid being harmful because their history is often long and complicated.

 

Lab grown diamonds offer a compelling alternative.

Lab grown diamonds are grown in controlled laboratory environments as opposed to nature. Because of this, they are inherently conflict free diamonds. There are no heavy-duty machines tearing up landscapes, or questionable labor sourcing, and there’s no doubt about where it comes from. If our value proposition resonates, you should be able to buy with confidence, knowing that the diamond ring you purchase is ethical.

This is more than just a symbolic gesture; it is integrity in the form of sparkle.

 

Cost Comparison: Lab Grown vs Natural Round Diamonds Rings

Money is a factor - we get it. Whether you're saving for your wedding or celebrating a promotion, you want to maximize your budget without sacrificing style or significance. 

Lab grown round diamond rings can be 40-60% less money than a comparable natural diamond of size and quality. Not because lab grown diamonds are inferior, but because lab grown diamond supply chains are efficient, transparent, and scalable.

For many, this means bigger carat sizes, premium cuts, or luxuries of custom settings that are possibly out of reach with natural diamonds. This is why many are leaning into budget friendly diamond rings as a more intelligent option for investing in beauty.

 

Do Round Cut Lab Diamonds Look Like Natural Diamonds?

Yes.

From a few feet away, and even under a jeweler's loupe, it is virtually impossible to differentiate between a lab grown round diamond engagement ring and a mined round diamond engagement ring. Both lab and mined round diamonds display comparable brilliance, fire, clarity, and hardness. They are both real diamonds that are made up of carbon atoms arranged in a crystalline structure. The only difference is their origin.

Lab created round diamonds are also considered to exhibit the best sparkle and symmetry of all diamond shapes or cuts. Similarly, round diamonds are just as beautiful in a solitaire or halo, as they are one of the most versatile diamond shapes available. Having said that, it is only human nature to ask why round diamonds and round shaped diamonds are the most popular diamond shape for eco friendly engagement rings and diamond jewelry in general - it is a classic! 

So, if you are concerned about the actual making of your round lab grown diamond engagement ring, relax and feel confident that your round lab grown diamond will shine just as bright as your natural mined round diamonds.

 

How Lab Grown Round Diamonds Are Made: HPHT vs. CVD

There are two primary means of creating lab made round diamonds:

HPHT (High Pressure, High Temperature): 

This mimics the natural conditions under which diamonds are created. Very good for high-clarity stones and diamonds, especially large in size.

 

CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition): 

This grows diamonds from a carbon-rich gas, which is accumulated in layers. CVD will generally create large stones with very clean characteristics. Treatments can be done afterwards to increase certainty about the origin and even enhance the diamonds by using their physical/optical structures.

Both methods create diamonds that are chemically, physically, and optically identical to natural diamonds. At the end of the day, it is merely a matter of technology and intention.

 

The Most Popular Engagement Ring Settings for Lab Grown Round Diamonds

The round lab diamond engagement ring is the most preferred style for a reason, and it looks fab in almost every setting. Here are a few timeless settings matching the personalization desires of today’s couples:

• Solitaire: This is simple and elegant while keeping all of the attention on the diamond. Ideal for minimalists and hopeless romantics.
• Halo: The halo adds a circle of smaller stones around the center stone, making the center diamond look bigger and sparkle brighter. Perfect for those who love detail and drama.
• Three-Stone: Symbolizing the past, present, and future. Great option for anniversaries or sentimental proposals.
• Bezel: Modern and safe. Great choice for active individuals and those wanting a modern alternative.

Every setting allows you to add some personality or meaning to your lab grown round diamond rings and convert a lovely stone into a meaningful narrative.

 

Are Lab Grown Diamonds a wise investment?

While natural diamonds for decades have been a store of value, the “investment” concept is now changing, especially for millennials and Gen Z.

While a lab grown round diamond ring may not hold value, in the way that rare mined diamonds do, it does provide a different form of payback: emotional payback, ethical payback, and practical payback. You will get more bang for your buck, a clean conscience, and a piece you can wear without worrying not feeling guilty.

If value is measured by meaning, lab diamonds present an excellent option for deeply meaningful choices.

 

Certifications to Look Out for When Buying Lab Grown Diamonds

Transparency is everything. Make sure when you buy that the diamond has a grading report from a reputable lab like:

• IGI (International Gemological Institute)
• GIA (Gemological Institute of America)
• GCAL (Gem Certification & Assurance Lab)

The reports grade cut, color, clarity, and carat just like mined diamonds, so you know exactly what you're getting. At Purple Carats, all our sustainable diamond rings are certified. Confidence starts with clarity.

 

Why Do Millennials Choose Ethical Diamond Rings?

Buyers today are not just repeating history; they are creating new histories. For many modern couples and self-purchasers, their selection of a lab grown round diamond engagement ring considers their personal values.

• Sustainability: Interest in environmentally friendly engagement rings that align with climate consciousness.
• Affordability: The manner in which they can express love and style without breaking the bank.
• Uniqueness: Customization, individuality, and intentionality over tradition.

It is not simply a style choice. It is a mentality that communicates, “I value what I wear and where it was produced.”

 

Recommendations for Buying the Best Lab Made Round Diamond Ring Online.

Shopping for diamonds online can feel dangerous, but it doesn't have to be! Here's how to make it meaningful.

• Look for clear certification: This guarantees quality and authenticity.
• Understand the 4Cs: Cut, color, clarity, and carat weight still matter, especially with round lab diamonds.
• Understand "Ernest Language": If you are looking for "conflict free diamonds" or "affordable lab diamonds", you should have more than just marketing language to rely on.
• Think about the lifestyle: Are you buying a lab diamond ring to wear every day for life or as a once-in-a-lifetime proposal? Think about how the ring will live with you.
• Look for customization: Great brands provide customization for the setting and size of the ring to fit your story.

The best ring is not always the most expensive ring, but rather the ring that feels like it was made for you!

 

Final Thought

When you buy a diamond, it is not only about the sight of it. It is about the feelings you associate with it, your ethical values, and the empowerment you feel from your choices.

When you buy a lab grown round diamond ring, you are making a decision based on more than just being beautiful; you are making a decision based on clarity. Clarity of values. Clarity of intention. Clarity of purpose.

At Purple Carats, we believe jewelry is a reflection of who you are — not just an accessory. As the Best Jeweler in Chicago, we’re here for every step of your journey, offering stunning lab grown round diamond rings that are both ethical and affordable.