You don’t have to go to great depths to find a beautiful diamond. You can find great lab-grown diamonds to give you a beautiful piece of jewellery whilst saving money.
Choosing Lab Made Diamonds
Lab grown diamonds are real diamonds that have been grown in a lab. They have the same chemical make-up and crystal structure as natural diamonds.
There are two main ways lab diamonds can be made. High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) and Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD).
Lab created diamonds can be an appealing choice as they are generally cheaper than natural stones with similar characteristics. This can mean that you have the opportunity to choose a larger stone, more unique design or higher quality setting.
However, price alone will not give you the best diamonds. Look at how beautiful they are.
Lab Made Diamonds With the Right Cut
Your diamond will have a big impact on how light reflects off of it. A well proportioned diamond will reflect light back up through the top to give it a sparkly, bright finish.
With a poorly proportioned diamond you may end up with a dull looking diamond even if it has great colour and clarity grades.
Popular choices are round brilliants as they have a lot of sparkle due to the facets. Oval diamonds will give you a longer look. Emerald cuts will give you a wider sparkle.
There are many other choices available including pear, cushion and radiants.
Look at clear photos and videos to ensure that if you’re choosing an oval or pear diamond you’re happy with how dark the centre.
Diamond Colour & Clarity
Diamond colours usually range from D (colourless) to increasingly noticeable yellow/brown colours.
However, you don’t necessarily need a D colour diamond. Near colourless diamonds can look beautiful and work well with certain metals.
Diamonds have inclusions and blemishes.
Many VS 1 & 2 diamonds have very hard to see inclusions. Some SI grades can look clean to the eye. However you’ll need to look at each diamond individually.
Diamond Report
Independent diamond reports can help you to know what you’re buy lab made diamonds.
The International Gemological Institute (IGI) provide reports to show you if the diamond is lab grown. They will include information on the carat weight, colour, clarity and cut.
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) introduced a new grading system in October 2025. They now grade colourless to near colourless lab diamonds into Premium and Standard quality.
This means that grading may differ between labs.
Check the report number against the official verification page of the lab. Check the measurements match the carat weight.
Whilst a report can be a great reference for the characteristics of the stone you still want to look carefully at the diamond itself.
Choosing the Right Jewellery Store in New Zealand
A reputable jeweller will be able to provide you with all the information you need on the diamond characteristics, price and setting options without confusing you.
Novita Diamonds is a great option for New Zealand customers. They specialise in lab grown diamonds for engagement rings, wedding bands and fine jewellery.
They have a wide range of diamond jewellery and bespoke designs to get you started.
Look at the whole ring when looking at Novita Diamonds. The band width, prong position and height will all impact how the ring looks.
If you like to see jewellery in person, ask about viewing options.
Choosing the Right Setting
A beautiful loose diamond needs to be set in a secure and high quality setting.
Solitaire rings will draw all attention to the centre stone. Halo rings surround the centre stone with smaller stones. Three stone rings give you a different balance.
The metal will also change how the ring looks.
Yellow gold will give you a warm colour. White gold gives a shiny finish. Platinum gives a natural white colour.
If you’re looking for something to wear daily ask about the strength of the prongs, height of the setting and how easy it will be to maintain in the future.
If you’re choosing a ring from Novita Diamonds talk to them about the details to ensure it will be right for you.
Know the Total Cost
Before ordering any lab made diamonds online, check if the price shown includes the diamond, setting, GST and postage.
Some retailers will have the loose diamond and setting priced separately.
Ask about resizing, manufacturing times, insured postage and returns. Bespoke jewellery may have different return policies for changing your mind.
Businesses trading in New Zealand must provide goods to a standard quality and description under the Consumer Guarantees Act.
Ask about ongoing care. Cleaning regularly and occasionally checking can help your diamond ring look its best.
Overall, you want to choose a diamond that will suit your personal style and how you plan on wearing it. Taking your time to look at the different options can make buying a diamond a much more enjoyable experience.