Grown Brilliance Review: Lab Diamond Variety With A Sustainable Focus

Ethical luxury brand Grown Brilliance was founded in 2021 by Akshie Jhaveri, with the stated intention to offer high-quality, conflict-free diamonds to consumers. Just five years later, the brand offers an impressive online selection and 14 retail locations across the country. While other lab grown diamond retailers and brands sell both natural diamonds and lab versions, Grown Brilliance stands out for its laser focus on sustainability and transparency. We recommend the brand for its vast classic-meets-modern selection, accommodating service and bespoke jewelry design opportunity.

Grown Brilliance creates lab grown diamond jewelry that's both classic and modern.

ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / PHOTO: RETAILER

As a quick primer, lab-grown diamonds are identical to mined diamonds in structure, chemistry and appearance. This means that they have the same glorious sparkle, and no one—other than a well-trained gemologist with specialized tools—can easily tell the difference between a lab-grown diamond and a natural diamond. Grown Brilliance has the distinction of being a leader in the space, offering styles with cachet to industry experts and consumers alike. (For more on lab-grown diamonds, check out our stories on the best lab-grown diamond tennis bracelets and the best lab-grown diamond earrings.)

Focus On Sustainability

Instead of being mined from the earth like natural diamonds—which are controversial due to their environmental and humanitarian impact—Grown Brilliance’s ethically-sourced and conflict-free diamonds are created in a controlled lab environment. The process of crystallizing carbon atoms synthetically takes about two months, as opposed to the millions of years it takes naturally. (You can learn more about the nitty gritty of this process in our story on whether lab-grown diamonds are real, or on the Grown Brilliance web site.) Grown Brilliance offers diamonds that are GIA-certified and IGI-certified, which means they have been assessed and graded on cut, color, clarity and carat weight by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) or International Gemological Institute (IGI).

The brand’s commitment to sustainability isn’t limited to diamonds and gems. They use 96% recycled gold in their designs—which reduces the negative impact on the environment from mining—and they aim to use 100% recycled gold by the end of this year. They also use fully recyclable packaging and biodegradable materials in their packaging.

Extensive Selection And Bespoke Designs

Grown Brilliance has one of the largest collections of lab-grown diamonds that we’ve seen, including a variety of styles at different prices. They offer a wide selection of pre-designed engagement rings made with lab diamonds and gemstones, as well as sparkling studs for everyday, classic tennis bracelets and necklaces, sentimental anniversary bands and showstopping cocktail rings. The brand has nine different collections to choose from, including vintage-inspired jewelry (we love this elegant art deco ring), edgy, sculptural styles (like this serpent choker necklace) and sentimental, two-diamond styles (like this stunning and unexpected two-stone engagement ring).

If you’re interested in creating a personalized and unique lab diamond style—whether an engagement ring, necklace or earrings—you can work with Grown Brilliance’s jewelers on a custom design through their site, much like if you walked into a jeweler’s storefront. How it works: You upload a piece of inspiration to the site’s portal, and you’ll receive 3D renders of your design to modify or approve. You’ll receive your custom piece in about 14 days. The brand also has boutiques in several cities if you’d like an in-person appointment.

Favorable Shipping, Returns And Service

Grown Brilliance offers free two-day shipping on all domestic orders—but not surprisingly, someone must be home to sign for your jewels. While some items are in stock and ready to ship, made-to-order items take about two weeks before they’re sent out. If you receive an item and don’t love it—and you should always love your jewelry, or what’s the point?—you can return it for free within 30 days. Pre-designed pieces and Design Your Ring styles can be returned for a full refund, but bear in mind that special orders, high jewelry and Truly Custom orders can only be returned for store credit.

All of Grown Brilliance’s jewelry has a lifetime manufacturing warranty for all items, regardless of the price. The brand also has customer service agents available every day from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET, so if you have a question or an issue, you won’t have to wait ages for a response. Grown Brilliance offers financing, as well, through Affirm and Katapult.

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Why Trust Forbes Vetted

Forbes Vetted’s fashion editors have extensive experience writing about jewelry, often interviewing jewelry designers and gemologists. We have written stories on the best places to buy engagement rings, the best affordable jewelry brands and the best online jewelry stores.

• The writer for this story, Forbes Vetted fashion and beauty writer Molly Calhoun, has covered lifestyle topics, including fashion and accessories, for 20 years. Some of her recent work includes the best lab-grown diamond earrings and how to clean a diamond ring.
• Deputy editor Jane Sung, an industry veteran with over 20 years of experience reporting on jewelry and accessories, assigned and produced this story.