Quince sells lab-grown rings from $900

Quince is selling lab-grown diamond engagement rings priced between $900 and $5,000, aiming to make high-quality jewelry accessible to a wider audience through a factory-direct model.

The company cuts out supply-chain middlemen to reduce costs, a strategy that allows it to offer prices well below those of traditional luxury retailers. Kylie Bee, the Merchandise Lead of Fine Jewelry at Quince, stated that the goal is for everyone to have access to nice things without paying a premium for brand name alone.

Engagement shopping has shifted away from traditional seasonal patterns. While summer remains popular for weddings, couples are now getting engaged year-round. High-profile examples include Travis Kelce proposing to Taylor Swift in summer and Tom Holland and Zendaya becoming engaged in winter. This shift has driven a parallel change in how consumers purchase rings, with many opting for online retailers rather than in-store visits.

Online shopping presents specific challenges, particularly regarding ring size and style selection. Bee advises customers to buy an inexpensive ring sizer tool or print a ring size chart to determine the correct fit. For those needing discretion, she recommends borrowing a ring the partner already wears, placing it on paper to trace the inside diameter, and measuring that circle. She notes that customers should select styles that are easily resized by a full to half size to accommodate measurement errors.

Beyond sizing, Bee suggests consulting friends and family to determine the partner's preferred diamond shape, carat weight, and metal color. Shoppers should also ask whether the partner prefers natural or lab-grown diamonds to balance personal taste with budget. Understanding return policies and warranties is essential before making an online investment. Quince offers a 60-day return or exchange window and a limited lifetime warranty, according to Bee.

Other online retailers are also expanding their offerings to meet this demand. Vrai uses zero-emission river energy in its American foundry to crystallize greenhouse gases into lab-grown diamonds. Each carat produced helps remove heat-trapping gas from the atmosphere. Plum Diamonds, a women-owned business, produces rings exclusively with lab-grown diamonds and crafts them from scratch in 15 to 17 business days.

Catbird debuts its 'The Swans' engagement line, described as elegantly modern with classic lines. These rings are set and hand-finished in the company's Williamsburg, Brooklyn studio using 100 percent recycled solid 14k gold or platinum. The brand offers two-day delivery and 10-day returns, along with complimentary virtual or in-person appointments to assist with selection.