What makes a good lab grown diamond pendant?

A well cut stone, a head that holds it securely, a bail that lets it hang straight, and a chain strong enough to carry it. Cut comes first, since it drives sparkle; for rounds, an Excellent or Ideal cut grade is the usual target. Color and clarity can be practical: near colorless grades look white once set and eye clean clarity is enough, because a pendant is viewed from farther away than a ring.

Grown stones help here. Because they cost far less than natural diamonds of the same size and grade, you can put the money into a better cut or a slightly larger stone instead of compromising. If you would like a line of stones rather than a single drop, see the lab grown diamond necklaces.

Bail, head and chain

The bail is the loop that joins the pendant to the chain. It should be large enough for a chain to slide through and solid enough not to bend, and one that lets the pendant swivel helps it face forward. The head is the setting that holds the diamond: four prongs show the most stone, six prongs hold it more securely, and a bezel wraps it in metal for the smoothest, most protective finish.

The chain finishes the look. An 18 inch length is the most worn for pendants and falls just below the collarbone; 16 inches sits at the collarbone and 20 inches a little lower. Cable and box chains suit most pendants, while rope and Franco chains add texture and weight.

Charm or pendant?

Mostly a matter of wording. If you searched for lab diamond charms, you may well want what jewelers call a pendant: a diamond that hangs from a chain. Charm can also mean a smaller, playful piece that clips onto a bracelet or a charm chain, and lab created diamond charms of that kind follow the same advice on cut and setting. For one piece to wear every day on a necklace, pendant is the word to shop by.

When building your own makes more sense

If you want to choose the exact diamond, its weight, shape and grades, building your own pendant is the better route. You pick a loose diamond and a setting separately and have them put together, which gives you full control over the stone. Start with the diamond pendant settings, or the halo pendant settings if you want the stone to look larger.

Whichever route you take, you can spread the cost with Affirm, Klarna, Afterpay, PayPal Pay Later or Katapult.

Lab Grown Diamond Pendants and Charms

FAQs

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