Lab Grown Diamond Engagement Rings
A lab grown diamond engagement ring at Shop QSE starts at $660 and runs to $5,299, with most rings beginning around $1,500. The stone is a real diamond, graded by an independent laboratory, and the saving against a mined stone of the same grade goes into carat weight or into the setting rather than into the origin of the crystal.
This guide covers what each budget buys, how the settings differ, and the two sizing rules that matter most here ā because Shop QSE makes whole sizes only and does not resize rings after purchase.
What each budget buys
Every ring below is IGI certified at E-F color and VS1-VS2 clarity, set in solid 14K or 18K gold. The difference between bands is carat weight and the complexity of the setting, not the quality of the stone.
| Budget | What it buys |
|---|---|
| $660 - $900 | A solitaire or a simple three-stone or baguette setting. The entry point into a certified lab grown center stone. |
| $900 - $1,500 | Halo settings, and larger center stones in solitaire form. This is where most of our range begins. |
| $1,500 - $3,000 | Larger center stones, double halos, and fancy shapes such as pear, oval, marquise and asscher. |
| $3,000 - $5,299 | Statement center stones of three carats and above, and multi-stone bridal designs. |
Choosing a setting
The setting decides how large the ring reads and how much daily wear it tolerates. Our range covers four main families.
- Solitaire. One stone, nothing competing with it. The most forgiving setting for daily wear and the easiest to clean.
- Halo. A ring of small stones around the center, which makes the center stone read noticeably larger. This is the most common setting in our range.
- Three-stone. A center stone flanked by two smaller ones. Reads wider on the finger than a solitaire of the same center weight.
- Bezel. A metal rim around the stone. The most secure of the four, and the best choice for hands-on work.
Choosing a shape
Shape is the outline of the center stone. Round is the most brilliant and the most common. Elongated shapes ā oval, pear and marquise ā cover more of the finger for the same carat weight, so they read larger. Step cuts such as asscher and emerald show clarity more openly, which is why grade matters more in those shapes.
Shop QSE carries round, oval, pear, marquise, asscher, princess, cushion and baguette center stones.
Sizing: read this before you order
Two facts change how you should order a ring from us.
We make whole US sizes 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, and no half sizes. If you measure at a half size, order the next size up.
Rings are not resized after purchase. Altering the band affects the setting and the certification of the stones. If the size is wrong we can exchange the ring for the correct size, subject to our exchange policy ā but custom and engraved rings are made for you and cannot be returned at all.
Measure before you order. Our ring size chart has two methods that take about a minute.
What to check before buying, anywhere
- An independent report on the center stone. IGI or GIA, with a number you can check on the laboratory's own website. A seller's own grading is not certification.
- Grades written as letters. "E-F color, VS1-VS2 clarity" is a specification. "Premium quality" is not.
- The karat of the metal, stated. Solid 14K or 18K, not plated or filled.
- The returns window and what it excludes. Custom and engraved rings are commonly excluded, ours included.
Delivery and what is covered
Shipping is free and fully insured within the United States, dispatched from Austin, Texas. Ready-to-ship designs leave within 24 hours; custom and made-to-order rings take 15 to 18 business days. Every piece carries our lifetime manufacturing warranty, and eligible pieces can be returned within 30 days on the conditions in our return and exchange policy.
Common questions
How much does a lab grown diamond engagement ring cost?
At Shop QSE they run from $660 to $5,299, with most designs starting near $1,500. Price is driven by carat weight and the setting, not by the quality of the stone ā every center stone is IGI certified at E-F color and VS1-VS2 clarity.
Are lab grown diamonds real diamonds?
Yes. A lab grown diamond is pure crystallized carbon with the same atomic structure, the same hardness of 10 on the Mohs scale and the same optical properties as a mined diamond. The difference is where it formed.
What ring sizes does Shop QSE make?
US sizes 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. We do not stock half sizes, so anyone who measures at a half size should order the next size up.
Can an engagement ring be resized after purchase?
No. Rings are not resized after purchase, because altering the band affects the setting and the certification. If the size is wrong we can exchange the ring for the correct size, subject to our exchange policy. Custom and engraved rings cannot be returned.
Which setting makes the center stone look largest?
A halo. A ring of small stones around the center stone widens the apparent outline, so a halo reads larger than a solitaire of the same center carat weight.
How long does a custom engagement ring take?
Custom and made-to-order rings take 15 to 18 business days. Ready-to-ship designs are dispatched within 24 hours from Austin, Texas.
Do lab grown diamond engagement rings hold their value?
Lab grown diamonds resell for less than mined diamonds, and both resell for far less than their retail price. Buy one because you want the stone on the finger, not as an investment.