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There’s really no official rule on how much you should spend on an engagement ring. However, it has long been understood that a man is expected to spend about two months’ salary on this special token of love. For most people, setting a price tag on love seems rather tacky, so for argument, we’ll use “Paul’s Rule” of how to determine an acceptable minimum to spend on an engagement ring.

Obviously, a diamond engagement ring isn’t something you want to scrimp on. After all, this may be the most beautiful and meaningful token of love you ever give to your special someone. This ring will represent the strength of your commitment and love to your future life long partnership. However, you also don’t want to go so far into debt that it will cause severe financial distress and/or eventual animosity towards your beloved recipient.

Two months salary is a large sum of money when you consider all of the other things we’re paying for in our budget. The key to achieving this temporary extra expense in your life is pre-planning. Remember, the amount you pay for an engagement ring will impact your finances jointly, as a future couple. So purchase a ring that strikes the perfect balance between love and responsibility.

Some simple math and helpful advice from your married friends may give you a greater advantage of finding the perfect ring.

It may even be possible to go over and beyond the original amount you were prepared to spend. If you will spend some time researching prices and talking directly to diamond and jewel dealers, you may find it easy to upgrade your engagement ring purchase value by up to 50 percent. The experts are prepared to understand your situation. They can help you find that engagement ring worth 2 months’ salary and may be able to get it to you for only one month’s salary. If you would rather spend more, then you may be able to get a four months’ salary engagement ring for the price of two. Remember to shop around and gather opinions from different people.

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Lab Grown Diamonds have grown in popularity over the past several years and are a viable choice when shopping for a diamond engagement ring. However, the idea might be met with some skepticism. A diamond that is considered ‘synthetic’ and professionally grown in a laboratory may not line up with your notions of romance. But take a few moments to familiarize yourself with Lab Grown Diamonds. You might find your pleasantly surprised by this option.

Brenda Harwick, the manager of on campus and lab gemology instruction for GIA, the Gemological Institute of America, suggests, “When you’re making an investment in something as precious as this, you should ask for a grading report.”

The idea of a Natural Diamond is comfortable. It’s how people have been doing things for centuries and there is an attractive passion and dependability in choosing a Natural Diamond. Here’s what you should consider when deciding between lab created diamonds vs natural stones.

What is a Lab Created Diamond?

A lab grown diamond is one that has been manufactured in a controlled laboratory environment. Using the popular methods of Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) or High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT), scientists can now create diamonds that optically look like earth-mined diamonds, contain the same chemical and physical attributes and even receive certification through the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and International Gemological Institute (IGI).

Are Lab Diamonds Real?

Oh yes. Lab Grown Diamonds are just as real as diamonds that are mined from the earth. They have shape, size, color and clarity grades, just like Natural Diamonds. Both Natural and Lab Grown Diamonds have the same physical and chemical properties and both come with diamond certifications.

Lab Diamonds vs. Natural – What do the Experts Say?

Visually, Natural Diamonds and Lab Grown Diamonds are exactly the same with the same hardness level and durability. In 2018 the Federal Trade Commission recognized Lab Diamonds as real. But do lab created diamonds test as real? Yes. In fact, The Gemological Institute of America, (GIA) “has been grading laboratory-grown diamonds since 2007. Beginning July 1, 2019, GIA Laboratory-Grown Diamond Reports and identification reports no longer use the term “synthetic.” The GIA Laboratory-Grown Diamond Report includes the standard GIA color, clarity and cut grading scales for reference purposes.”

Lab Diamonds vs. “Real” Diamonds – What are the Differences?

The differences between Natural Diamonds and Lab Grown Diamonds cannot be seen with the naked eye. Natural Diamonds have tiny amounts of nitrogen, while Lab Grown Diamonds have no nitrogen. This is actually one of the signifiers gemologists use to identify if a diamond is lab grown or natural.

Natural diamonds are created under the pressure of earth’s crust over millions of years, then they are mined, cut and polished. A Lab Grown Diamond is placed through the same circumstances, only in a lab setting. In fact, the process used to create a Lab Grown Diamond cuts down the grow time significantly, from millions of years to a couple of months. Then, the Lab Diamond is also cut and polished.

How are Lab Grown Diamonds Made?

Lab Grown Diamonds are sometimes referred to as man-made, synthetic, cultured or artisan. The interchangeable language can leave a consumer confused. But each phrase is denoting the same thing, a certified diamond that was ‘grown’ in a Lab. Sometimes Lab Grown Diamonds are referred to as CVD or HPHT, this simply denotes the process used to create the diamond.

Lab Made Diamonds – Two Popular Methods

There are two processes used to create Lab Grown Diamonds:

Chemical Vapor Deposition Diamonds

The first process is called Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD). A “seed crystal,” which is a very small diamond seed, is placed in a small chamber. The chamber is then filled with gases that are heated. Once the gases reach the right temperature, layers of carbon begin to form on the seed crystal. This causes the seed to grow and create a square-shaped diamond crystal.

High Pressure High Temperature Diamonds

The second process is called High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) . This is meant to replicate the earth’s process of forming Natural Diamonds. In this process, natural graphite is placed in a large machine that crushes it with extreme pressure and temperatures. Under these conditions, the graphite turns into a diamond.

What is the Difference Between CVD and HPHT Diamonds?

You cannot tell the difference between a CVD and HPHT diamond with the naked eye. Both methods create a real diamond that is chemically and physically similar to natural diamonds. When it comes to grading Lab Grown Diamonds, the same 4 Cs: Color, Cut, Clarity and Carat are applied.

Just like the argument of Natural Diamond vs Lab Grown, the argument of which process is ‘better’ is complex. An experienced Jeweler can help you navigate these waters.

Are Lab Grown Diamonds Good?

Generally speaking, the answer is Yes. A perfectly cut, internally flawless diamond is quite expensive and rare whether it is a Lab Grown Diamond or a Natural Diamond. Lab Grown Diamonds and Natural Diamonds exhibit varying amounts of internal “inclusions” likened to fingerprints and are referenced and graded accordingly by accredited gemological labs. Lower clarity graded Lab Grown or Natural Diamonds may have inclusions that can be seen by the “naked eye”. The cut & color is also very important in determining whether a diamond is excellent, very good, good, or poor.

Pros of Buying a Lab Grown Diamond

Lab Grown Diamonds are approximately over 50% less than a Natural Diamond, which means you can purchase a significantly larger diamond and truthfully say it is a diamond and NOBODY BEATS LC Rings IN LAB GROWN DIAMONDS PRICES! The difference cannot be detected with the naked eye when comparing a Lab Grown Diamond and a Natural Diamond of equal characteristics of the 4 C’s. Lab Grown Diamonds have the same physical and chemical properties as Natural Diamonds so they will be just as dazzling.

Are Lab Grown Diamonds more ethical?  Some think Lab Grown Diamonds are more ethical because there is no mining involved.  However, The Kimberley Process put in place in 2003, has successfully prevented the flow of conflict diamonds.

If your emphasis is not focused primarily on the resale value of the diamond, a Lab Grown Diamond is a good alternative to purchasing a more expensive Natural Diamond. To put it simply, you’ll get more bang for your buck.

Cons of Buying a Lab Grown Diamond

A Natural Diamond has a rarity factor.  Generally speaking, a natural diamond will hold its value better than a lab grown diamond because there is a finite supply. The basic laws of supply and demand maintain that as demand increases, especially with limited supply, value goes up. Grown Diamonds can be produced, they might not hold their value over time which means the resale prices could continue to depreciate as the market is flooded.

A Lab Grown Diamond circumvents the environmental and ethical issues that come with mining Natural Diamonds, but there are sustainability issues with Lab Grown Diamonds as well. An HPHT processed diamond needs huge amounts of energy due to the high heat required to produce a diamond. The CVD method requires the same amount of energy needed to power a home for a month.

GIA Certified Lab Created Diamonds and IGI Certification

Since Lab Grown Diamonds are the same chemically as a natural Diamond, they come with certification. Today, most Lab Grown Diamonds are certified by IGI, International Gemological Institute. An IGI diamond report will give an “accurate assessment of a diamond’s cut, color, clarity and carat weight according to strict international standards.” Additionally, Lab Grown Diamonds are being accepted and certified by the GIA, The Gemological Institute of America. GIA has developed sophisticated devices they use in order to screen and identify the difference between Natural Diamonds and Lab Grown Diamonds.

The price of Lab Grown Diamonds has dropped over the past few years and demand has grown. There Is a value for a Lab Grown Diamond, it just means the resale value is relatively new and will typically not match up with the resale value of natural diamonds.

Should I Get a Lab Grown Diamond Engagement Ring?

There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to choosing between a Lab Grown Diamond and a Natural Diamond. The choice is completely up to you. The most popular items to take into consideration when making the choice include your budget, your significant other’s preference, and whether or not you prioritize resale value.

The professionals  at LC Rings are here to help you navigate these choices. Contact us today at (813)447-5577 or email us at paul@lcrings.com for more information.

SH0P LAB-GROWN DIAMOND RING OPTIONS

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Lab Diamond Frequently Asked Questions

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To make the rhodium last longer you can remove your jewelry while in hot tubs and swimming pools. You can also wear gloves while doing household cleaning. These precautionary steps can dramatically extend the life of re-plated white gold jewelry and are just good practice for any jewelry. The brightness of a re-plated ring will be the same or better than when the ring was new.

LC Rings offer 6 stage Ring Spa that includes:

LC Rings specializes in white gold, gold and platinum bands and rings. When you’re ready to make the most important purchase of your love life, consider LC Rings in your area. Call us to schedule an appointment

LC Rings has several hundred Engagement rings located in Tampa and we service the surrounding area of ST. Petersburg, Clearwater, Sarasota, Brandon, Orlando, Lakeland, Riverview, Oldsmar, Lutz, Bradenton, Tarpon Springs, Plant City and more.

LC Rings has the Best engagement rings in all of Florida at the best pricing offered.   We give you personal attention with a jewelry professional that will educate you to make the best decision in the daunting process of finding the perfect ring for your significant other.

We have a large following all over Florida.  A large area of clients in Orlando of which I appreciate driving all the way to Tampa to get the personalized attention.

We also offer custom made engagement rings so if you want the one of a kind ring to set it a part from others we have you covered.  Can get most made around 2 week time frame.

We are NOT just a Jewelry store, we are a jewelry experience.

We save thousands over Mavilo’s, Ackerman’s, IDC, Brilliant Earth, Kay’s Jared’s & more!

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At LC Rings, we’re continuously pressed to explain how we keep our prices on diamond rings, wedding bands, and settings so low. Well, the answer is very simple. We just don’t have the overhead costs of larger, commercial jewelry stores. Larger jewelry stores charge you for their staff, large advertising budget, large store front and their prime real estate frontage. Why pay for the all of that when all you want is a diamond ring that she will love forever?

On top of the wholesale cost of our precious stones and rings though, we offer a very private, professional & secure environment to shop for your perfect ring that will make you feel as though you have your own private jeweler – because that’s exactly what we are.

Selection
We have a great selection of rings with over 300 settings to choose from with many designer rings like Tacori, Ritani Scott Kay and more. We spend countless hours finding the best deals on diamonds, settings and bands from jewelry suppliers around the world, to guarantee you the best prices and best quality diamonds in Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Orlando and the Tampa Bay area. While major jewelers will provide you a huge selection of overpriced rings and jewelry, we provide you only the best diamonds, rings, wedding bands and settings available at prices that are less than half of what commercial jewelers charge.

Our focus is on customer satisfaction and client referrals. We don’t charge the profit margins that commercial jewelers charge as we try to sell MORE rings, rather than sell less at a higher price. Your trust and friendship is far more important to us than a couple more dollars.

So, when you’re ready to make the most important purchase of your love life, consider LC Rings in the Tampa Bay area, and call us to schedule an appointment – 813-447-5577. We look forward to assisting you with your ring purchase.

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Finding the ring size of your bride-to-be (without making your intention to propose obvious) can require imagination, ingenuity and some luck. Since most women keep their ring finger sacred and free of jewelry, this provides a real challenge. To help, we’ve provided a list of ideas we’ve developed from our years of experience with Diamond engagement rings. Here are a few sneaky ways to figure out what the size of her ring finger is.

Trust In Friends To Help
Most of those close to you and the one you love will be more than happy to help you on your quest to uncover her ring size. Consider asking her best friends, coworkers, and even her mom to get the ring size information. The ring size can be revealed if they allow her to try on their rings, go window shopping for jewelry, or have them simply ask.

Covertly Capture the Ring’s Size
If you are fortunate enough to have a bride-to-be that enjoys jewelry, then make it a point to “borrow” a ring-finger ring once it is removed. In some cases, the wearer won’t notice that the ring is missing if it’s only gone for a few hours while you’re having the jeweler obtain its size. However, if the ring-finger jewelry is only removed for brief periods (such as while showering), a model or imprint will have to do. To capture the ring’s size, simply trace the inner circle of the ring on a piece of paper or make an imprint of the ring in a soft material such as soap, clay or bread and return the ring to its former location. In this way, a measurement can be made without the physical ring being present.

Bring It Up in Group Conversation
If all else fails, then simply comment (or have your friend comment) on a ring that belongs to someone else. This may get the ring size conversation going in your direction. Fabricate as necessary by talking about the similarities of the ring in question with your (mother’s / grandmother’s/ sister’s) ring; ask
what size it is and if you can see it; allow your bride-to-be to try it on; comment on the stones; anything to get the ring conversation going. You don’t have to get the exact size now; you can subtly revisit and finish the discussion at a later time when the two of you are alone.

Both you and your soon to be fiance deserve perfection from start to finish, and hopefully, these tips will help you to make sure the engagement ring is sized perfectly. By taking the time to secure the right ring size, you open up more options on your ring selection and ensure that she is showing off her engagement ring immediately following the proposal.

Time spent finding the correct size for her engagement ring is sure to pay off big dividends on the day of your proposal.

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