How to Buy A 5 Carat Lab Diamond For An Exquisite Engagement Ring 

Congratulations on reaching a significant milestone in your relationship! Planning to propose with a stunning engagement ring is an exciting endeavor. 

In recent years, lab-grown diamonds have emerged as an ethical and sustainable alternative to natural diamonds, offering exceptional beauty and value. Their identical chemical composition, and identical physical and optical properties in comparison to natural diamonds, make them a brilliant choice for engagement rings. 

At the same time, the average carat weight for engagement ring center stones has also increased. While today the average in America is over 1 carat, purchases in excess of 3 carats are no longer unusual, and 5 carat engagement rings are even the norm in some cities.

This article serves as a comprehensive guide for readers who are interested in purchasing a 5-carat lab-grown diamond for their dream engagement ring. We will delve into the benefits, factors to consider, the purchasing process, and tips to ensure you make an informed decision.

Understanding Lab-Grown Diamonds

Lab-grown diamonds, also known as lab diamonds, lab-created diamonds, and occasionally synthetic or cultured diamonds (though we don’t like those names because they can be interpreted as meaning fake, which lab diamonds are not), are man-made diamonds produced in a controlled environment that replicates the natural conditions under which diamonds are formed. 

They are not diamond simulants, like cubic zirconia or moissanite, but real diamonds. 

The benefits of lab-grown diamonds are immense since they possess the same physical and chemical properties as natural diamonds but are free from ethical and environmental concerns associated with mined diamonds. 

The Advantages of 5-Carat Lab-Grown Diamonds

Choosing a 5-carat lab-grown diamond for your engagement ring presents several advantages. 

Firstly, lab diamonds offer more peace of mind for consumers concerned about their effect on the health of the planet and its inhabitants. 

Second, the price of lab-grown diamonds is significantly lower compared to their natural counterparts of the same size. 

Additionally, lab-grown diamonds are available in a wide range of colors, including fancy colors, offering more options for customization. 

Finally, these diamonds have excellent clarity and brilliance, making them truly captivating.

Ethical and Sustainable: Lab-grown diamonds are produced using sustainable practices and do not contribute to the same degree of environmental degradation as diamond mining. Those same practices, and often the geo-political settings in which lab-created diamonds are produced, severely limit, and even prevent outright, the human rights abuses that are often associated with diamond mining.

Cost-Effective: Lab-grown diamonds typically cost up to or more than 20-30% less than natural diamonds of comparable quality, allowing you to maximize your budget to get a larger and more visually striking stone.

Clarity and Quality: Lab-grown diamonds often exhibit higher clarity levels and have fewer visible flaws compared to natural diamonds in the same price and carat ranges. That means that you’ll be able to budget a much higher quality 5-carat lab diamond than a 5-carat mined diamond. 

Color Choices: Lab-grown diamonds offer a range of color options, including fancy-colored diamonds, giving you greater flexibility to personalize your engagement ring. While fancy colors are available in mined diamonds, they are so exceedingly rare that they are often in the hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars per carat- compared to a few thousand dollars for lab-grown. 

Considerations for Purchasing a 5-Carat Lab-Grown Diamond 

Setting Your Budget 

Setting a budget is an essential step when purchasing a 5-carat lab-grown diamond engagement ring. Lab-grown diamonds offer cost savings compared to their natural counterparts, but their price still depends on the diamond's quality and the intricacy of the ring setting. Determine a comfortable budget range and explore various options within that range to find the best value for your money.

Are 4.9 Carats Enough?

Consider diamonds that are close to but not the exact carat weight you are looking for. Stones of exact carat weights tend to be rare and by consequence, expensive, when compared to stones that are off by a few fractions of a carat. 

You might be able to find a much more lovely stone that glimmers and glitters with more intensity, and is more within your budget range- and only marginally smaller. Or you might find a (slightly lower-quality) whopper of a stone that you still adore though it's larger than your original intention, and still within budget. 

Be open-minded, and you may see something better than what you originally expected. 

The 4Cs of Diamonds

Know the 4 Cs of diamonds before you purchase a stone, and how carat, cut, clarity and color are all interconnected. Here is a basic review. For a more in-depth analysis, please read our Ultimate Guide to the 4 Cs. 

Carat Weight: Carat weight refers to the size of the diamond. A 5-carat diamond is an impressive choice, but it's crucial to consider the diamond's dimensions and proportions as well, since how large the diamond will look may be unrelated to its weight, but rather a function of shape and cut.

Cut: The cut of a diamond is one of the most important of the 4 Cs. Cut affects the brilliance and overall beauty of a diamond, since it is only by cutting and polishing a diamond to have perfect facets that the true inert glory of the stone is revealed. A well-cut diamond maximizes its light performance.

Clarity: Clarity refers to the presence of internal or external flaws, which will be easier to spot in a 5 carat diamond, so aim for a diamond with a high clarity grade such as Fl or IF. 

Color: Diamonds range from colorless to various shades of yellow and brown. Choose a color grade that suits your preferences and desired style. Since the color will be more obvious in a larger stone, consider D-G for 5 carat diamonds. 

Determining the 5-Carat Lab-Grown Diamond Quality

Shape: Explore different diamond shapes like round, oval, marquise, pear, princess, emerald, or cushion cut to find the one that best suits your preferences and the design aesthetic of the ring. The shape of a 5 carat diamond will determine how large it looks more accurately than just its carat weight. Elongated stones normally have a higher table proportion, so the stone will appear much larger than another shape of stone of equal carat weight. 

Color and Clarity: Decide on the color grade and clarity level you desire. Lab-grown diamonds offer a vast array of options, so choose according to your personal taste.

Cut Quality: Pay attention to the cut grade as it influences the diamond's brilliance and sparkle. Look for Excellent or Ideal cut grades for optimal beauty.

Certification and Grading

Ensure that the lab-grown diamond you purchase comes with a reputable grading report from a well-known gemological laboratory, such as the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) or the International Gemological Institute (IGI). The grading report provides an unbiased evaluation of the diamond's quality and authenticity.

At Michael Gabriels all of our diamonds are certified either by GIA or IGI and when purchased, come with the relevant paperwork- IGI provides a physical booklet with the results of their testing, while GIA provides a digital copy of their laboratory results.  

Choosing the Perfect Ring Setting 

Metal Options

Consider different metal options for the engagement ring band, such as platinum, white gold, yellow gold, or rose gold. Each metal has its unique properties and aesthetic appeal.

Pave, Halo,  Solitaire or…

Try to imagine the ring you want in detail before you go ahead and choose a stone. The style of setting that you choose may have a tremendous impact on how your choice of stone is displayed. 

Do you prefer a halo setting, which features a central diamond surrounded by smaller diamonds, or a solitaire setting that showcases the 5-carat lab-grown diamond on its own? 

Do you want a shimmering pave band that draws attention and light towards the diamond, or do you prefer the clear austerity of a plain band. 

What matches your (or your partner’s) personality most? 

Making the Purchase

Finalize your selection: Once you have chosen the lab-grown diamond that aligns with your preferences and budget, review all the specifications and certifications before making a final decision.

Ring Design: 

Collaborate with a trusted jeweler to design an engagement ring setting that complements the 5-carat lab-grown diamond beautifully. 

At Michael Gabriels we are committed to helping you find the perfect diamond and the perfect setting to showcase it. Our experts have plenty of examples to show you, and welcome any pictures or examples that you bring to the design table. 

Once a design is established, we make a digital copy for you to examine, and we can also make a resin model so you can get an idea of how the ring (or other type of jewelry) will wear. 

Only when you are fully satisfied with the design do we send it to casting and start pouring the gold (or platinum) and setting the stone (or stones.) 

Financing Options: 

At Michael Gabriels we use Affirm payment options to help our clients make the purchase of this major expense easier to budget. 

Caring for Your Lab-Grown Diamond Engagement Ring 

Regular Cleaning: Clean your engagement ring using mild soap, warm water, and a soft brush to maintain its luster.

Storage: Store your ring separately in a soft pouch or jewelry box to protect it from scratches and dust.

Professional Maintenance: Schedule regular check-ups with a professional jeweler to inspect and clean your ring professionally.

Additional Considerations

Insurance

Consider insuring your engagement ring against loss, theft, or damage. Many insurance companies offer specialized policies for valuable jewelry.

At Michael Gabriels our professional staff can help you find the best insurance policy for your engagement ring or other jewelry. 

Conclusion

Choosing a 5-carat lab-grown diamond for your engagement ring is an exceptional way to embrace sustainability, affordability, and beauty. Purchasing one can be an exciting, (or sometimes stress-filled,) adventure…

By understanding the benefits, considering crucial factors, selecting a reliable retailer, and taking proper care, you can confidently embark on this journey and create a symbol of love that is ethical, stunning, and everlasting. Celebrate your commitment with a stunning lab-grown diamond engagement ring that captures the beauty and brilliance of your relationship. Happy diamond shopping!

At Michael Gabriels

Michael Gabriels is a family-run small business that specializes in producing custom jewelry using lab-grown diamonds. 

With over 100 years of experience at our client's disposal, we are dedicated to making the journey from idea, to unboxing the perfect ring, as uneventful and easy as possible. 

Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have, or ideas you would like to see become reality. Check out our online collection of jewelry, all of which can be customized to your particular needs and desires, or have us produce something fully bespoke. 

We are her for you, and fully invested in producing ethical and sustainable jewelry you will love for a lifetime.