VRAI lab grown diamonds good choice?

[TiffanyBlue]

Hello! I’ve been a long time lurker and haven’t lurked in many years, but my recent discovery of LGD has brought me back. I’ve skimmed the thread about recommended LGD dealers, but I can’t remember if I saw anyone that had purchased from VRAI. They seem to have some “big names” backing their product and it looks like they are GIA certified. Has anyone purchased from them and can vouch? I had a 1.76 I VS2 ideal cut RB in my cart and got cold feet. Most of the inventory I see is G-J color and Ex-H&A but it seems to good to be true.

Thanks in advance!

 

[TiffanyBlue]

Hello! I’ve been a long time lurker and haven’t lurked in many years, but my recent discovery of LGD has brought me back. I’ve skimmed the thread about recommended LGD dealers, but I can’t remember if I saw anyone that had purchased from VRAI. They seem to have some “big names” backing their product and it looks like they are GIA certified. Has anyone purchased from them and can vouch? I had a 1.76 I VS2 ideal cut RB in my cart and got cold feet. Most of the inventory I see is G-J color and Ex-H&A but it seems to good to be true.

Thanks in advance!

it was actually a 1.75, oops! I don’t know if I’m allowed to post these screenshots here, so please delete if not allowed.

 

[seaurchin]

I don't know about Vrai or much about lab diamonds in general but this thread was started today and has gotten a lot of posts so you might want to check it out if you haven't already:

Lightbox Loose Stones up to 2ct Just Became Available

I'm am trying to contact lightbox via phone but could not find their phone number. Can you please share the number you use to contact them? I just ordered one 1.75 white stone to check it out first (my first time to venture in lab created diamonds) but it seemed I should have ordered two since...

www.pricescope.com

 

[petrock<3]

All I know about Vrai is that I think they are mostly CVD grown diamonds vs HPHT. CVD can have certain issues due to the way the diamond is grown layer by layer. Experts can correct me this is just what I’ve been reading about. From what I’ve seen the prices are good, and the tint leans to the browns vs yellows. Which I have to say I like because some look pinkish.
But you have to weigh what you like and maybe read about CVD vs HPHT and see how you feel about that.

 

[monipod]

Vrai is the retail brand for the Diamond Foundry lab. Quite a few people on PS in the past noted their stones having a brown tint but I suspect they may have upgraded their tech and I don't hear so much of that lately. I have heard however that their stones are pretty expensive compared to other vendors, which may reflect their getting a bit of traction or name for themselves.

 

[Kim N]

it looks like they are GIA certified.

These are not GIA certified, unfortunately. They were merely graded by a GIA Graduate Gemologist supposedly using the GIA grading scale, but that's not the same thing as a real GIA report.

 

[TiffanyBlue]

Thanks everyone. I have read a little here on PS and seen a couple of videos about CVD vs HPHT and I looked for that on their site but how do you know which method a particular lab uses? This will be replacing the F1 moissanite in my current E-ring setting which is colorless and I don’t mind a little tint but don’t know if I would enjoy the brown or even pink tones.

@Kim N thanks for the tip about the report. I just saw the letters GIA and got all excited! Haha!

Well I guess I’ll do my research more about HPHT and CVD before pulling the trigger.

 

[sprinklesparkles]

My diamond is from Vrai, but I wound up replacing the setting (poor quality). This video is in my new setting from another vendor.

I like my diamond a LOT and it’s warmer, which I personally enjoy. Undertone is more warm golden brown than cool yellow green.

https://imgur.com/a/ssQcNoC

 

[EClove]

I don't like that their Lab diamonds are not certified - personally I would prefer a GIA, IGI, or GCAL certified lab diamond, so there's some standard. I know some people prefer GIA, but it's harder to find that in lab diamonds and personally in my experience I liked the look of the IGI graded stone I purchased and returned the GIA stone. IGI also has graded many more lab diamonds so there is more inventory as of now.

 

[TiffanyBlue]

My diamond is from Vrai, but I wound up replacing the setting (poor quality). This video is in my new setting from another vendor.

I like my diamond a LOT and it’s warmer, which I personally enjoy. Undertone is more warm golden brown than cool yellow green.

https://imgur.com/a/ssQcNoC

Ooh so pretty! What color is your stone, if I may ask?

 

[TiffanyBlue]

I don't like that their Lab diamonds are not certified - personally I would prefer a GIA, IGI, or GCAL certified lab diamond, so there's some standard. I know some people prefer GIA, but it's harder to find that in lab diamonds and personally in my experience I liked the look of the IGI graded stone I purchased and returned the GIA stone. IGI also has graded many more lab diamonds so there is more inventory as of now.

i was totally fooled by the image on their site and thought all their diamonds were certified!

is the Diamond in your avatar LGD? It’s gorgeous and if it is LGD I want to know where you got that one from!

 

[EClove]

i was totally fooled by the image on their site and thought all their diamonds were certified!

is the Diamond in your avatar LGD? It’s gorgeous and if it is LGD I want to know where you got that one from!

Thanks! It is a LGD. I purchased it through Frank Darling and overall it was a good experience. I mentioned elsewhere, but I think you only get 1 "return" with them in a certain time period so you'll want to make sure you are pretty sure about your diamond options. That said, they will provide ASETs and all sorts of photos and videos and comparisons if you'd like. I purchased one stone, realized it wasn't as good of a cut as I would have liked (step cuts are hard!), and returned it and purchased a second stone through them and it was a very seamless process.

A lot of people here have also had really good experiences with James Allen for LGD - great return policy from what I understand

 

[aisa901]

I had looked into Vrai diamonds about a year ago, it seems like their prices have come down quite a bit since then, but I find their grading very soft compared to IGI... it seems like most of their VS2's have black carbon spots speckled throughout and that would drive me crazy!! Color also seemed 1-2 grades off... which might be okay if you're into warmer stones. I saw two oval stones in person... nice cut (I think), but could see some of the bigger carbon spots IRL and actually can see many in pictures I took too (this is an H, VS2 "excellent cut")... I ended up going with JA, there are a lot of great vendors out there as long as you aren't limited by shipping restrictions.

 

[sprinklesparkles]

They called that a VS2? Off their rockers!

I had looked into Vrai diamonds about a year ago, it seems like their prices have come down quite a bit since then, but I find their grading very soft compared to IGI... it seems like most of their VS2's have black carbon spots speckled throughout and that would drive me crazy!! Color also seemed 1-2 grades off... which might be okay if you're into warmer stones. I saw two oval stones in person... nice cut (I think), but could see some of the bigger carbon spots IRL and actually can see many in pictures I took too (this is an H, VS2 "excellent cut")... I ended up going with JA, there are a lot of great vendors out there as long as you aren't limited by shipping restrictions.

 

[sprinklesparkles]

Ooh so pretty! What color is your stone, if I may ask?

Unfortunately I don’t know; DH picked it for me himself

 

[AprilBaby]

I bought a necklace from Vrai that I returned because the diamonds were very brown tinted.

 

[mrsthirdcharms]

I bought a RB from Vrai in August 2020, and mine has an IGI report. It’s an excellent cut round, color is an I, 1.68/ 7.7mm and the angles were all within the HCA range. It’s a touch warm, but I don’t think it’s brown. I’ve got it set in unplated white gold.

 

[TiffanyBlue]

I bought a RB from Vrai in August 2020, and mine has an IGI report. It’s an excellent cut round, color is an I, 1.68/ 7.7mm and the angles were all within the HCA range. It’s a touch warm, but I don’t think it’s brown. I’ve got it set in unplated white gold.

I love your Diamond and the setting!

 

[mrsthirdcharms]

I love your Diamond and the setting!

Thanks so much for your kind words! I just had it reset, I was sitting too high and I kept whacking it on things, so much so that I was afraid of losing it. David Klass made the setting, which is amazing- and only 5.5mm high.

Good luck in your search, prices have continued to come down on LGD.

 

[brilliant57]

Diamond Foundry can produce diamonds they deem are D-E-F color diamonds, but those colors are generally in short supply. From what I can see those color grades are more plentiful at present than they were a year ago. I did notice Diamond Foundry diamonds with D-E-F color grades listed at Ritani earlier in the year so it could be that they were just as abundant but had been simply bought up by other retailers.