---
title: "Lab-Grown Diamonds in New York: What They Cost and Where to Buy"
byline: "Love & Carat"
series: new_york
published: 2026-09-29T15:28:58.595Z
updated: 2026-09-29T15:28:58.595Z
canonical: https://loveandcaratnewyork.com/blog/lab-grown-diamonds-new-york-cost-where-to-buy
disclosure: editorial
sources:
  - "eCFR :: 16 CFR Part 23 -- Guides for the Jewelry, Precious Metals, and Pewter Industries - https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-23"
  - "In the Loupe: Advertising Diamond, Gemstones and Pearls | Federal Trade Commission - https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/loupe-advertising-diamond-gemstones-pearls"
  - "Federal Register :: Guides for the Jewelry, Precious Metals, and Pewter Industries - https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/08/16/2018-17454/guides-for-the-jewelry-precious-metals-and-pewter-industries"
  - "Jewelry Guides | Federal Trade Commission - https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/topics/tools-consumers/jewelry-guides"
  - "New York - IGI - https://www.igi.org/location/united-states/new-york/"
  - "Lab Grown Diamond Report & Certification For Authenticity | IGI - https://www.igi.org/reports/lab-grown-diamond-report/"
---

# Lab-Grown Diamonds in New York: What They Cost and Where to Buy

_Written by Love & Carat about the stones we sell. Not an independent review._

**The short answer**

- Under the FTC's Jewelry Guides (final revisions approved July 24, 2018; FTC business guidance dated July 2019), marketers should put a term such as "laboratory-grown" immediately before "diamond" and make it equally prominent; the Guides are guidance, not binding rules.
- IGI lists a gemological lab at 545 Fifth Avenue, near the Diamond District on 47th Street, and lists certification services for both lab-grown and natural diamonds.
- There is no single fair price for a lab-grown diamond, so compare certified stones of the same grades on the same day and put the money into the cut rather than into grades your eye can't see.
- You can buy in the Diamond District, from independent jewelers or online; whichever you choose, insist on a grading report and a clear written returns policy.

A lab-grown diamond is a diamond. In its 2018 revisions, the FTC removed "natural" from the Guides' definition of diamond because lab-grown stones with essentially the same optical, physical and chemical properties as mined diamonds are also diamonds; the Guides separately advise sellers to disclose that a lab-grown diamond is not mined. IGI lists a New York gemological lab near the Diamond District on 47th Street, and whether you shop in the District, with an independent jeweler or online, the smart move is to compare certified stones with similar grades rather than rely on a single quoted price.

## What counts as a lab-grown diamond, and what must a seller call it?

The Federal Trade Commission's Jewelry Guides explain how marketers can avoid deceptive jewelry claims. When it [approved final revisions to the Jewelry Guides on July 24, 2018](https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/topics/tools-consumers/jewelry-guides), it [removed the word "natural" from the definition of diamond](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/08/16/2018-17454/guides-for-the-jewelry-precious-metals-and-pewter-industries). The reason given was that lab-created stones with essentially the same optical, physical and chemical properties as mined diamonds are also diamonds.

The Guides advise marketers to label lab-grown diamonds clearly. According to the FTC's business guidance ["In the Loupe" (July 2019)](https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/loupe-advertising-diamond-gemstones-pearls), a seller should use "laboratory-grown," "laboratory-created," "[manufacturer name]-created" or a phrase of like meaning. That qualifying term or phrase should sit immediately before "diamond" and be just as prominent.

A few other points from the same guidance are useful when you read a listing or a shop tag in New York:

- **"Cultured" needs a qualifier.** Under the FTC's Guides, marketers may use "cultured" for a lab-grown diamond if they clearly and conspicuously disclose that it is not mined, for example by saying "laboratory-grown." This is set out in [§ 23.12(c)(3) of the Guides](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-23), accessed September 29, 2026.
- **"Faux" doesn't count.** The FTC says "faux" does not adequately identify a laboratory-created or imitation stone as not mined.
- **Online listings must say it up front.** Where you can buy without seeing the stone in person, the disclosure [should be made in the description of the product](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-23), not left for the delivery box.

We explain the stone itself in our [lab-grown diamond glossary entry](/education/lab-grown-diamond). The defining difference is origin; appearance varies from stone to stone.

## Who grades lab-grown diamonds in New York?

IGI lists a New York grading lab near the Diamond District. It lists a [gemological lab and school at 545 Fifth Avenue, 11th floor](https://www.igi.org/location/united-states/new-york/), and describes Midtown Manhattan as close to the Diamond District on 47th Street. Its New York services include certification of natural diamonds, lab-grown diamonds, colored gemstones and finished jewelry.

According to IGI, it [pioneered the grading of lab-grown diamonds in 2005](https://www.igi.org/reports/lab-grown-diamond-report/). It says it screens every gemstone to determine whether it is mined, laboratory-grown or a simulant, and that the growth process and any treatments will be noted in the report's comments on request. For round brilliants, IGI says it compares overall proportions with its studies of brightness, fire, scintillation and pattern to set the cut grade.

Every lab-grown diamond we sell is graded by GIA or IGI and laser-inscribed. The laser inscription can help you verify that the stone matches its report; ask how to view it under magnification. Our [certificate guide](/education/certificate) shows how to read one line by line.

**Match the report to the stone:** Ask for the grading report before you pay, and check that the laser inscription on the girdle matches it. Ask a District or online seller how you can check the report and the stone's inscription before buying.

## What does a lab-grown diamond cost in New York?

There is no single going rate that tells you whether a particular stone is a good choice; compare the certified stones currently available to you. Start with the grades and prices of the certified stones you are actually offered, then check the total cost.

Here is how we'd get the most diamond for the money:

- **Pay for cut first.** Cut affects a stone's brightness, fire and scintillation, so we would prioritize it over grades you cannot see. Our [cut guide](/education/cut) explains what the grades mean.
- **Stop at eye-clean.** Once a stone looks clean from a normal viewing distance, we would not pay extra solely for a higher clarity grade. Our [eye-clean guide](/education/eye-clean) covers where that line usually falls.
- **Don't over-buy color.** In a finished ring, a near-colorless stone can look the same as a colorless one, especially in yellow or rose gold.
- **Read the carat weight closely.** The FTC says a weight written in decimals [should be accurate to the last decimal place](https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/loupe-advertising-diamond-gemstones-pearls). A fraction can cover a range: its example is a "1/2 carat" diamond that could weigh between .45 and .54 carat, and the seller should disclose that the weight is not exact.

A stone just under a popular weight can look identical on the hand. When it does, we'll recommend it.

**Prioritize the cut and skip higher grades when you cannot see the difference.**

## Where to buy lab-grown diamonds in NYC

New Yorkers can compare different ways of buying. Each option suits a different kind of buyer, and none is automatically cheaper.

**The Diamond District.** The Diamond District is on 47th Street, and IGI describes its Midtown lab as close by. If you prefer shopping in person, ask District sellers what certified lab-grown stones you can compare and whether prices are negotiable. Bring the grading report into every conversation, and confirm in writing whether a stone is lab-grown or mined.

**Independent jewelers.** If you want a custom setting or help with sizing and repairs, ask which services a jeweler offers, and ask plainly whether lab-grown stones are available and how each one is graded.

**Online.** You can compare many certified stones and their reports at once. For online buying, the FTC's Guides advise sellers to disclose that a lab-grown diamond is not mined in the product description. Love & Carat is an online jeweler based in New York with an office at 45 Rockefeller Plaza. That office does not take visitors, so everything happens online, from choosing a stone to delivery.

Whichever route you take, the search for the best lab-grown diamonds in NYC comes down to the same test. You want a certified stone, clearly described, at a price you've compared.

If you are choosing for a proposal, our [engagement ring center stones](/) page groups certified lab-grown diamonds by shape and size.

## What to check before you pay

The FTC says its Guides [expect marketers to truthfully represent](https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/topics/tools-consumers/jewelry-guides) a product's grade, quality, weight, cut, color, treatment, origin, price and value, among other things. In practice, that gives you a checklist:

1. **The disclosure.** Check that the listing or tag clearly identifies the stone as a lab-grown diamond, with the qualifying term immediately before "diamond" and equally prominent, and make sure the written purchase details identify what you bought.
2. **The report.** A grading report from a recognized laboratory, with the inscription matching the stone.
3. **Treatments.** The FTC says sellers should disclose treatments that are not permanent, that need special care, or that significantly affect value. Ask, and check the report's comments.
4. **The weight.** Decimal or fraction, and the tolerance if it is a fraction.
5. **The testing.** The FTC notes that thermal testers [may not accurately identify moissanite](https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/loupe-advertising-diamond-gemstones-pearls), so a quick counter test is no substitute for a lab report.

**If something goes wrong:** The FTC takes consumer complaints at ftc.gov or 1-877-FTC-HELP. For disputes over how jewelry was described, it also points to the Jewelers Vigilance Committee's dispute resolution service at 212-997-2002.

## Tax, delivery and returns to a New York address

**Sales tax.** Check New York State's official tax guidance for your transaction rather than relying on a quoted rate.

**Delivery.** Our orders ship insured and signed for from our partners in the US, the UK and elsewhere. Plan for a signature on delivery, and check the carrier's delivery arrangements for your address. Our [shipping and insurance page](/policies/shipping) explains how.

**Import duty.** When a stone ships to a New York address from outside the country, we pay the US import duty, so nothing is collected on delivery for that. The details are on our [import duty and taxes page](/policies/customs).

**Returns.** Before you buy from anyone, read the written refund policy and keep a copy with your grading report. Ours is on the [returns policy](/policies/returns) page.

**Timing a New York proposal:** If the ring needs to be in your hands before a set date, order early. That leaves time to manage a signed-for delivery or an unexpected delay.

## Frequently asked questions

**How much should a 1 carat lab-grown diamond cost?**

There is no fixed figure. Compare the current asking prices of certified one-carat stones with comparable cut, color and clarity grades from several sellers. We'd prioritize cut and save on higher clarity or color grades when you cannot see a difference.

**Is it worth buying a lab-grown diamond?**

If you want a diamond that looks right on the hand and fits your budget, often yes. The FTC treats lab-grown stones with essentially the same optical, physical and chemical properties as mined ones as diamonds. What you give up is the mined origin, so decide whether that matters to you.

**Is a lab-grown diamond a good investment?**

No. Diamonds, lab-grown or mined, are not investments, and no seller should promise you a resale value. Buy the stone because you love it and can afford it.

**Can a jeweler's tester tell a lab-grown diamond from moissanite?**

Not always. The FTC warns that thermal testers used to tell diamonds from cubic zirconia may not accurately identify moissanite. That is one more reason to request a grading report identifying the stone rather than relying on a quick tester.