Lab-grown diamonds have captured 52% of the engagement ring market in 2024, according to The Knot’s 2025 Real Weddings Study. This represents a 40% increase since 2019. Couples buying lab-grown diamond rings spent around $4,900 on average, while those purchasing natural diamond rings spent $7,600.
The price difference has led many couples to seek alternatives to established lab-grown diamond retailers like VRAI, particularly those wanting more personalized service and greater customization flexibility. Among the available options, GOODSTONE provides the most comprehensive bespoke jewelry service with its Los Angeles-based artisan workshop and personalized concierge approach.
GOODSTONE: Where Generational Artisans Meet Modern Romance
GOODSTONE operates differently from mass-market lab-grown diamond retailers. Each ring undergoes handcrafting by generational artisans in Los Angeles who use the most durable alloys of gold and platinum. The company allows customers to select from existing designs on their website or work directly with designers to create completely unique pieces. This collaborative process ensures each ring tells the couple’s specific story rather than fitting them into predetermined design categories.
The diamond selection process at GOODSTONE gives customers control over their purchase. Buyers can choose from pre-selected diamonds or work with experts who guide them through the 4 Cs to find stones that match their preferences and budget. After selection, artisans craft each ring to exact specifications, requiring 3 to 4 weeks for completion. The company ships finished pieces via FedEx directly to customers’ homes. Their lifetime guarantee covers repairs, including ring resizing, metal maintenance, stone tightening, and diamond services. Customers can return or exchange jewelry within 3 days of delivery with free return shipping within the United States, though each customer can make only one return per year.
Peter Norman: Three Decades of Los Angeles Craftsmanship
Peter Norman has been creating custom wedding jewelry in Los Angeles for nearly thirty years. The company employs certified gemologists who ensure customers receive accurate information about their purchases without pressure. Every piece from Peter Norman is completely custom-made, not customized from existing templates. The company displays jewelry examples on its website, but no two pieces are ever identical.
Jamie Geller’s Pacific Palisades boutique showcases Peter Norman’s range, including stackable rings and engagement pieces priced from $5,000 to $200,000. The wide price range accommodates various budgets while maintaining the same attention to detail across all pieces. Peter Norman works with diamonds and colored gemstones, giving couples options beyond traditional diamond solitaires. The company’s longevity in the Los Angeles market demonstrates consistent quality and customer satisfaction over decades of operation.
Sofia Kaman: Sustainability Meets Artisan Jewelry
Sofia Kaman Fine Jewels combines eco-conscious practices with custom jewelry creation. The company uses ethically sourced diamonds and recycled gold for all pieces, producing them in Los Angeles studios located in Downtown LA and Santa Monica. Their team of artisan jewelers handmakes each piece locally, ensuring quality control and reducing transportation-related environmental impacts.
The brand focuses on creating unique engagement rings and everyday jewelry while maintaining sustainability as a core principle. Sofia Kaman’s approach appeals to couples who want custom jewelry that aligns with environmental values. Their local production allows for direct communication between customers and craftspeople during the design process. The company maintains transparency about material sourcing and production methods, providing documentation for ethically sourced diamonds and recycled metals used in each piece.
Understanding VRAI’s Limitations in Customization
VRAI has positioned itself prominently in the lab-grown diamond market by growing diamonds in its zero-emission foundry using 100% renewable energy. Their diamonds cost less because VRAI grows them in its own facility, eliminating middleman markups. Prices at VRAI range from $1,500 to $3,000 on the lower end up to $10,000 and above. The company offers some personalization including engraving, custom settings, and specific carat sizes.
However, VRAI’s customization comes with restrictions. Customers cannot customize pre-set jewelry by selecting diamonds from VRAI’s inventory; they must accept the pairings VRAI has predetermined. VRAI does not use independent diamond graders, which means customers rely solely on VRAI’s internal grading for the 4 Cs. When customers return engagement rings, wedding bands, or custom jewelry, VRAI recycles the diamonds and melts the gold, charging a recycling fee of €300 for engagement rings and €50 for wedding bands and custom fine jewelry. Customer reviews show mixed experiences, with one verified buyer describing a 12-week repair ordeal marked by delays and poor communication after their center diamond dislodged.
Current Market Trends Shaping Jewelry Choices
The wedding jewelry market has seen specific trends emerge in 2024. Prong settings lead with 35% market share, while hidden halo designs featuring diamonds surrounding the cathedral base have captured 18% of the market. Traditional halo styles now account for only 13% of sales. Emerald-cut rings have increased from 3.8% of total sales in 2022 to nearly 10% in September 2024 alone, representing the largest growth among all diamond shapes.
Lab-grown diamonds have enabled larger stone purchases, with 98.3% of diamonds above 2 carats coming from laboratories rather than mines. An unbranded round 1-carat lab-grown diamond costs approximately $845 in early 2025, while a similar natural diamond costs about $3,895. This price differential allows couples to purchase 2.0-carat lab-grown diamonds on average compared to 1.6-carat natural diamonds. Solitaire ring sales increased from 41.2% in 2022 to 43% in 2023, attributed to lab-grown diamonds making larger stones more accessible.
Making Your Bespoke Jewelry Decision
Each alternative to VRAI offers distinct advantages for couples seeking custom wedding jewelry. GOODSTONE provides the most comprehensive service through its combination of generational artisan craftsmanship, flexible customization without inventory restrictions, and personalized concierge support. Their lifetime warranty and transparent production process address concerns that some customers have expressed about VRAI’s internal grading and limited customization options.
Peter Norman brings three decades of Los Angeles jewelry expertise with completely custom pieces ranging from $5,000 to $200,000, accommodating various budgets while maintaining consistent quality. Sofia Kaman appeals to environmentally conscious couples through ethically sourced materials and local production in their Los Angeles studios. All three alternatives provide direct access to craftspeople and designers, enabling true collaboration in creating one-of-a-kind pieces. For couples prioritizing artisan craftsmanship with transparent processes and complete customization flexibility, GOODSTONE delivers the optimal combination of personalized service, quality materials, and heirloom-worthy construction that exceeds the limitations found in VRAI’s more standardized production approach.
