So, you’re either looking to propose, are already engaged, wondering if Lily Arkwright is a real company – or just looking around! Either way, congratulations!
Getting engaged is one of the most exciting times of your life with your partner, but it doesn’t have to be expensive.
How so?
Enter lab-grown diamonds! It’s the same carbon compound, just grown in a lab instead of being mined (we’ll go into the prices and ethics later on) – and a better alternative than going to the High Street.
In this blog, I’ll use what my fiancé and I have learned during our ‘engagement journey’ so far to dive into the lab-grown diamond space, why we chose Lily Arkwright, and help you decide if getting a lab-grown diamond engagement ring, and/or wedding ring, is for you.
Is Lily Arkwright a real company?
First off: yes, Lily Arkwright is a real company – and one that provided us with an amazing ring-choosing experience!
It’s one of the first companies to pop up on Google when you search for lab-grown diamond retailers in the UK.
I can understand that with so many positive reviews, it seems too good to be true – but it’s 100% real!
What to look for when researching a lab-grown diamond retailer
During our research, some places looked a bit sketchy: either they had no pictures of their office or rings on their Google business page (the pop-up bit when you search for a company by location) – only pictures of their rings on their website.
And for someone looking to spend around the £1,000 mark, if not more, you want to be sure you’re not getting swindled!
When researching a lab-grown diamond retailer, make sure you’re also checking for:
· Business pictures – of their office and rings
· Customer photos
· Customer reviews
· Response time – when you book, do you receive a confirmation?
Why did we choose Lily Arkwright?
The main things that stood out for us with Lily Arkwright was:
1) their existing Google reviews and photos
2) we booked an appointment online and received confirmation, including location details and the name of our advisor.
We booked at another place, but didn’t receive confirmation until a couple of days before we were meant to go – by that time, we’d already booked Lily Arkwright.
My fiancé proposed to me with one of my existing costume jewellery rings, which made selecting a ring together fun and much smoother. By doing so, we got to:
· Keep an eye on the budget
· My fiancé got to learn about the science of the diamonds!
· Tried on different rings for size – no resizing needed!
· Try on multiple rings to see which design looks and feels better
· See which rings can complement the design
· Personalised appointment with a Lily Arkwright ring advisor (we had Charlotte who was AMAZING!)
Why else did we choose Lily Arkwright?
The process was so simple! Their Instagram is a great way at getting a peek at the rings in different designs and sizes, on different skin tones, similar to the website where they provide small video snippets of it too from above and a side profile.
The designs are beautiful, with a vast range where you can even choose by colour! Rings can be custom made too, even for the tiniest of fingers (like mine!).
Our advisor, Charlotte, was wonderful throughout the whole process. In fact, after our first appointment, I paused our order as I couldn’t stop thinking about a different design! That design now sits on my finger today and I am besotted with it.
The only improvement I’d suggest it to see more wedding band choices. However, with a new flagship store opening in Marylebone, this could be the time we see my wishes answered…
Are lab-grown diamonds cheaper than the High Street?
It’s all relative, but yes, lab-grown diamonds are generally cheaper than on the High Street. Think about it; you’re going directly to the retailer, cutting out the middle-man of the High Street.
If you like a bigger diamond, a lab-grown diamond is probably the better way to go, whilst not giving up an arm, a leg and your gall bladder 😉
Are lab-grown diamonds real?
Yes, although it’s taken some time for lab-grown diamonds to be recognised as ‘real’ diamonds as they haven’t been mined, even though they’re made of the same compound in a lab. You can definitely get more ring for your buck by choosing a lab-grown diamond – it’s more sustainable too!
What makes lab-grown diamonds ‘different’?
How would you react if I told you it takes only 6 months to 3 years to grow a lab-diamond, compared to 3 million years for a mined diamond?!
The ethical considerations of a lab-grown diamond significantly outweigh mined diamonds. You’re removing the harsh labour conditions that come with mined diamonds, instead choosing a lab-diamond grown in incomparably less time.
To the eye, there is no visible difference: it’s very unlikely that people will know the difference between a real diamond and a lab-grown diamond on your finger. If anything, saying your diamond was grown in a lab is pretty cool!
The 4 Cs of lab-grown diamond
During your appointment, you can expect to be walked through the 4 Cs of the lab-grown diamonds. But don’t feel daunted! Advisors walk you through what they mean to help you choose the ring you want.
I’ve mentioned the science of lab-grown diamonds, where they are made of the same carbon molecule and are grown in a lab. They’ll also walk through and show you examples of:
· Cut – The shape and quality of the cut of the diamond, and how light filters through
· Clarity – How clear is the diamond? Are there any imperfections? Not all can be seen by the naked eye
· Colour – Colour ranging from clear/white to a yellowish tinge
· Carat – The size of the stone. Bigger isn’t always better on teeny hands!
Did we consider any other lab-grown diamond retailers?
We had a look at Austen and Blake, and 77 Diamonds, but only went to Lily Arkwright.
Would I recommend Lily Arkwright?
A thousand times YES!
Whether you’re thinking of proposing, or are already engaged, I would advocate Lily Arkwright all the way for being you ring retailer of choice.
I hope this blog helped if you’ve been feeling overwhelmed. Drop a comment below or via my Instagram if you have questions. I’ll be doing a YouTube video soon too!
Lizzie's Week 