A couple years ago, my husband and I decided to sell my engagement ring and buy one with a man-made diamond instead. We had paid $2000 for my ring, and sold it for $1150. We then bought a new one from Diamond Nexus Labs for $231. I’ll be honest and say that the number one reason I sold the ring was money – I didn’t like wearing $2000 on my finger, and felt that we could put it to much better use elsewhere (we ended up putting it into our HSA and and an IRA). My husband agreed, and so it was done.
I liked the claims that DNL made on their website about environmentally friendly, and ethically produced jewelry, but money was the primary reason behind our decision. Mined diamonds have no intrinsic value other than their usefulness in industry. Neither do synthetic diamonds, but I like the price of the synthetic ones a lot more. I’ll never buy another mined diamond, although I can’t imagine ever buying another synthetic diamond either. That said, I didn’t do any digging around to find out the scoop on the claims DNL makes regarding ethics and the environment.
I got an email today from a lady who has apparently done quite a bit of digging regarding the various claims that DNL makes. She has compiled her data here on her website (Moment Of Choice), and it’s absolutely worth a read. Given the fact that it looks like quite a few of the articles out there in cyberspace about DNL are pay per post or written by people who are affiliated with DNL, I wanted to make it very clear that I have no association with DNL what so ever, other than being a one-time customer. They have never paid me to write any posts, nor have they ever purchased links on my site. I paid full price for the ring I bought from them, and I have no idea if they are aware of my blog or not. The gift card that I gave away to a reader last year was sent out to all customers – giving it away on my blog was my own idea.
There’s a lot of not-so-flattering stuff about DNL out there. And since I have no knowledge of the workings of their company, I can’t say whether any of it is true or not. I can see how the negative reviews could very well be true. But the skeptic in me can also see how DNL might have some very powerful enemies (all those companies that would like to convince people that it’s perfectly rational to blow tens of thousands of dollars on mined diamonds). And spreading rumors online is even easier than spreading rumors in a 6th grade classroom.
All I know for sure is what I experienced as a customer. I tried on several cz rings before I found DNL. For the most part the bands were silver (or in some cases just a cheap plated metal). None of them could be resized, and all that I tried on were available only in whole sizes. The rings I tried on were much less expensive than the one I got from DNL, but they looked and felt cheap, so I kept looking.
I ordered my ring from DNL using the piece of string method to size my finger. I came up with 5.5 and placed my order for that size. When the ring arrived, it was beautiful, but huge. I went to a local jewelry store and had them measure my finger using a ring sizer, and they got 4.5, which would explain why the ring I ordered was so loose. I called DNL and they told me to just send it back and they would resize it. Within a couple weeks, I got my ring back, and it fit perfectly. As far as customer service, I have nothing but good things to say about DNL.
I have been wearing my DNL ring for nearly two years. It still looks as good as it did when I got it, and I still get compliments from strangers about how pretty it is. I am not a jewelry expert, and I have no idea what the stone is actually made of. But I know that the setting is solid and secure, and the ring itself perfectly matches the white gold wedding band that we bought at the Shane Company when we got married. I have no complaints at all about the workmanship of the ring.
Moment Of Choice has raised some issues that do deserve a second look, and she’s obviously done a lot of research (edit: and judging from the links on her sidebar, she and I have a lot of views in common). Concealing the identity of company officers and having employees write “reviews” isn’t particularly appealing behavior. As far as the incorporation issue, I do know that when my husband and I incorporated our business a few years ago, we read all sorts of stuff about the benefits of incorporating in other states. We were blatently told that one of the primary values of incorporation was that the corporation becomes a separate entity from ourselves, under a concept known as corporate veil. We did incorporate in our home state, but many companies do not, and this is not in and of itself a sign of anything untoward.
I doubt I will buy any more jewelry from DNL or anywhere else. I just don’t wear jewelry other than my engagement and wedding rings, and some funky pieces that people have made for me. I decided to write this post as a clarification, in case there are readers out there who are trying to figure out whether DNL is on the up and up. To reiterate: I have no idea of the validity of the DNL claims about environmental and ethical standards. I have no idea whether the company is shady in terms of business practices that don’t directly impact the end consumer. I have no affiliation with DNL (or any other jewelry company). I have been completely satisfied with my own experience with DNL, both in terms of customer service and product quality.
If you’ve had experiences with DNL – good or bad – please feel free to share.
momentofchoice says
Hi FB,
Your post has prompted me to possibly go back in and re-write some of my post (when I have some time) to clarify some reasons why I included/highlighted certain bits of info, such as the incorporation stuff…and also because new info has recently come to light that is definitely worth adding in.
I have a problem in general with the corporate veil – and am frustrated that anyone going into business is encouraged to look for ways of cheating the system or cheating other people, whether it’s their intention or not. I guess that bit was more to highlight the website of the company with which DNL/Lautrec chose to incorporate. You’re right, it doesn’t always prove anything untoward about a corporation but it also doesn’t make me feel very comfortable about business ethics. I don’t know if anyone has seen the film “The Corporation” (excellent film). http://www.thecorporation.com/index.cfm?page_id=2 Certainly helps one to understand some of the reasons we are in this economic mess…
Thanks for this post. It’s absolutely fair for anyone who did happen to have a good experience with this company to indicate so, and I appreciate that you acknowledge there are definitely some things about them worth investigating. Looking into this company has been a great learning experience, being a recent import from Canada to the States, in terms of what sort of regulations are in place to ensure corporations are forced to be upfront with customers about their products/services. Not many from what I can tell. :(
Mike says
I bought my wife her engagement ring and then we got our wedding bands from them! NOTHING but good to say, with that said, I have had the ring sent back a couple of times for loose stones. BUT, they were prompt in their response when the ring got to them, and only took about a 3 weeks to get them back! The diamonds are beautiful and you can not tell them from a blood/mined diamond. I have also purchased several other diamonds, earrings, pendants etc… she LOVES them all. We have had nothing but good service all around. And I certainly don’t work for them. I live in south Georgia, near Savannah. Very happy with Nexus!!
Ron M Davies says
I am a business coach and consultant, and I would engcourage ANY business owner to incorporate, and do so in an ideal state, not the one they reside in.
The viel is not the smallest reason, but it is certainly not the main reason companies incorporate. The tax advantages, ease of liquidation of equity (private or public), and entity book keeping, among others, are the main reasons.
And, the corporate veil no longer provides the same indemnity it once did, especially with respect to a single veil. Multiple veils are often used, that is, the principles incorporate the company, but hold their equity in that corporation within individual trusts, ideally out of state.
In the case of incorporating in the same state you reside, well, that only makes sense if you reside in the “right” states for incorporation, including how the tax laws work for the state, etc.
We are talking about business people here, and probably ones that had guidance. Any goopd guide would have them incorporate in an ideal state, and use trust for equity.
None of these things implicity provide indemnity.
None of these things is “shifty”.
momentofchoice says
I guess it might also be worthwhile to point out, my husband and I didn’t bother to get rings at all. I’ll always advocate for challenging the norm. :) And more importantly, considering the implications of our decisions on other people and the planet.
Frugal Babe says
If my husband and I were to go ring hunting now, I think we would make much different decisions than we did six years ago (obviously, since we went the traditional diamond route that time), and even than we did two years ago when we bought the synthetic diamond ring. Don’t get me wrong – I really like my ring, and I like the fact that it was only a couple hundred dollars. But today, I would probably choose something more plain, maybe an antique ring, or just a plain wedding band. Our bands are very simple (mine was $40 and his was $90), and that’s really our style anyway.
Neither of us have any particular attachment to our wedding rings. My husband takes his off when he lifts weights, and half the time it’s in his gym bag for days on end. I had no problem selling my original ring and putting the money in savings – we both know that our rings have nothing to do with our relationship. But since I like my ring, I continue to wear it. Who knows – maybe ten years from now we’ll replace our rings with something funky that we find on a trip to Mexico.
I don’t wear jewelry other than my ring. My ears aren’t pierced, and my favorite necklace is a chain with a washer on it that my sister made for me. So we won’t be contributing to the diamond or fake diamond industries in the future :)
Steve says
more on each…. I spent less than 2,000 for both combined.
I don’t know why anyone would have anything negative to say about sizing issues, silver rings or gold plated only. It’s simply not true.
I don’t have any connections with DN other than I am a very satisfied customer. I have not been reimbursed or compensated for this review. I’m just sick of people claiming things that just are not true.
I would never think of buying a ring for my wife from anywhere else.
Steve says
I purchased 2 rings online for my wife frin Diamond Nexus online, about 2 years apart. One engagement over 4 carats and a wedding band 2.5 carats. Both white gold size 4.75.
They are both gorgeous! Everyone thinks I spent several thousand dollars or more on each…. I spent less than 2,000 for both combined.
I don’t know why anyone would have anything negative to say about sizing issues, silver rings or gold plated only. It’s simply not true.
I don’t have any connections with DN other than I am a very satisfied customer. I have not been reimbursed or compensated for this review. I’m just sick of people claiming things that just are not true.
You can’t tell by looking at the ring that it’s not mined diamonds. They both shine so beautiful. The gold is solid and the craftsmanship is top notch. I literally don’t have anything negative to say.
I would never think of buying a ring for my wife from anywhere else.
GC says
thanks for that update
I’m still very much in favor of CZ but can’t seem to convince my husband 2b that it’s a good idea
it’s like beating a dead horse at this point
my engagement ring is pricey and a questionable diamond which they claimed was conflict free
I’ll check out the company you mentioned to see if they have the kind of style I’m going for since we plan to wear bands also
momentofchoice says
sigh…nevermind.
LinziBear says
Thanks for posting this! My SO and I are looking at engagement rings right now, so this a was a great eye opener. It is so difficult to find good information on companies & their practices, particularly when it’s such a touchy subject. I’m leaning towards one of these two companies (unless we decide to just not have rings at all):
http://www.artisanweddingrings.com/index.php
http://www.touchwoodrings.com/index.html
They both have absolutely beautiful rings, and it’s pretty easy to find out more about their backgrounds if you click around on the site.
Thanks again!
Potter says
I am currently looking for an engagement ring for my g/f, I love her with all of my heart and want her to have a nice ring, something she can show off to her friends. However I can’t afford to buy, at this time, a huge ring. I was actually looking at the DNL site earlier today and was curious to get a woman’s opinion on the subject. If I got her a simulated diamond ring do you think that she would view it as me taking the “cheap” route instead of the tried and true diamond? I want this to be a surprise for a trip we are taking in the fall. just looking for an honest opinion.
momentofchoice says
Hi “Potter”
I’m going to suggest that if you don’t know your girlfriend well enough to know if she’d think you are taking the “cheap” route instead of the “tried and true” diamond, then you might want to reconsider this decision and get to know your girlfriend a little better so that you can answer this question yourself. No one else can answer the question on behalf of your girlfriend.
Whatever you and your girlfriend decide, my advice is to research any company thoroughly before purchasing off the internet. If people choose not to do this, it’s their fault if they get scammed.
Try googling the company name + the word “scam” or “fraud” in the search field and see what comes up… look for proof of a company’s claims on their website… if you see anything odd, contact the company first before purchasing. If they don’t respond, or deflect your questions, red flags should go up. It should be clear who owns the company, who the company officers are, where their business/manufacturing facilities are located, what their products are made of and proof of all of this.
As you’ll see from the few ‘female’ responses above, jewelery is not always important to females. Ask your girlfriend.
LISA says
Thank you for your post. I like the idea of a lab created diamond, but I do want it to look real and last forever. I liked it mainly because of the price. I want a specific stone shape and if you buy a mined one it would cost nearly $8,000.00. I can find what I want for $1,500.00 from Nexus. So your info was very very very helpful to me..
Thanks so much
Lisa B
FrugalBabe says
Potter – Best wishes on your upcoming engagement! I hope that everything goes well. I would echo moment of choice’s views: only you know your girlfriend well enough to know if it would bother her if you buy a simulated diamond instead of the real thing.
My own thoughts on this have evolved quite a bit over the years. Six years ago, when my husband proposed with a $2000 ring that we picked out together, I was thrilled to wear it. Two years ago, when I switched to the DNL ring that cost a fraction of the price of the original ring, I was just as thrilled to wear it, and happy to tell people where we got it. These days, I still wear the DNL ring and my plain wedding band, but I really don’t care anymore about people seeing them, or what anybody thinks about my ring. As I mentioned above, I’d be just as happy with a funky wooden ring as I am with my DNL ring.
I think it’s sad that so many people spend such a huge amount of money on diamonds. You mentioned that you can’t afford a diamond. If your girlfriend loves you for you, the ring will be an afterthought – what will make her happy will be you asking her to spend the rest of her life with you. I wish you all the best.
Ady says
I convinced my then-fiance that we should go the Diamond Nexus route when we were looking at rings. I didn’t want us (him) to spend thousands on something simply because the diamond industry has fooled everyone into thinking it’s necessary or “forever”. Truthfully, I don’t need mine to last forever – just ’til I’m dead! ;-) I didn’t want to have to worry for one minute about “conflict” diamonds, either.
I couldn’t be more thrilled with our decision. My ring is perfect, and I still get compliments on it frequently. Waitresses, cashiers, people at church, a male police officer, the guy handing out free newspapers at the drug store – the list is long! It is a lovely ring and I have absolutely NO complaints about it. I get tired of seeing the unfounded and scathing comments on a particular diamond website. I am NOT associated with DNL in any way other than loving them and hoping to purchase more sparkly things from them in the future.
Kim says
I went to the actual DNL store in Wisconsin. The jewelry looks and feels exactly like a real diamond. Am I a scientist? No. Do I know for sure if the things are diamonds or CZ? No. But I tried on a bunch of rings, and picked one out that I loved. I am so excited to actually wear the thing when my boyfriend proposes!!!
I don’t work for DNL and I’m not affiliated with them at all. All I know is that it makes me sick to my stomach to think about spending more than $1000 on a ring, and I am glad my boyfriend didn’t.
At the same time, I wouldn’t want my boyfriend to just give me a DNL ring instead of a “real” diamond if he didn’t know that I was cool with it.
Lauren says
My fiance proposed with a DNL ring in June and I love it! He ordered the Dreambook back in April and we looked at rings that way… I just went through and circled the ones that I liked. ;) I have to say that I read a lot of negative reviews on DNL and became a little anxious about buying from them. Of course after being so excited about the whole thing, I just figured that if the ring was horrible that we could just send it back.
My only complaint is that it’s too perfect! I get compliments on it all the time, and I’m honestly a little embarrassed by all of the attention that is drawn to it. A few of my friends know that my ring isn’t real, but my fiance told me not to mention it to anyone (of course that was before I knew about it).
At any rate, I’m very happy with my ring and I’m glad that we’re able to spend the money on things more important! My personal feeling is that it doesn’t matter what the stone is actually made of (some people are saying that DNL’s stones are plain CZ), it looks great and people think it’s real.
monica says
I am so curious about what amomentofchoice had to say, but her blog isn’t open for reading.
I have a nexus diamond. I haven’t decided if I am going to wear it (getting married next month, at city hall, no guests). It is 2c and I feel like it sparkles too much. I think because it is so big, more attention will be drawn to it, which will make more people wonder if its real. If I don’t wear it, I will probably wear nothing, especially not a real diamond. I am considering just a plain band.
Anyway, I can’t stand reading most of the “reviews” for nexus online because I feel that they are just as fake as the rings. I took my ring to be sized in the mall and he asked me if I wanted a real diamond while I was at it. He only looked at it for one second. Then he held his device up to the smaller “diamonds” on the side of the ring, and he tells me that they are fake too. I was embarrassed and I didn’t even know him. The thought of people thinking that my husband bought me a fake behind my back or something, this is what makes me not want to wear it.
I guess I just wish I got a smaller diamond, so it would draw less attention.
FrugalBabe says
Monica,
I know exactly what you’re talking about. Most of the jewelry pictured in the DNL catalog and on their website includes huge stones. The ring I have was advertised with a 2 ct stone, and I felt that would be way too big. I went with 1 ct, and it seems just right (that was about the size of my real diamond that we replaced). I get compliments, but nobody questions my ring because it’s not too flashy (just a basic solitaire). I often wonder if the people who buy the 3 and 4 ct rings and pendants from DNL attract more attention than they want!
momentofchoice says
If anyone would like to read the entry about DNL, email me for temporary access to the site: momentofchoice at gmail dot com
Formal complaints for greenwashing and other misrepresentation have been filed with the FTC.
Eric says
A few weeks ago, I bought my wife a great looking antique ring from DNL for her birthday called the Lyonette. My wife and I got their catalog a few months ago and really got hooked by their marketing. We thought their gems were special, not CZ but more diamond like. Later my wife said she found her DHL ring on another place online for $29!!! I paid DHL $195 for the same ring! I’m super mad with Diamond Nexus Labs. I bought the $29 ring off the other site to see if it was the same, and it is. I returned her ring to DNL to get my refund.
Compare for yourself. Diamond Nexus Labs sells CZ stones, plain ans simple. While beautiful, they need to be honest and upfront on what they are selling.
http://www.DiamondNexusLabs.com
Item: Lyonette
Same ring for $29
http://www.almostdiamonds.com ITEM: b23828z
Mandi195 says
The rings on almostdiamonds are sterling silver, which is why they are significantly cheaper..
Maggie says
Eric, the “Lyonette” ring at almostdiamonds that I pulled up is only available in a 3 c stone, where the diamond nexus ring has a center stone of just over 1 c. Is it just the setting that is the same? In looking at the two, it doesn’t seem possible that they are the exact same rignt because of the carat weight. I’m just curious. Thanks.
Terri Boyer says
Just for the record, I don’t work for DNL nor do I have any association with any jeweler or anyone in the diamond business. I ordered a stone from DNL to replace the one I had lost out of my mother’s ring. The stone was fairly large and a real diamond replacement is not in our budget right now. I thought I had fairly thoroughly researched simulated/synthetic stone and made an informed decision and now, after purchasing and receiving the stone (and reading all of the comments), I’m beginning to wonder. The stone arrived beautifully packaged. I could not have been more pleased in it’s presentation. There was documentation that looked like the type of certification you receive with a real diamond, a beautiful box, another nice box that actually contained the stone, and mounting and warrantee information. The stone looked very vibrant, clear, and when held up to the rest of the ring looked just great. We took it to the jeweler to be mounted and they were also quite impressed with the appearance. They did put some sort of machine on it and said that some of the fakes test true; but this one did not and they were somewhat surprised.
We pick up the ring on the 9th and I will report back. The ring that the stone is being set in is over 70 years old and is a really high quality ring that the jeweler said was worth over $4,000 without the center stone, so this should be a good test of how these stones stack up. I will let all of you know how this turns out.
Gee says
I bought from DNL… i looked around for the setting, sizing and ensuring it was 14k and not gold plated. The experience from beginning to end was great. Yes I did pay more, but when I rec’d my rind it had a scratch and when I called DNL, the replaced it immedately. Also, if your stond ever came off accidently, DNL will replace it for free. I am not affiliated with DNL… but I didn’t mind paying a little more for the ideal setting…I couldn’t find elsewhere.
Gee
Terri Boyer says
Reporting back and it’s not good news. We picked up the mounted stone at the jeweler and it looked beautiful. I used a local, very reputable, jeweler because I did not want to send my ring off and take a chance on losing it. I knew that DNL claimed no responsibility if they did not set the stone, but I trusted the jeweler and assumed that if the stone was as good as they stated it was, there would be no problem. There was no problem with mounting the stone and it looked great. I saw it under huge magnification and it looked just perfect, no cracks, chips, or damage due to the mounting. I wore the ring for six weeks and last week I dropped the ring. The DNL stone chipped. They won’t stand behind it because they didn’t mount it even though the mounting had nothing to do with the stone chipping. The claims about the hardness of these stones is completely untrue.
Don’t waste your money. Just get a CZ.
FrugalBabe says
Thanks for the update Terri. What a bummer about the chipped stone – are you going to replace it with a CZ, or just wear it as is?
I’ve been wearing my DNL stone for almost three years now, and have smashed it many a time. I ran into a door frame a few weeks ago and gave myself a huge bruise on my hand, but the ring was unscathed. I’m hoping that my stone keeps holding up, and so far so good.
The band isn’t doing quite as well though. I was lifting weights without gloves last month (I know, I should have taken off my ring or worn my gloves, but I didn’t), and I damaged the band a bit on the underside. It’s a little bent now, and not quite round anymore. It still fits on my finger though, so I haven’t gotten around to getting it fixed. I’m leaning towards just taking it to a local jeweler and seeing if they can bang it back into a round shape. We’ll see how it goes…
Miss. Alexandra says
I really enjoyed reading everyones comments. My boyfriend and i have been talking about getting engaged for a wile now but he just doent have the money to go out and get a real diamond. I am ok with a fake one as long as it looks real. i was really interested in the DNL rings. Im looking into it to make sure im not getting something bad. It seems as though that i have never heard anyone say that they look fake. It seems to me that everyone loves their ring. I am aware that they are paying more than other places but i cant seem to find any other CZ websites that have any comments about them. If you know of a place that has cz’s that look just a real for cheaper set in real gold please let me know.
Thank you!!!
Terri Boyer says
If you have read my blogs, you obviously know that I won’t be replacing my broken DNL stone with another. I do, however, want to share another observation. When I wore the ring prior to loosing the real diamond I received compliments constantly. After replacing the lost stone with the DNL, which was the same size, although I thought it looked great – nothing. No compliments whatsoever. I think there is just something intangible about a genuine stone. I had said I would opt for a CZ, but I am not going to go that route. I’m parking the ring until I can replace it with a genuine gemstone of some sort. I’m going with a simple band, made out of something real.
Terri Boyer says
Has anyone else had this experience?
FrugalBabe says
Terri,
My experience was exactly the opposite. My first ring had a real diamond – it wasn’t a flawless stone, but it was nice. Other than the initial compliments that I got when we first got engaged, I almost never got any comments at all about my ring. The DNL stone got far more compliments than my real diamond ever did. And I like DNL ring better than my old one.
I agree with you about wanting a good, simple band. Mine is just plain white gold, and I love it. I looked at some CZ stones at local stores, but none of them were set in real gold, and the rings felt cheap (and might have turned my finger green!).
Jennifer says
Terri,
Sorry to hear about what happened. From the discussion I had with a DNL rep, they mentioned that if a jeweler sets the stone using excessive heat it can weaken it…so maybe this is what made it softer and caused it to chip later. (heat is used to set mined diamonds but there are other techniques for simulants and other stones)
I am sending them my ring so they can mount one of their stones for me.
maria says
just got engaged and recieved a dnl ring. it is gorgeous! it is the pomp and circumstance in the 1.5 ct center stone. it sparkles like a real diamond, the weight of the gold is substantial, and it looks awesome on my finger. i think the true way to keep the “fakeness” less noticeable is to keep the carat weight of the center stone to 1- 1.5 cts. also the simpler the setting the more elegant it looks. no one knows it’s not a real diamond except me and my fiance. i’m buying the matching band for our wedding. the best part is that it was 10 times cheaper than a diamond, it is set in your choice of gold or platinum and it looks really great
Rose says
Hi there, my bf and I are getting engaged and I just wanted to let you guys know that out of ALLLLLLLLLL the online info there is about DNL, asha diamonds, etc, this blog has helped me make my decision! DNL it is, lol. Thanks to everyone :)
thelesbianbride says
I found your post about a week ago the day after my gf proposed. And I want to thank you for it and the comments that followed, it helped me be ok with the ring I recieved. I have DNL ring. I love it, its gorgeous. I’m glad my gf didn’t spend ridiculous sums on a ring. But that doesn’t mean that when my curiousity got the better of me and i started investigating the ring I didn’t feel a bit sick wondering if my gf had been ripped-off.
After comparing similar rings all over the place, I’m comfortable with her choice for the most part. When all things are taken into consideration I think it is worth what she paid for it, and I’m not shy to tell anyone else that its not a real diamond.
Future Groom says
I am planning on proposing to my GF sometime this summer, and wanted to thank all of the above contributing writers. I found all of the comments to be informative, and for all appearances, unbiased. I have done weeks worth of research on DNL, and haven’t read or learned anything that has dissuaded me from purchasing an engagement ring from them. My GF actually suggested it, because we are both opposed to the idea of overpaying for a real diamond, monopolized, and often tainted as they are. I can only hope that our results with DNL, are as positive as many of the ones read above. I will be sure to re-post following receipt of the ring, and include my GF’s response as well.
Happily Engaged says
Hi all! My now fiance proposed with DNL glacier ice on a platinum setting we both shopped for and my only complaints is that it’s too big. 2 carat on a 4.75 size finger. I get compliments from everyone all the time on the brilliance and how beautiful it is. Because of the documentary on DeBeers, my fiance no longer wants to purchase a mined/conflict diamond and I agree. My personal feeling, I don’t care if the “rock” is real or fake, if it is coming from the man I love and wants to be with for the rest of my life, I’m happy. Granted, I’ve only had this ring for 3 months but the shine is still beautiful and everyone thinks its the real deal.
spiz says
so are the DNL stones CZ? I’ve been looking around and ‘synthetic diamonds’ are not CZ.
then i found this – http://www.gemologyonline.com/Forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=4234&view=next
momentofchoice says
Update: I’ve taken down my blog as it became too time-consuming to keep up, so the article on DNL referenced earlier is no longer available. There’s plenty of corruption out there and it’s up to consumers to do their homework before they make a purchase, depending on what’s important to them. I’ve never questioned how fake or real these things look – my issue was with their environmental claims and business practices overall, both of which are very important to me. I’m glad FTC is in the processing of revising their green guidance to hopefully reduce further greenwashing.
HappyCNLCustomer says
Just adding my “two cents”
My wife wears a 3 ct VVS1 H Color Princess cut diamond which cost me @ the time around $25K; it is worth well over that now but that is not the point. Point is, last year she wanted diamond earrings for Christmas but didn’t want me to spend too much on the purchase. I did all kinds of research and had many deliveries from many other companies (Russian Brilliants, Stauer etc). After spending over $150 on return shipping I was about to give up and go purchase some reasonably priced ($7K) round diamonds for her as a gift. Before doing so, I decided to try one last company…DNL. I wish I had started with them as it could have saved me some $$ on shipping. When the arrived, I couldn’t believe how beautiful and well made they are. They are stunningly beautiful and the best looking man-made diamond (CZ) that you can find. I have no affiliation with any company nor any agenda other than trying to help others save money on return shipping for disappointments. My suggestion, start with DNL, you will be very happy; they have a great product.
Tink says
My husband and I spent alot of research to find an alternative to spending thousands of dollars on a diamond ring. After researching many sites and reading reports, DNL seemed to be the choice. My ring arrived, beautiful and a bit big. DNL took the ring back and resized it to a perfect size. In the time I have had my ring two times the setting prong was loose. The second time around they completely replaced the setting at no charge to us. I receive wonderful compliments from many people. My husband took my ring into a jeweler in the mall, just to clean it. They were marveled at my ring (without doing a complete test). It is no different than those around that are using pearls and other stones to use for wedding rings. I am not affiliated with DNL, just love the merchandise. Choose what works for you and your significant other.
Soon to be Future Bride says
I am so very glad that I stumbled upon this post. My boyfriend and I began discussing the huge “engagement” word a few months back. I (being the girl that I am of course) began immediately looking at rings on the net. I became very frustrated because I knew that he would not be able to spend the cash that very nice diamonds cost because he is a detention officer at the local jail. I am not very materialistic, but I was completely put off by the idea of him spending almost $1000 on something like a half carat or some bologna like that. I mulled over website after website and came across DNL. Now, I am an elementary education major (graduate with my BA in May! woohoo) and I have learned that you have to do your research before deciding on anything….whether it is a house, car, ring, etc. So, I looked through all the nasty horrible things they said on other website about DNL and also read some very nice things. On DNL’s facebook page they have a whole album of pictures (in outside lighting no less) that people have taken of their rings….These pictures gave a “real life” view that you don’t get from the videos and photos on the website. Many people comment on that page daily and DNL answers back to almost everyone.
I am also a very interesting person when it comes to the environment….I don’t want a real diamond….I have seen photos of when they just basically chop off the top layer of Earth in search of stones, or mine for them and never replenish the land. My boyfriend calls me his “little tree hugger” all the time because I get extremely aggravated to learn these things. It’s not even just with diamonds, but that would be a completely different post lol :)
I showed him, my mom, and his mom all the website and everyone said we should go for it. He was currently saving money for a ring…when surprise! I never play the lottery and felt the need to play one day. $1800 hit! :) Then it hit me. I took $1100 of that money and deposited into his bank account and told him that he could pay me back in installments but that I wanted to be fair and only let him pay back half. I picked out my 3 favorites and he gets the final say so that it will still be kind of a surprise.
To me, in the end we will share everything so why not share the expense of that. My mom and dad have been married almost 24 years and she proposed to him and they bought her ring together….(ring=$450….total cost for their wedding ceremony=$50) My mom is very proud that I have decided on the modern route with the price, but he will still be asking my dad’s permission in keeping with tradition.
So, to get to my point (lol I talk in circles) He ordered my ring last night. He talks to my dad tomorrow. I am very excited to see what will come of this decision I made. I will be sure to post again and let everyone know.
(P.S.-I am not affiliated with DNL at all)
Bonnie says
I have a number of real diamonds and also a DNL engagement ring…”Cardiff”. While a beautiful and unique setting, the cushion cut stones are not true-to-life. Mine had a faceted table (top of the diamond that is, typically, flat) but I chose to keep it, anyways. Apart from that, all of their other shapes are true-to-life. If you fully research the website, it states that any DNL stone mounted at an outside jeweler does null the warranty, however, they note that the DNL stone should be mounted like a ruby and it should provide years of beauty and enjoyment. I wore my 1.5 carat “Cardiff” for 3 years, on a farm, mucking stalls and never had an ounce of worry with it. I received tons and tons of compliments on it.
I don’t work in the jewelry industry – I’m a normal budget-conscious consumer but the question I pose to fellow readers is, “Have you ever tried to sell or trade in a diamond that, when purchased, was proclaimed to be excellent quality only to discover, at time of resale, that it has a much lower value than what was proclaimed?” Well, I have and I felt like a victim of the Diamond Syndicate. NEVER will I ever buy another mined diamond when I have ‘field’ tested DNL and been thoroughly pleased. The problem with DNL is deciding which beautiful setting I would like when the time arises, again!!
gabriel garrin says
hi all i can say is dnl has the best customer service and repair of fix policy of any internet co. ive delt with i do not work for them. i bought a ring for my wife it got scratched and they replaced it no problems. i would buy from dnl again we all know there not diamonds there selling but there return and repair policy is all diamonds as far as im concerned g.w. garrin
anna townsend says
I agree, I couldn’t be more happy with my ring from DNL. I received my first piece from them last week and it’s beautiful. I’ve just ordered earrings that are set in 14k white gold. I’m looking forward to seeing if they are as beautiful as the ring. The product I received was beautifully wrapped and presented and if I had been giving it as a gift I would have been very proud of the presentation. The diamond cartels are certainly dramatically less ethical than anything I’ve seen “implied” about DNL.
devin7 says
Information sources and people on the web who will tell you that DNL stones are Cubic Zirconia (cz). I have no DNL affiliation, just someone who does research before drawing on a faults conclutions based on emotion/eye-balling-it. On the DNL website they give you the chemical composition of their stones (they do not try to keep it a secret).
Real Diamond chemical complisiton is: C
DNL chemical composition is: C, S, Fe, Ca, Co, Ni, Y, Zr, Gr, Hf
CZ chemical composition is: ZrO2 + Ca (or Yt as a stabiliser)
Therefore, DNL is NOT the same as CZ. It is a fake diamond for sure, and DNL never claims that it is 100% Carbon (C). DNL is a completely different stone to itselft. And while DNL does have some Zirconium (Zr) in their stones, it is scientifically complete inaccurate to say that they are than CZ stones. The chemical compositions are VERY different, as you can see. So, all you out there claiming that DNL=CZ, well that is simply not true. As they say, the proof is in the pudding…
For the DNL information cited, see:
http://www.diamondnexuslabs.com/chart_comparison.php
For the CZ information cited see:
http://www.geologyrocks.co.uk/tutorials/cubic_zirconia
Julie says
Hey there, everyone. I’m wondering if anyone has further insight to devin7’s post, the one right above mine. I agree that DNL are truthful about the nature of their products. When I started looking into them and read the info on their site I understood that they were not synthetic diamonds but diamond “simulants.” Since I’m not exactly a chemistry buff, I don’t really understand the difference between czs and dnls. What I’m confused about is why so many people claim that DNL simulants are just cubic zirconia.
Kelly says
My Mom told me something many years ago…. when it comes to gossip… don’t believe it unless you can prove it. I know there are MANY companies/corporations that despise companies like DNL for offering quality jewelry at a FRACTION of the cost. With our economy the way it is, people are looking to save a dime at every turn.
I purchased a very pretty engagement ring from DNL without looking on the web for reviews. They offered a warranty and a guarantee and the company has been around for quite some time. I had, in the past, done research on these types of diamonds and really felt comfortable making the purchase.
My ring was GORGEOUS! I was constantly getting compliments. I paid $1,250 for it.. MONEY WELL SPENT!!
I own horses, a motorcycle and tend to be very hard on things, especially jewelry. I do not take my jewelry off to go work my horses and spend a night at the barn. I simply cleaned it with some mild dish soap and a toothbrush when I would get home or the next morning.
I no longer have that ring. The relationship was a failure (cheater!) and I sold the ring on Craigs list for $900, which I think is pretty fair for a used, mined diamond ring.
HATS off to DNL for beautiful jewelry and OUTSTANDING customer service.
I work for a nutraceutical company and we have a large call center. I realize the importance of QUALITY customer service and DNL was always very helpful when I called.
I would love to have my next ring be from DNL. I DO NOT WORK for them, I DO NOT KNOW anyone that works for them etc. I live in Scottsdale, Arizona (pretentious capital of the world!) and I am posting this comment simply as a satisfied customer.
Thank you, Kelly in Arizona
Kevin says
I bought a DNL ring for a relationship that didn’t pan out 4 years ago. The ring was stunning. So I am in that position again and have no issue buying their product.
My question is FB, in January of 2010 you mentioned you had worn it for 3 years and it still looked great. So another year and a half has gone by… Is it still holding up? Does it still have that sparkle?
Frugal Babe says
Kevin,
I’ve been wearing the ring for more than four years now, and it still looks great. It still sparkles. Last year, I was lifting weights without gloves and bent the band a bit – it wasn’t all the way circular anymore. I spoke with DNL and they said they’d fix it for me if I sent it back. I think it cost me $30, and they sent my ring back in perfect condition. They straightened the band, cleaned the ring, tightened the setting (it had come a bit loose, I think when I bashed it on something while I was working in the garden) and put a rhodium plating on the white gold. Their customer service has been great both times I’ve needed to send my ring back (the first time was because I ordered the wrong size and had to send it back to be resized – which was free).
I don’t do much of anything as far as maintenance or cleaning. Every once in a while I clean it with vinegar and a toothbrush. And it still looks great. Best of luck!
Bonnie R says
I wear a DNL ring which I have had for a year now. It remains beautiful although I was initially very skeptical about how it would look a year out. I have two daughters both of whom got engaged last year. Each has a huge stone. One is a a 25k diamond, the other a 2k DNL. Each has had her ring 11 months and each is thrilled with her choice. It will be interesting to see how the DNL ring looks in another few years.
Dan S. says
I purchased a “diamond” from DNL to put as the center stone in a wedding/engagement ring. The stone (brilliant cut, 1 carrot) was absolutely beautiful. Since we were in a rush I had DNL ship us the stone and I had it installed by a local jeweler. After about 9 months, the stone developed a small crack in it. It turns out that DNL will only warranty stones that they set themselves. When I looked back at the literature they sent with the stone, it said that if you have someone else set the stone that they need to have a slightly different “heat setting” than typical diamonds. Well, our fault, we forgot to pass that info along.
My wife and I talked about it, and (until the original stone cracked) we were very happy with the purchase. So, we decided this time to send the ring to DNL and this time have them set the replacement stone we purchased. We just received it back today and it is absolutely incredible. They rhodium plated and polished the ring and it is the most beautiful we have ever seen it! They did fantastic work, and I would have saved quite a bit of money and frustration if I had them set the original stone the first time.
If you educate yourself to what you are actually buying, you shouldn’t knock DNL. If you think you can buy an -actual- 1 carrot diamond (natural or synthetic) for $100-200 then I have a bridge for sale. My wife and I decided to put the $4,000-6000 we would have spent on a diamond into our house’s down payment. If we tried to be ghetto-tastic and put a big 2-3 carrot diamond in the ring then it would look totally fake… so choosing a stone that doesn’t look “too big” is a big part of helping it look genuine. For our needs, the 1 carrot diamond fit the setting perfectly.
We are very happy with our purchase. I would certainly do business with DNL again. I didn’t even know this site existed until I typed in “Diamond Nexus Lab review” into google because we were so excited about how beautiful the ring looked when we got it that I wanted to write them a positive review. After reading many of the reviews on this site I was surprised that so many people had a bit of a sour taste in their mouth with this company.
Do the research! Know EXACTLY what you are purchasing! If DNL has the product you want, I can recommend them highly.
FrugalBabe says
Dan – Well said. I couldn’t agree more. I’ve had my DNL ring for 4.5 years, and I’m still completely happy with it. I bent the band and bashed the setting a bit loose a while ago, and they fixed it for me (including new rhodium plating, reshaping the band, and fixing the setting) for something like $35. Customer service has been excellent, and my ring is still exactly what I wanted.
I remember reading a review a while ago where a person complained because she bought a DNL stone and then fell on hard times and tried to pawn it. She was miffed because the pawn shop could tell that it wasn’t a mined diamond and would only pay her the value of a man-made diamond instead. She said she felt “cheated”. I am not making this up. Apparently, her plan was to cheat the pawn shop, and she wasn’t happy when it didn’t work out. Obviously the stones that DNL sells are not the same as the stones that are dug out of the earth. If they were, they wouldn’t cost $100/carat. But my untrained eye can’t tell the difference, and I would say that’s true for most people. I second Dan’s point about not going too big. If you suddenly start wearing celebrity-size rocks, people will probably assume they’re fake (plus, that’s just tacky anyway). My stone is also 1 carat, and it’s a perfect size.
June Child says
I don’t work for DNL, I work for an insurance company actually, and I have nothing but compliments for DNL. My bf bought me a pendant 4 years ago, that I get compliments on all the time, and it still looks fantastic. I don’t do anything special to take care of it and wear it almost constantly.
I recently received a real diamond ring from my 4 aunts, who all chipped in to buy it for me, to match the pendant. They paid, in my opinion, a ridiculous amount and the pendant still looks better.
Alexandra1662003 says
I just received a DNL ring from my husband, and although I am not in the diamond business, I can TOTALLY tell the difference between the DNL stone and the real ring my ex husband bought me(for over 25k). If you hold the DNL stone right next to a high quality stone(mine is 1.8 CTs, D color, vs1) you can just tell- I don’t know how else to describe it.
My response to everyone’s posts on here: the fact that anyone is considering a ring, real or not, shows all of us how ingrained the engagement ring tradition thing is. We will never really know where a real stone originally came from-there are too many middlemen who “touch” it on it’s way to a US jewelry store. So it comes down to this: if you really care enough to think about this issue(namely a real stone for big $$$ versus a fake stone, whereever you get it) think about what your ring would be worth if you had to sell it. My ex husband negotiated HARD- he was a total jerk to the jeweler, to get as close to wholesale as he could on the diamond. my consolation is that if I had to sell it, I would make a lot of money. Real jewelry, of a certain quality(18k gold/platinum setting) usually goes up in value, and as long as the traditional diamond industry maintains a tight hold on inventory(which we can all assume they will, since soooo many people would lose money if the diamond market was suddenly flooded with product) you are probably safe spending serious money for a high quality ring. So, if you have the budget, and an engagement ring is important to you, I say buy something that over time goes up in value. If you are budget minded, buy a USED DNL ring-there’s bound to be a secondary market for DNL rings. I wouldn’t spend more than $500.00 on a fake ring though- it will not be worth much at all if you have to sell it. Or say to hell with the whole diamond thing and get really cool bands.
Dean says
Interesting, but it’s the gold or platinum where the
majority of the value for selling a ring comes from. Diamonds have no intrinsic
or commodity value. Gold, oil, a stock all have a par value that you can be guaranteed
an amount to get for selling it. I’ve
never seen a diamond ring increase in value from the purchase price and I’ve
been in the jeweler business for 30 years. It does sure help to have a mean
husband, because it’s up to each individual jeweler to determine what they want
to give you. I myself have a lot of mined diamonds and have bought DNL
simulants. I do like both, but your income should drive your decision not which elements you possess, both are just
rocks. I will tell you that as long as you get them serviced by DNL they will
sparkle for years and still be able to cut glass with it. Jewelry doesn’t matter,
it’s the love you have for each other that does.
Denise Hayes says
I agree, Dean. Thanks for adding your knowledge.
Foorbrittany says
I got a DNL as an engagement ring 5 months ago. The ring is pretty, but the band is turning copper colored around the stones and the prongs, which is obviously really embarrassing. 5 months seems pretty early to me to dip the band. I think the alloy mix was off when they made the white gold.
Ralph2034 says
Are you sure the setting is gold and not silver or plated? I know DNL has a collection of non-gold rings that are less expensive. it sounds weird that a gold setting would turn copper if it is stamped 14k or 985 or something-(used to work in fine jewelry. do not work for DNL)
Atlantis18 says
This really helps out , thanks engaged june 2012
Amolner says
We have been buying jewelry from DNL for probably five or six years now… rings, pendants, earrings. We have been very happy with every purchase. Although I can’t comment on comparing DNL products to $25K jewelry as one individual wrote about, I can comment on the quality of their products compared to the more “normal” $2k – $5k diamond jewelry, and we believe DNL’s products (at least those we have) are beautiful. And they cost 10-20% of jewelry with real diamonds. We stopped buying real diamonds when we started buying DNL products. Their stones are absolutely gorgeous to the naked eye. We have not studied them under significant magnification, but then who checks out your jewelry with a magnifier when you’re wearing it?
Some people probably buy jewelry as an investment; others to show off what they can spend on it. Our approach has been to buy pieces that look nice when you’re wearing them. Purchasing DNL products has permitted us to own some very, very nice looking jewelry. We bought one piece of CZ jewelry a while back, and it just doesn’t compare. There are other synthetic stones out there, but we’ve been happy with DNL’s stones and settings and haven’t tried anything else since. DNL’s stones really catch the light, as well as a large number of compliments.
We have had only good experiences with DNL. Granted we have never needed their customer service. Their settings have all been very strong, well-made and attractive; and they’ve always shipped the correct products quickly.
We have absolutely no affiliation with DNL, but we would recommend them.
JOHNSMITH says
DO NOT BUY FROM DIAMOND NEXUS LABS!!! IT IS JUST A PLAIN CZ STONE! AND A HORIBBLE ONE AT THAT- I PURCHASED MY RING FROM THEM AND IT WAS AWEFUL! STONES FELL OUT AND THEY WOULD DO NOTHING FOR ME STATING IT WAS MY FAULT… I ONLY HAD THE RING FOR 3 DAYSI ENEDED UP RETURNING THE RING AND CALLING MY BANK TO HAVE THE CHARGES REFERSED .. THEN I BOUGHT FROM AGAPE DIAMONDS! THANK GOD FOR THEM!!!!! THE RING WAS PERFECT AND FAR BETTER QUALITY!!!! THEY SAVED MY WEDDING DATE!! DO NOT BUY FROM DIAMOND NEXUS LABS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Frugal Babe says
I have no experience with Agape, but I imagine that it’s likely a similar product to what DNL sells. I’m not sure what your affiliation is, but the hyperbole, all caps, and overuse of exclamation points makes your comment seem fairly unreliable.
Anna S. says
I’m going to receive 2 rings and a pair of earring in 2 days. I made the order before read all this reviews…I’ll let you know my opinion. I cross my finger and I hope that the good comments are from “real” people. Keep in touch guys!
jess says
listen. I have done some research on agape diamonds, and I have found very little information on them. that said i have seen raving reviews made by fans, as well as comments posted online by someone who claims to be the owner of agape and may of the comments “fans” and the “owner” were typed consistently in all capital letters. im not trying to sell you anything or sway you, i just thought it looked a little fishy to me and i wanted to let you know as well. if it turns out that agape is good quality let me know, otherwise be cautious.
Beeper1965 says
I agree with FB, John Smith. Bahahahaha!
Aafield says
You are right! I saw this exact comment on several other sites. I’m guessing this person is affiliated with Agape.
EllieG says
Not to mention the name. John Smith. How original
Liz says
I saw this exact comment (word for word, and in all caps) on another website while I was researching DNL. I think is it pretty ridiculous to just go around and copy and paste the same bitter comment over and over again.
Charles says
I did buy a ring from Agape. First the packageing got wet and the post office lost it for almost 2 weeks after posted shipping date. Not Agape’s fault, but when I got the ring it was the wrong one. I had plans for my proposal and they were crushed. I then sent the ring back without any sympethitic apology from the Agape company, and they sent me the ring I ordered. I got the ring and the center stone was loose and one of the accent stones gone. Either I lost it, or it was missing, but I hadn’t had the ring for two days. I mean I was just looking at the ring and it fell apart. I mean what if my girl went to get something out of her purse and all of the stones fell out. Another missed opportunity for my proposal. I will give DNL a try and see how they are. I have read every post here and the positives out way the negative, but after my experience with Agape, I’m still wondering abouth the whole “simulated” situation, because the last thing I would want is the ring to “fall apart.” I’m hoping for the best and put my faith in God in everything I do, but this time I prayed that I get the right one. Last time I just pretty much ordered the first site that popped up and looked fancy. I would never recomend Agape, sorry Agape, but I just wouldn’t. I hope to come back here and have good news about DNL and give a happy recomendation. Only time will tell.
Dan says
Have had a DNL stone for 2 years now and actually weighed it to a CZ, as they say on their site it will be heavier, it was…..Tried scratching it with a ruby which is 9.0 on the hardness scale, the ruby was what got scratched. My paperwork says trhe DNL stone is 9.2. Makes sense. Considering there hasnt been a CZ made to this date that has surpassed 8.5, I would say Diamond Nexus is the best Diamond Simulant. As far the “independant testing” done by their competitors, yeah their COMPETITORS; it’s a big smear campaign.
A) all a company that is allegedly blaitenly lieing about their product would of been shut down.
B) If the betterthandimaond and other competitor saw this as such a threat, why haven’t they sued for punative damages; the alleged “lies” that Diamond nexus spreads is eating into their business. (rumor has it the independent tests published about DNL are fake; or they used a dif stone.
C) You know it’s not a diamond, who cares, it comes with a lifetime warranty to always be sparkly, to always be perfect. Take advantage of that……no one can guarentee this…
Sdicheck04 says
I had my Diamond Nexus custom made and it looks terrible. I wish we had spent the money for a real one. The center stone is scratched…and I work in a fine watch store, so it’s not like I’m man handling my ring with the $500,000 watches I sell. The design I gave them was great, but whoever their jewelers are they don’t know how to make jewelry! I asked for the micropave setting….they did it, but they put the smallest stones possible in the setting so it looks like a chunk of metal with barely any sparkle. It’s so disappointing. PLEASE..ANYONE WHO IS LOOKING INTO PURCHASING STAY AWAY!! I URGE YOU TO STAY AWAY FROM DIAMOND NEXUS LABS!!
hadtoseeformyself says
My fiance and I had picked out a designer ring, almost $3700 without the center stone. I had been going back and forth on wether or not I really wanted him to pay the additional $12000 for the center (he bought us a house, a new car and we had a baby) not to mention it makes me sick to my stomach to think about diamond controversy and walking around with that much money on my finger. After doing a cpl months of research on the internet, I opted to just say “screw it” and try a DNL stone for myself. I just ordered it so once we put it in the ring I’ll be sure to write my comments. My main concern is how it will look next to the real diamonds in the band because there is a regular cz in it now and I can def tell the difference.
Yayita_garcia says
Hello, I own a Diamond nexus lab ring which I love it sparkles and the best thing it looks like a real one, and they have a life time guarantee with them, they even offer the possibility to upgrade your ring and they will give you full price for the one you have, as long as you spend something more on their store, which I find fantastic.I am in a hardship right now trying to sell mine, it is a bridal set of the cinderella staircase in a size 7 and 1.24 carat in the center, in white gold, feel free to email me regarding the ring and I will gladly send pictures and tell you a lot more about them. yayita_garcia@hotmail.com
Abiola Abrams says
Good to know!
EKulp says
Just happened upon your blog post, and if anyone else is researching DNL, hope this will help! Three years ago, when I got engaged to my husband, we didn’t have much money and went with the DNL “First Love” ring (which, at the time sold for $225 and now sells for over $500! I only got $70 for it upon selling).
Three years later, here’s my report: the construction was very solid, so that’s basically the one and only plus. The stone was set WAY too high, much higher than the average solitaire. At the time we purchased, the DNL site claimed that jewelers can’t even tell the difference between DNL and a real diamond–in fact, two separate jewelers looked at my ring and discovered this within seconds.
And three years later, the stone is cloudy and awful looking. I cleaned and cleaned and polished to ensure this wasn’t buildup of soap/lotion–nope.
We have more money now, but like you mention in your post, I hate how women think they have to have a diamond worth thousands, so I went with a lovely amethyst ring for my permanent wedding ring.
So in summary, don’t do it!!! If you must have a clear stone, buy a white topaz or sapphire! Don’t buy from DNL!
Kelsey Bills Harris says
I’ve had a DNL ring for 4.5 years and love it! Prior to buying it I knew it wasn’t the same as a mined diamond in that it isn’t pure carbon. However it passes all diamond standard tests. I even accidentally cut, not scratched but cut glass with the side of my stone. CZ won’t do that. Also in high school chemistry we watched a video about lab created diamonds and they showed diamond nexus. Most of their stone is carbon the other elements are added to pull out the yellow coloring. The reason pawn shops and even some jewelry stores can tell is that they check the ring with a laser to look for the code that the federal trade commission requires be etched in all imported diamonds. I’ve had jewelry stores just look at mine even under a microscope and not be able to tell the difference however I’ve also given them a CZ stone and they can tell the difference.
texasgirl says
Do not buy from Agape!! They have the worst customer service and 3 diamonds fell out within 2 weeks of getting the ring. I will never buy from them or any other lab created diamonds. Better just to save up for the real thing!
SoccerMom says
My hubby and I purchased a wedding set from Agape as opposed to DNL. The only reason I did not go with DNL is because the style ring that I liked- the diamond was way too big. I wanted something flashy, but not too over the top. I have had the ring for 6 months and it is very beautiful.
One of the side stones at the very end on my band did pop out. I was told I could ship it back and have it replaced for $30 (which I never got around to doing) The customer service person was very nice over the phone and emailed me the shipping receipt. I won’t blame it entirely on quality because I am rough on my jewelery (main reason I didn’t want to spend a fortune on a new ring) It is something to consider if you are like me with jewelery. If I was doing it again, I would have gone platinum or whatever the strongest metal was- I went with white gold as a matter of preference. Since, I went with a larger center stone (2ct) I do find that I have to take more care to clean it, but it has not clouded in any way. I have received lots of complements on my ring. Nobody has questioned if it was real or not. If that is important to you, I would go with a size that you could afford diamond wise. Honestly, I’m married 10 years and this was an anniversary present. My hubby offered to buy me a real diamond, but at this stage in my life I don’t care for a real diamond. We put it towards the kids college fund. ;)
As a gift they sent me a 2ct diamond earring set. I have real diamond earring set and I will say that side by side, the untrained (me) could not tell the difference. If anything the fakes sparkle more.
Overall, I was happy with the purchase and the customer service. Agape is an alternative to DHL. I don’t work for either company. I remember scouring these blogs when I was shopping, so I thought I would give my two cents with having the ring a while. :)
rickinracine says
I stumbled on this post and wanted to add my 2 cents.
My wife and I bought a Diamond Nexus engagement ring (1.86ct/2.58tw Bella Vista) 3+ years ago, and it’s been an absolutely fantastic experience. Again, I’m not affiliated in any way with the company, I’m just a guy that bought a ring.
We were lucky enough to have a showroom in our town at the time, and I went several times before I purchased. The experience was great, and everything went off without a hitch. The ring is stunning when it’s in light, and we have received many, many raves about the appearance and quality of the ring. The Bella Vista has many side stones, and my wife is not gentle with her rings, so we have had 2-3 stones pop out over the years and each time they were replaced for $30 I believe. With the store in town, we could just drop it off/pick it up, but if we lost another one (the store has since closed) we’d have to ship it back, and we’d have no concerns.
To address a few of the posts above: The way any professional can tell a mined diamond vs. a man-made stone (even a 100% carbon man-made) in seconds is because of the perfection of the stone. There are essentially no flaws in a man-made diamond, and a trained eye can see that without a loupe. There are essentially no A/FL 2ct diamonds in the wild, and even a D/FL would cost over $120k. If you walk into your local mall jeweler they know you’re not wearing a perfect 6-figure ring, it’s man-made.
Cleaning and clouding haven’t been an issue. She cleans it as she does a regular ring, and we’ve had ZERO clouding issues. It sparkles like it did on day 1.
On diamond, or not, and the societal expectations regarding real vs. fake…let’s be real, it’s all garbage. The love of the people involved, the commitment, the intention of the parties, all of that is ALL that matters in a marriage. There’s no reason for us to wear rings at all, but we do because it’s a norm and because it establishes our status in society. I will also say that big rings matter to some women because their friends judge based on ring size, and even if she feels the whole thing is ridiculous she doesn’t want to have to explain to mom/girlfriends/etc. the political stance against these foolish customs. When I sat my wife down and talked about why a diamond, she agreed with me: she just wanted something that looked great on her, she wanted to wear a wedding ring, and size matters only as a social measure. She went with the DNL, and it’s checked all of the boxes.
Celticdi says
Junk!!! Do NOT buy from this company. Unfortunately I bought several items including a loose stone for an heirloom ring setting, a pair of earrings and a band with black and white diamonds.
If you read the reports, not the ones Diamond Nexus puts out, you will realize they are selling nothing more than overly priced CZ’s they treat to make stronger. Their stones DO NOT look like diamonds. They are cloudy and they look fake. The loose stone that I bought scratched and cracked. The band I bought was “supposedly” man made platinum. After trying to wear it for a few months I realized that the material (what ever it was) caused a rash on my finger. That same band a year later looks like it’s plain old stainless steel now that the “man made’ platinum has wore off.
Finally, I had the broken scratched cloudy CZ I bought from Nexus replaced. If you buy Nexus products you will regret it. How the company stays in business after ripping off so many buyers is a mystery!!! Buyer Beware.
Denise Hayes says
I’m not affiliated in any way with DNL or any other company, let me say that up front. I am a jewelry craftswoman and wanted to make my own engagement ring and wedding band — without the expense of a diamond.
I went on a search for a manufactured diamond and was glad to find DNL. We bought a stone from Diamond Nexus. It’s much larger than we could have gotten if we had paid for a diamond. It is brilliant and clear. Round cut. I’ve been wearing it for 3 years and it still looks gorgeous and flashes beautiful color from the facets. I get many compliments on it.
I set the stone myself and it behaves very much like a diamond. I didn’t need to be extra careful in the process because it’s a durable stone. I wear it all the time. Mine only looks “cloudy” when it needs cleaning — just like any other stone. If you simply clean it with a toothbrush and some dish soap and it will look as good as it did the day you bought it.
I have had two diamonds in the past and neither diamond was as beautiful as this DNL stone. Jewelry stores might tell you that mined diamonds hold their value but that has not been my experience. Even when selling back to the store that the ring was purchased from — you’ll get a fraction of the price.
I think someone in the above comments said something about using heat in setting a stone. I don’t see or know of any reason to use heat to set a stone. You merely carve a “seat” in the metal, place the stone, and gently bend the prongs over the edge to hold it in place. Heat is not used in stone setting — no matter what type of stone it is. Sounds like they were given wrong info on that, just sayin’.
Bottom line is, I’m very happy with my DNL stone purchase. My son and his new bride bought a Moissanite stone for her engagement ring and it’s also beautiful and they’re happy with it. I set that stone for them. Side-by-side comparison at my work bench — my DNL stone is whiter than the Moissanite — but it just depends on what you like. The Moissanite has a slight warm gold tone in it. Probably not noticeable unless you compare side-by-side.
Hedy B. says
I’ve been in the market lately for something to replace the ring I received 14 years ago, that was stolen. Been looking at DNL. I saw a few bad reviews, and talked to my friends about that. Some admitted that former employees will often do that after leaving a company, as well.
This has been an encouraging post. I haven’t read all of the comments, but I have reservations about mined diamonds for political reasons, as well as knowing how awful it is to have one stolen out from under you.
Been going back and forth between white sapphires, and DNL. It’s nice to know that your ring has held up. That is sort of important when you expect to be able to wear something daily. :)
-H
Theresa says
Spent some time reading through the comments. I researched DNL, Russian Brilliants, ASHA etc… after I stumbled upon Crystal Carbon Labs simulants on eBay (which I presume are similar in composition to DNL). I ended up “winning” a couple of stones 1 and 2 carats and tried both in high end 18k 1.5 ct princess/baguette setting I “won”/purchased on eBay for $660 with sizing and shipping included. I recently went back to the 1 ct stone since the 2 ct was just too large for the setting (and as others have noted, would more likely be perceived to be fake). I put the 2 ct in a solitaire and plan to sell it on eBay or craigslist; hopefully I won’t lose $$ and will at least break even on my costs.
My regular jeweler who knows me well, said he could tell it was not natural diamond because it was “too perfect” but he had to view it under natural daylight conditions to tell the difference. I of course was honest with him from the get go anyway. The jeweler I had set the stone (in Downtown LA Jewelry District), was very impressed with both the ring I won on eBay – which came with $5900 appraisal – and thought the Crystal Carbon stones looked like diamonds and didn’t test as CZ or diamond either.
She said that the jeweler that set the stones (and also a set of stud earrings) thought they were real also. I did change the head on the ring from basket to a Stuller 4 prong Solstice and am very happy with the way the 1 ct stone looks in the setting now.
I am tempted to get loose 5.75 mmm stone/s I recently purchased graded just to see how Crystal Carbon stones compare to DNL, ASHA and natural mined diamond before I set them in earrings.
I am overall happy with my created stones and can use the money we saved by not purchasing a “real” 1 ct diamond for 10th anniversary wedding ring upgrade to landscape the back yard or complete other more important projects around the house.
Tracey says
I know not much has been said on this recently, but my husband bought my ring about four years ago. My setting was from a local jewelry store (read: natural diamonds) but we got a 2ct loose stone from DNL and had it set by our jeweler. I love my ring and get compliments on it regularly. I’m obsessive about cleaning it out of fear of it looking cloudy, but it has yet to do so. I have noticed some very slight scratches on it, but nothing noticeable unless you’re looking freakishly close, which only I do.
The one thing I am bummed about is that they won’t stand by their guarantee because someone else set it, but I’m still glad we bought it and had it set by our jeweler. Like I said, I haven’t had any problems, and it still looks great after four years. I was a big fan of less expensive and non-mined. I like a good sparkler though, and this was a great option for us. I think it was worth it. Because even if I have to replace it with another in a few years for whatever reason, I’m still paying a fraction of the cost of a natural diamond. Can’t say anything about their settings, but their signature series loose simulants have worked well for us.
I don’t work for DNL. I’ve recommended to two of my friends who’ve gotten DNL loose stones and haven’t had problems either and they’ve had theirs almost as long as I have.
Brandon says
I hope people are still reading this blog. I bought my wife a DNL stone almost a year ago. We got a 2.5 ct stone and I had my family jeweler set it in a custom ring with real diamonds around the entire band. To be honest I can’t tell the difference, but my wife feels self conscious because she thinks her mother and sister can tell it’s not real. The only reason I believe they would suspect is because we are both young professionals and between a $100k combined income there’s no way we should be buying a $25k ring. But I’m planning on replacing the DNL with a real diamond of the same size the second I see a sign of wear on it. Nothing to report yet though. It’s still brilliant and shows no damage. My wife cleans it with dish soap and a toothbrush occasionally and get it professionally cleaned when she visits home.
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Leah says
I am in NO way affiliated with Dnl. I bought the Abigail in 2014. I am a size 5 n ordered that. The ring came huge…spinning round n round….was measured at the jeweler and was actually a size 6. Called DNL at that point Michelle the manager…told me there rings are known for running 1 size to big. WHAT?? Didnt see that on the site. Worse yet….the stone was LIFELESS! It looked like a piece of glass…not sparkle what so ever…she offered me to send it back for them to fix…by the time I would get it back…the return policy would be invalid. I opted for a refund n never looked back. Michelle told me that it might not sparkle because of the altitude of where I live. Never heard of that but…just saying…beware if u are looking to keep this ring long term.
Brian Lewis says
I work as an independent salesperson at a smaller jewelry store in the Western US. Thought I’d just clarify something for you: DNL’s stones are not lab-created/grown diamonds. They are diamond-coated cubic zirconia.
There are real, gem-grade lab-grown diamonds produced out there. But there is a marked difference between these and DNL’s diamond-coated cubic zirconia.
We work with many different sources for lab-grown diamonds, but a good place to learn about them is to look up Diamond Foundry on Google (ironically, even Leonardo DiCaprio has invested with them). I’m not in any way affiliated with them, nor does my store do any business with them, but the definitions they provide of lab-grown gems are helpful.
Don’t confuse legitimate lab-grown diamonds with DNL’s “simulant.” They aren’t the same thing.
Betsy Harrod says
what are the blue/purple flowers on your website?
Danielle says
My husband and I were searching for engagement rings and came across this website (Diamond Nexus). The ring we were looking at is advertised at 100% genuine lab grow DIAMOND rings… we paid quite a bit of money for it. When I opened it up on Christmas it looked exactly like a Cubic Zirconia stone. Dull, cloudy, cheap. We went to several diamond appraisals the next day and were told by all that it was fake. It didn’t even show up as a diamond blend or stimulant on their equipment. My husband and I called to speak with a manager and threatened to involve our attorney, when we received a call back the woman denied that they ever claimed the ring was a genuine lab grown DIAMOND, and said that it was a diamond blend, or “stimulant” but danced around the topic when we insisted on knowing what exactly it was then because there was ABSOLUTLY no carbon in the ring. As mentioned previously, it was neither and was proven by several geologists and their equipment that all said the same thing. On all of the documentation that we have it labels the stone was a “diamond”. They are scamming people. For a young married couple like us with an infant, another one on the way and working out way through college, this was overwhelmingly discouraging. We have to save for every investment… We are going through the return process right now and rightly so, have reason to be concerned that they will not honor it.
BudgetBride says
I’ve been a Diamond Nexus customer since 2006. I am not affiliated with DNL in any way. I own earrings and and rings and never had problems with them. In 2013 when my then fiance and I were getting engaged, I told him I did not want a natural diamond and picked out the Ulyssa ring from DNL (we were also tight on budget at the time). I’ve had the ring for 5 years now and it still looks new. No loose stones. No cloudiness. No discoloration. No scratches. I did invest a $25 ultrasonic jewelry cleaner to clean my ring once a month, and they sparkle just like my real diamond jewelry. I’ve received numerous compliments on my ring from strangers, even my husband was surprised once when a waitress said how beautiful my ring was. After the waitress walked away, I leaned over and said, “see, no one knows it’s not real!” Actually, my mother doesn’t even know it’s not real because we didn’t tell her! :)
This year marks our 5th wedding anniversary. My husband wanted to upgrade my ring to a real diamond ring. I told him not to be silly spending those unnecessary money and opted for the Prague ring with 1.24 ct center stone. We’re trading in the Ulyssa set along with one of my other DNL rings which is saving us about $1,000 toward the Prague. I can’t wait to receive it.
I think the trick to making a DNL look believable is not to go crazy with a huge stone. If you get something under 1.5 ct, no one would doubt that it’s not real diamond. Nobody is walking around with a magnifying glass and diamond testing equipment inspecting stones wherever they go.
I highly recommend DNL. Their customer service has been excellent. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed their products. A lot of times when I sit in traffic here LA, I’d stare at my ring mesmerized by the brilliance and sparkle. I look forward to owning a few more pieces from this company and saving a ton of money.