
Sheridan Lab-Grown Diamond Jeweler
If you’re considering a lab-grown diamond jeweler in Sheridan, WY, you probably have questions that go beyond price. How do these diamonds compare to mined stones? Will they hold up in an engagement ring worn every day? Can you get them set in the same styles and metals as natural diamonds?
Lab-Grown Diamond Jewelry in Sheridan, WY
These are the conversations we have at Legacy Diamond & Gems every week. Our owner, Tom Kraft, earned his GIA Graduate Gemologist degree in 1985 and has spent over 40 years evaluating diamonds of all origins. We carry lab-grown diamond jewelry alongside our natural diamond collection because we believe customers deserve honest options and accurate information to make the right decision for their budget and values.
Types of Lab-Grown Diamond Jewelry We Offer in Sheridan
Lab-grown diamonds work in every jewelry category. The stone itself is chemically and optically identical to a mined diamond, so the design possibilities are the same. Here’s what we carry and what we can create:
- Lab-Grown Engagement Rings – Solitaires, halos, three-stone settings, and vintage-inspired designs using lab-grown center stones. We offer round brilliant, oval, cushion, emerald, pear, and marquise shapes. Pair them with women’s wedding bands in 14k or 18k gold, or platinum for a complete bridal set.
- Lab-Grown Diamond Earrings – Classic round studs, princess-cut studs, drop earrings, and hoop styles with pavé lab-grown accents. Stud earrings are one of the most popular entry points for lab-grown buyers because the price difference from natural diamonds is most noticeable at the 1-carat-total-weight mark and above.
- Lab-Grown Diamond Necklaces and Pendants – Solitaire pendants, halo pendants, and diamond-by-the-yard styles. These make popular anniversary and birthday gifts, especially for customers who want the look of a larger center stone without the natural diamond price.
- Lab-Grown Diamond Bracelets – Tennis bracelets are where lab-grown diamonds make an especially strong case. A natural diamond tennis bracelet at 5 carats total weight carries a significant premium. The same design in lab-grown stones looks identical on the wrist and costs a fraction of that price. We also carry diamond bracelets with mixed natural and lab-grown options so you can compare.
- Lab-Grown Fashion Rings – Right-hand rings, stackable bands, and cocktail rings featuring lab-grown diamonds in various shapes. These pieces let customers experiment with larger stones and bolder designs that might be out of reach with natural diamonds. Browse our full selection of fashion rings to see what’s currently in stock.
- Custom Lab-Grown Designs – If you have a specific design in mind, we can source a lab-grown diamond to match and build the piece in-house. Our CAD rendering process lets you approve the design before casting begins. We’ve created everything from asymmetrical cluster rings to bezel-set pendants using lab-grown stones.
- Men’s Lab-Grown Diamond Jewelry – Diamond-accented men’s wedding bands, cufflinks, and statement rings. Lab-grown options allow for larger accent stones in men’s pieces without pushing the budget into a different category entirely.
- Gift-Ready Pieces – We carry lab-grown diamond jewelry at multiple price points, starting under $500. Whether it’s a graduation gift, a milestone birthday, or a holiday surprise, lab-grown diamonds make diamond jewelry accessible for more occasions. We also offer financing options for larger purchases.
Why Choose Legacy Diamond & Gems for Lab-Grown Diamonds in Sheridan, WY?
Buying a lab-grown diamond from an online retailer is easy enough. But you’re also buying blind. You can’t see how the stone performs in person. You can’t compare it side by side with alternatives. And if the setting needs adjusting six months later, you’re shipping it across the country instead of walking down Main Street. Working with a local jeweler changes the experience entirely.
GIA-Trained Evaluation on Every Stone
Tom started studying GIA coursework as a junior in high school and finished his Graduate Gemologist degree in 1985. That training covers the identification and grading of both natural and laboratory-grown diamonds. When a customer asks whether a particular lab-grown stone is worth its asking price, Tom can evaluate the cut proportions, clarity characteristics, and color saturation the same way he would with a mined diamond. Not every jewelry store in Wyoming has a GIA Graduate Gemologist on staff. We do, and it shapes every purchase recommendation we make.
In-House Setting and Service
Our two full-time Graduate Bench Jewelers, Allen Ziegler and Cordel Morris, set every stone and build every custom piece right here in our Sheridan shop. Lab-grown diamonds require the same care in setting as natural diamonds. Prong height, seat depth, and pressure during setting all affect stone security. If a lab-grown diamond chips during setting because of careless handling, the stone is damaged regardless of its origin. Our jewelers treat every stone with the same precision, whether it came from a mine or a reactor.
Straightforward Guidance, Not a Sales Pitch
We sell both natural and lab-grown diamonds. That means we don’t have a financial incentive to push you toward one over the other. If a customer comes in looking for a 2-carat round brilliant on a $5,000 budget, lab-grown opens that door. If another customer wants a stone that will hold its resale value for decades, we’ll explain why mined diamonds have historically performed better in that regard. The Kraft family has been in the jewelry business in Sheridan since 1964. We’ve built our reputation on giving people the full picture, not just the part that closes a sale.
Rooted in the Sheridan Community
Our store at 11 North Main Street sits in the same downtown block where Richard Kraft opened his first shop over 60 years ago. We completed a full remodel in 2023 and built an 800-piece interactive bridal center. We are members of the Downtown Sheridan Association and the Sheridan County Chamber, and we support local events throughout the year. When you buy from us, the money stays in this community.
Understanding Lab-Grown Diamond Quality and Standards
A lab-grown diamond is not a simulant. It’s not cubic zirconia or moissanite. It has the same chemical composition (pure carbon), the same crystal structure, and the same optical properties as a diamond formed underground. The difference is origin, not substance.
Lab-grown diamonds are produced through two methods: High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD). Both processes create real diamond material that is then cut and polished using the same techniques applied to mined stones. GIA laboratory-grown reports confirm a stone’s identity, growth method, and quality characteristics.
In 2025, GIA announced a shift from using the traditional 4Cs grading scale for lab-grown diamonds to a simplified two-tier system: “Premium” and “Standard.” This change reflects the fact that the vast majority of lab-grown diamonds entering the market fall into a narrow range of color and clarity, making detailed grading less meaningful than it is for natural stones with wider variation.
The FTC advertising guidelines require that lab-grown diamonds be clearly identified as such. Terms like “laboratory-grown,” “laboratory-created,” or a manufacturer’s name followed by “created” must appear immediately before the word “diamond.” Calling a lab-grown diamond simply a “diamond” without qualification is a violation. At Legacy Diamond & Gems, we label and disclose every lab-grown diamond clearly, in line with both federal trade regulations and JVC compliance standards.
Important Considerations When Buying Lab-Grown Diamond Jewelry in Sheridan
Lab-grown diamonds offer real advantages, but they aren’t right for every buyer or every situation. Here are the factors we walk through with customers:
- Price and Value – Lab-grown diamonds typically cost 70–90% less than comparable natural diamonds. That gap has widened over the past several years as production technology has improved and supply has increased. A 1.5-carat lab-grown round brilliant that might cost $1,200 could have a natural equivalent priced at $8,000 or more. The savings are real, but they come with a trade-off in resale. Lab-grown diamonds have not maintained secondary market value the way mined diamonds have.
- Resale Considerations – We’re transparent about this. Natural diamonds have an established resale market, however imperfect. Lab-grown diamonds currently do not. If long-term value retention matters to you, that’s a factor worth weighing. If you’re buying for the beauty of the piece and don’t plan to sell it, the resale question may not change your decision.
- Size for Budget – This is where lab-grown diamonds shine, literally. Customers who want visual impact can get a significantly larger stone for the same money. A budget that buys a 0.75-carat natural diamond might get a 2-carat lab-grown stone. For pieces like tennis bracelets, diamond earrings, or statement necklaces, that size advantage adds up quickly.
- Durability and Wearability – Lab-grown diamonds score a 10 on the Mohs hardness scale, identical to natural diamonds. They will not cloud, fade, or degrade over time. Scratching, chipping from impact, and prong wear affect lab-grown and natural diamonds the same way. Regular cleaning and inspection keeps either type secure in its setting.
- Setting and Metal Choices – Lab-grown diamonds go into the same settings as natural stones. We offer 14k gold, 18k gold, platinum, and white gold options. Choosing the right setting depends on lifestyle, stone shape, and how much metal you want visible. Bezel settings offer more protection for active wearers. Prong settings let more light into the stone.
- Insurance and Appraisals – Lab-grown diamond jewelry should be insured just like any fine jewelry piece. We provide jewelry appraisals that document the stone’s characteristics, origin, and replacement value. Your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy may require a scheduled rider for pieces above a certain dollar amount, regardless of whether the diamond is natural or lab-grown.
Contact Legacy Diamond & Gems
We’d rather show you a lab-grown diamond in person than try to convince you with a webpage. Come see how these stones perform under our showroom lighting, compare them next to natural diamonds, and ask every question you have. Tom and our bench jewelers are here to walk you through it.
Stop by during store hours. If you’d like dedicated time for a consultation, schedule an appointment online. You can also reach us through our contact page. We’re at 11 North Main Street in downtown Sheridan, WY.