Lab grown diamond Archive

Hot or Not – Volume 28

January 23, 2026 by Joden Girl

Joden Girl

Baubles, Bling and Curious Things

While still enmeshed in the “lab-grown” diamond era, let’s talk about value. By law, retailers are required to disclose the origin of any and all laboratory-created diamonds. This material is not rare; they have significantly lower production costs which can lead to higher profit margins for retail jewelry stores. With nearly fifty-six years in the jewelry business, we are three generations strong. We don’t buy or sell any lab-grown diamonds. It wasn’t even a consideration for us. As always, to move forward, we look to the past… antique and estate jewelry offers quality and value that modern jewelry simply cannot touch.

One of the things that I tell engagement customers is that if it’s all about the ring and not the commitment, then they might want to re-evaluate. Make no mistake; we want you to LOVE your ring, but would never sell you something that has no value. Instead, we are proud to offer hundreds of ring options. We have antique stunners, estate beauties and modern marvels. Our cases are overflowing with natural earth-mined diamonds of every shape, grade and size as well as a kaleidoscope of colored stone choices. If you can’t find something here, then we didn’t do our job.

Today, I wanted to highlight a ring that is a lot of look for a great price. Made in the Mid-Century era (Post WWII) from an unusual combination of low karat white gold and silver. The mix is not common; however, it presents very well. Created in the iconic navette (French for “little boat”) shape, the outline of the ring looks like a marquise. Measuring just over .75 inches from tip to tip, it’s impressive on the hand. Upon closer inspection, you can see two distinct elements… a halo that follows the perimeter and the area inside. Both feature precision cut metal that has been set with diamonds. There are nineteen round diamonds that offer approximately .35 carats of brilliance. Measuring a finger size 5.5, this ring can be yours for just $700.00!

These days, it seems like anything goes for an engagement ring. It should be something that is more about celebrating the commitment and not the latest trend. With all of those things in mind, I’m curious to know what you think of today’s ring… would you wear it? Would it be an engagement ring or perhaps a cocktail ring? And finally – Is this ring hot? Or not?

“You can go to a museum and look, or come to us and touch.”

Written by Carrie Martin

Photos by Dana Jerpe

Joe’s Special Box – Volume 169

August 25, 2025 by Joden Girl

Joden Girl

Baubles, Bling, and A Collector’s Things

When I first started working at Joden Jewelers in 1995, Joe kept a small cardboard box in his desk. There were just a few small pieces inside. He called it “Joe’s Special Box”. Now, thirty years later, the name is the same, but the box has changed. There are currently three much larger boxes, each one stuffed full of jewelry that caught Joe’s eye. In March of 2018, Joe decided to share some of his treasures – and I began blogging about one piece each week.

Today, seven years later, I still select unique and charming jewels from those boxes to showcase. Today is one of those days – this little ring was simply too sweet to pass up. In the midst of the lab-grown diamond era, it seems like all the twenty-somethings are getting engaged with bigger and bigger bling. When my husband and I were getting engaged in our twenties (even now, to be blunt), a three-carat diamond wasn’t in the cards. We selected an Art Deco beauty that I have worn for twenty-six years. I have never felt like I wanted or needed an upgrade.

Pretty and petite, this vintage ring is from the Retro era. Made from both white and yellow gold, this 14-karat beauty boasts a European cut earth-mined diamond that weighs approximately .52 carat. Set in fishtail prongs, the sparkle is undeniable. On each side of the center stone are a pair of milgrain-edged navette shapes. There is a small single-cut diamond in each one. Combined, these two diamonds have a weight of .04 carat.

This demure darling has a price to match… just $2000.00. This isn’t the kind of ring that looks like a spotlight from across the room; it’s the kind of ring that makes you glow from within. This isn’t a lab-grown gem that’s available on Amazon or Facebook Marketplace. There aren’t thousands more in stock. Here, at Joden, we have one. Just this one. And it’s perfect. ♥

“You can go to a museum and look, or come to us and touch.”

Written by Carrie Martin

Photos by Dana Jerpe

Pick of the Week – Volume 77

May 12, 2025 by Joden Girl

Joden Girl

Baubles and Bling with Unbelievable Pricing

An engagement sale is arguably one of the biggest challenges for a sales associate. We’re trying to help someone navigate through one of the most expensive purchases of their lifetime. The average consumer knows little or nothing about engagement rings. When you factor in the emotional element, it’s like walking barefoot across a floor that it littered with thousands of Legos. With television commercials, radio advertisements, social media posts, billboards and magazine articles dedicated to choosing THE perfect ring – it can be an anxiety-filled experience. It’s our job to try to balance all of those components and make the experience fun and enjoyable.

Nearly everyone that has contemplated purchasing a diamond ring has heard of the Four C’s. They are Cut, Carat Weight, Color, and Clarity. Most customers have a preferred diamond shape and also know what size they would like their diamond to be. However, many are unsure about color and clarity – their preferences are expressed in broad terms. Some mention that they don’t want a diamond with visible inclusions, but they don’t know how that relates to the clarity scale. Others want a diamond that is bright white with no hint of yellow, but aren’t able to narrow that down to a specific color grade.

At Joden Jewelers, we have two GIA graduate gemologists on staff. With over eighty years of combined experience, these two experts are qualified to grade diamonds. The rest of the staff (each sales associate) are all GIA certified Accredited Jewelry Professionals. Armed with valuable knowledge, essential skills and an extensive inventory, we help every customer find the perfect engagement ring. Once the ring is chosen, we also have an in-house master jeweler who will ensure that the ring is properly fitted.

Unlike many other stores, we do not sell lab grown diamonds. We only sell earth-mined diamonds. We are in tune with the entire industry and how it has been affected by the massive influx of laboratory grown material that has flooded the market. Every diamond that we sell is carefully evaluated and priced according to the current market; we are proud to offer each diamond at the absolute best price possible. This Pick of the Week is an ideal example. Made from platinum and 18-karat white gold, this halo-style ring houses an exact 1.00 carat round diamond in the center. Accompanying this gem is a report from the Gemological Institute of America.

No one could object to this beauty… it is a D color; that is the tip-top of the color scale. The clarity grade is Slight Imperfections 2 (SI2). Set into the halo and accenting the top and sides of the split shank are eighty-five round brilliant diamonds that have a combined weight of .75 carat. Stylishly modern, this ring has great presence on the hand. It has been a favorite on our site for some time, priced at $11,475.00. Today, we are dropping the price to just $6,950.00! If you or someone you know is looking for an engagement ring, this is an ideal candidate. And even if this isn’t quite right, come visit us at Joden Jewelers – I’m certain that we have the ring that is perfect for you. ♦

“You can go to a museum and look, or come to us and touch.”

Written by Carrie Martin

Photos by Dana Jerpe

Baubles, Bling and Curious Things

Baubles, Bling, and A Collector’s Things

Baubles and Bling with Unbelievable Pricing

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