All about lab-grown diamonds and gemstones

Lab-grown diamonds are authentic diamonds, crafted through a process that mirrors natural diamond formation in mines. Utilizing cutting-edge technology in top laboratories worldwide, this method produces diamonds with identical physical, chemical, and visual traits as those found underground. Lab-grown diamonds exhibit the same sparkle, fire, and scintillation as natural ones, making them virtually indistinguishable to the naked eye. The sole variance between lab-grown and mined diamonds lies in their origin.

Lab-grown diamonds are created using a process that mirrors what occurs in nature, but without the massive environmental and ethical harm. What happens beneath the Earth’s surface is replicated in a lab using advanced technologies. The process takes between six and ten weeks and yields diamonds that are ready to be cut and polished, then graded and certified by the same gemologists at organizations that certify mined diamonds.

Lab-grown diamonds are physically and chemically identical to mined diamonds in every way but free of environmental and ethical harm. Lab and mined diamonds use the same IGI certification and inspection process, which includes grading for carat size, cut quality, color, and clarity. Every Proud Diamond of 1 carat and above is IGI certified. For diamonds under 1 carat, we use diamonds with a minimum clarity of SI and a color grade of H or higher, ensuring visual purity.

About Proud Diamond

Say hi to Virginie.

Like most cool stories, hers started decades ago with her grandpa, Marcel Dumontet, a Manufacturer Sales Agent in the gold and diamond industry since 1963. Growing up under his wing, Virginie was embedded in the diamond business from an early age - learning firsthand of its impact and importance. The natural step to follow his lead happened 30 years later with the (proud) birth of Proud Diamond.

Proud Diamond is an exclusively online company. However, it is possible to schedule an appointment to visit our workshops located in downtown Montreal. For more information, please email us at hello@prouddiamond.com. If you'd like to be the first to know about our upcoming pop-up store and explore our jewelry, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter.

There are less than 50 laboratories in the world at this time. Creating diamonds is one of the more complex process in the world. We have found some in United States, Europe, China, Russia and India. After a very deep research to find the best partner with the same values than us, we have decided to buy mainly in India. Their technology is strong, and we have created a strong relationship with our vendors.
BUT, our vision is to have our own laboratory in Canada one day. We are working very hard to make this vision a reality.

All of our pieces of jewelry are made in Montreal, Canada. It’s all handmade, no machine here. We can then guarantee the best quality so you can pass your piece of art from generation to generation.

Virginie Roy, the founder, designs all of our jewelry in collaboration with a master jewelry designer. She has a strong knowledge of trends and fashion. She is inspired by films, climate, street, influencers, magazines, fashion designers, creative explorations, political, economic and social. She is obsessed by data, and use it to predict what will become the new trends.
For the first collections, Virginie has created essentials to put the diamond before the design. She thinks that putting the diamond in the middle of the story is how she can educate people on lab-grown diamonds so they understand the importance of changing our behavior to adopt a more sustainable purchase behavior. Wait for the next collections, she can’t wait to put her creativity into it! Or try the custom design service, this is where she can get the most creative to achieve what you have in mind.

We work with 14K and 18K yellow, white and rose gold, as well as platinum.

We offer a service of custom jewelry, please refer to this page for more information.

The modern consumer shops online. Starting as brick and mortar would limit our customer interactions, where we can immediately access them digitally.

We are also able to provide better prices since we don’t have to include our loan in the jewel's price. Proud Diamond's services exceed the in-store experience.

We eliminate jewelry counter intimidation while providing an unprecedented level of customization in lab-grown diamonds and bespoke engagement ring creation.

The price differential varies depending on the size and quality of the stone, but Proud Diamond is 40% to 60% less than a comparable mined stone. Proud Diamond has sold the largest lab-grown diamond ever in America. Why? Because the mined equivalent would sell for millions at the big auction houses. The larger or more rare the stone, the higher the "discount" from mined pricing.

The future is bright for Proud Diamond. Awareness and demand for lab-grown diamonds have grown significantly over a short period of time. Proud Diamond owns one of the largest selections of lab-grown diamonds, making us a leader in the category for developing and customizing products for our consumers. In 2023, we will be launching more fashion-based jewelry categories, exploring retail concepts, and expanding beyond sales in North America.

Our Process

Are you unsure of your ring size? No worries at all! You can easily order a ring sizer here. Plus, we have a handy guide to help you figure out your perfect fit.

Yes, we offer complimentary ring sizing for adjustments within one size.

Adjustments greater than one size incur a $CAD 75.00 fee.

Additional fees of $CAD 75.00 apply for a second ring sizing. 

Of course! On top of all of the pieces you see on our website, we offer a custom design service that gives the opportunity to our customer to design the jewel of their dream.

We use the CAD Design technology to simulate exactly what our customers have in mind and we change every detail until it is perfect.

Creating a custom jewel has never been easier!

STEP 1: FILL OUT THE QUESTIONNAIRE

Send us a photo or inspiration and answer a short questionnaire so we can better understand your vision.

STEP 2: GET A QUOTE

Once you’ve completed the questionnaire, we’ll then provide an approximate price.

STEP 3: MEET YOUR DIAMOND EXPERT

We’ll arrange a virtual meeting with you to discuss your design in detail and address any questions you may have.

STEP 4: MAKE A DEPOSIT

If you're happy with the proposed design and pricing, we'll send you an invoice for a deposit to proceed with your order.

STEP 5: SEE A VIDEO OF YOUR DESIGN

Within 2-4 days after payment, you'll receive a high-quality 3D design and video created by our master designers using CAD Design technology.

STEP 6: GIVE YOUR FINAL APPROVAL

Once you've reviewed the design, provide your final approval. We'll then confirm the final price and send you the invoice directly to your inbox. If further adjustments are needed, we'll schedule another private appointment with one of our experts.

STEP 7: APPROVE YOUR DIAMOND

Approve the Proud Diamond stone that will be handpicked by our experts for your creation, with your budget as our top priority.

For diamonds weighing 1 carat and above, we'll send along a certificate of authenticity.

STEP 8: A LITTLE GOLDSMITHING

We manufacture your design entirely by hand ensuring that every step is perfect. Casting, setting, welding and polishing are carried out on site in our Montreal workshop by our team of certified jewelers.

STEP 9: YAY! DELIVERY

Your finished piece will be ready within 4 weeks depending on complexity.

Start customize your piece now.

With pleasure! Send us an email at hello@prouddiamond.com and we'll work out a plan together.

Fun fact, we've already planned a helicopter delivery for a client in the past! Anything is possible ;)

We provide a free certificate from renowned international organizations such as IGI or GIA with all our diamonds of 1 carat or more. For smaller diamonds, certification is available for an additional fee.

An IGI or GIA certification signifies that a diamond has undergone a rigorous evaluation process by either the International Gemological Institute (IGI) or the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). This evaluation includes an assessment of the diamond's characteristics such as its carat weight, cut, color, clarity, and overall quality. Diamonds with these certifications are considered to have been graded accurately and reliably by experts in the field, providing assurance to buyers regarding the diamond's quality and authenticity.

Payment

We accept all secure payments, including credit cards, PayPal, Shop Pay, and GPay. We also accept bank transfers (email us at hello@prouddiamond.com).

All our prices are in Canadian dollars, US dollars, or Euros. Prices are displayed based on your country of residence.

We use the Affirm financing platform. For more information, click on "Learn more" located below the price of each product. Payment options through Affirm Canada Holdings Ltd. (“Affirm”). Your rate will be 0–31.99% APR (where available and subject to provincial regulatory limitations). APR offered is based on creditworthiness and subject to an eligibility check. Not all customers will be eligible for 0% APR. Payment options depend on your purchase amount, may vary by merchant, and may not be available in all provinces/territories. Actual payment option terms will be shown at checkout. A down payment (or a payment due today) may be required. Affirm accepts debit cards and PAD as forms of repayment on payment options. Select payment options may be eligible for repayment in the form of credit cards. Please review the terms and conditions of your credit card when using it as a form of repayment. Sample payment options may be: a $800 purchase could be split into 12 monthly payments of $72.21 at 15% APR, or 4 interest-free payments of $200 every 2 weeks. For more information, please see How It Works.

Shipping and delivery

We ship worldwide. If you are outside of United States or Canada, please contact us directly, we will make this happen hello@prouddiamond.com

All our jewelry is handcrafted and carefully inspected before shipping. Therefore, the usual delivery time is typically 2 to 4 weeks.

However, if you can't wait to receive your jewelry, we have expedited shipping options available.

For last-minute gifts, upcoming holidays, or just because you're super impatient (haha!), check out our "Last-Minute Gifts" page. We offer delivery within 2 to 5 business days. If you need your order even faster, please call us at 514-442-6058.

Once we verify the quality of the product, we will send you your shipping information via email with your tracking number.

All orders require a signature upon delivery.

It may take up to 2-4 weeks to receive your order.

Every Proud Diamond jewel comes in our signature eco-friendly packaging, accompanied by the Proud Diamond shopping bag. Additionally, depending on your purchase, it may include a certificate of authenticity.

Returns and exchanges

Your satisfaction is our priority. Returns and exchanges are accepted within 30 days from the date of delivery. Beyond this period, all sales are final. 

Items not eligible for return or exchange include: 

  • Custom-made jewelry ;
  • Improperly packaged items, damaged or used items ; 
  • Altered, engraved, or resized items ; 
  • Custom or personalized items that have been altered ; 
  • Items previously exchanged ;
  • Items over $CAD 10 000.00 ;
  • Sales items;
  • Gift cards.

Loose diamonds bought for a piece are non-returnable or exchangeable once the deposit on the diamonds has been paid.

Limited edition jewelry items are not eligible for return or exchange. Deposits or payments made towards these items are non-refundable.

Jewel Care

For simple cleaning, you can clean your jewelry with mild dish soap and warm water. Fill a bowl with warm water, add dish soap and your jewelry, let it soak for 30 minutes, and then air dry it.

For an extra clean, use an unused toothbrush and gently brush your jewelry.

For a deeper clean, consider using a Magnasonic cleaner. You can easily purchase one on Amazon or support a local store, which we always recommend.

When you purchase your Proud Diamond jewel, we offer a complimentary annual prong inspection paired with a thorough cleaning service. For ring owners, we suggest having the prongs checked at least once a year. It's a perfect chance to get your jewelry sparkling clean at the same time!

Warranty

At Proud Diamond, we stand behind the quality and craftsmanship of our jewelry and offer a free 5-year warranty against craftsmanship defects on engagement rings and wedding bands purchases.

We also extend a 1-year warranty, valid in Canada only, for all jewelry other than engagement rings and wedding bands.

Should you encounter any damage attributable to craftsmanship, please reach out to us at hello@prouddiamond.com with images, a brief video, and a description of the damage so we may evaluate your piece.

See our full warranty policy here.

Legal and security

Yes. We guarantee that every online transaction you make will be 100% safe.

Yes, taxes are added at checkout.

Unfortunately, we do not offer insurance currently, but we strongly recommend securing appropriate insurance coverage for your jewelry through a third-party provider.

Collaboration and press

Just email us: hello@prouddiamond.com

There are several ways to connect with us. Email us at hello@prouddiamond.com or send us a DM on Instagram @prouddiamondofficial. You can also call us directly 1.514.442.6058