From the Magazine StyleWatch Feeling Fine! The Best Jewelry Brands to Shop This Holiday Season We might be biased, but these picks are total gems By Brittany Talarico Brittany Talarico Brittany Talarico is PEOPLE's Deputy Style Director, where she oversees the brand's digital Style and Beauty coverage. This includes running lead on the Met Gala, which is among PEOPLE.com's top-trafficked red carpet events every year, interviewing the industry's top influencers (including all the Kardashian-Jenners), and breaking A-list celeb news (a New Jersey shore native, it is no surprise that her favorite interview ever was with Bruce Springsteen). Brittany is a style contributor to People Every Day Podcast and has represented the brand on national TV programs including Good Morning America and The CW's two TV specials on the British Royals. She joined PEOPLE from Cosmopolitan in 2013, where she was an Associate Editor. People Editorial Guidelines Updated on December 16, 2024 11:35AM EST Comments It's never been a better time to add some sparkle to your jewelry collection. With the boom of lab-grown diamonds and gemstones, fine and semi-fine jewelry have become not only more accessible, but also more sustainable — two things that are top of mind for a conscious generation of shoppers. (Plus, there's nothing PEOPLE StyleWatchers love more than a good deal.) "We are excited by the growth and popularity of lab-grown diamonds, as they resonate with people for their modern approach to luxury — offering the same beauty and brilliance as mined diamonds, but with a more accessible price point and a focus on sustainability," Luciano Rodembusch, President of Pandora's North American operations, tells PEOPLE. "We see lab-grown diamonds as an opportunity to expand the diamond industry, not simply replace or compete with what already exists. By creating products that inspire love and desire, the industry as a whole can thrive and grow." Growing diamonds in a lab is "much more efficient and sustainable compared to the labor-intensive and time-consuming process of mining," Rodembusch says, adding that lab-grown diamonds "can be produced in a matter of weeks, whereas mined diamonds may take millions of years to form."These shorter production times lead to lower overhead costs for manufacturers, which ultimately translates to lower prices for consumers. "Lab-grown diamonds are created in controlled environments using advanced processes that replicate the conditions under which mined diamonds form, but without the need for mining," Rodembusch says. "As a result, there are no associated extraction, transportation, or land reclamation costs, which significantly reduces the overall price of the final product. Pandora’s lab-grown diamonds are also made with 100% renewable energy." Holiday Gift Guide 2024: Stylish Gifts for Every Budget Rodembusch notes that many brides are prefer lab-grown engagement and wedding rings because of the positive environmental impact and cost-saving incentive. "By choosing a lab-grown diamond, brides can get a larger or higher-quality diamond for the same price they might pay for a smaller mined stone," she explains. "This financial flexibility appeals to a generation that values practicality and wants to make smart, long-term financial decisions." "Additionally, lab-grown diamonds are often seen as more modern and in line with the latest technological advancements, which resonate with Gen Z’s tech-savvy and progressive mindset," Rodembusch says, adding, "I also think the level of traceability is particularly appealing for a generation that prioritizes authenticity and accountability in the brands they support." Below we rounded up some of the best lab-grown diamond and gemstone jewelry pieces, as well as other luxe fine and semi-fine finds (gold signet rings! initial pendants! statement hoops!) from our favorite brands. (Editor's Note: Don't forget to send this link to your significant other!) 01 of 26 Pandora While charms are a cornerstone of the Pandora customer base, delicate lab-grown diamond pieces are emerging as a top gifting trend for the brand this holiday season. "We are thrilled to see fans embracing lab-grown diamonds as a meaningful way to add sparkle to their lives," Rodembusch shares with PEOPLE. "With the introduction of Pandora Lab-Grown Diamonds, we are embracing the idea that diamonds can be for everyone, not just forever." Buy It! Pandora Era Lab-Grown Diamond Jewelry Gift Set, $1,080; pandora.net 02 of 26 Dorsey The direct-to-consumer, lab-grown jewelry brand is based in Los Angeles and has built a strong celebrity fanbase including Taylor Swift, Hailey and Justin Bieber, Bella Hadid and Emily Ratajkowski. Dorsey’s latest collection includes styles perfect for special occasions and everyday wear, including rings and bracelets complete with lab-grown diamonds and gemstones for an extra pop of color. (These white sapphire Lucien drop earrings are also a People StyleWatch editor favorite.) Buy It! Dorsey Isadora Lab-Grown White Sapphire and Nano Crystal Emerald Gold Rivière Necklace, $950; shopdorsey.com Buy It! Dorsey Emerald Cut Bezel Nano Crystal Emerald Eternity Band, $340; shopdorsey.com Buy It! Dorsey Tate Lab-Grown Red Sapphire Ring, $600; shopdorsey.com Buy It! Dorsey Tate Lab-Grown White and Yellow Sapphire Ring Gold, $600; shopdorsey.com 03 of 26 Ring Concierge Founded by Nicole Wegman in 2013, Ring Concierge has grown into a leading luxury jewelry company at the forefront of celebrity and influencer marketing. The brand is just as well known for its bespoke wedding rings (the team famously designed Taylor Lautner and wife Taylor Dome's engagement and wedding bands) as its accessible fine jewelry collection (diamond tennis bracelets start at $898!). What do we have bookmarked? Personalized pieces like the diamond border signet ring and diamond script initial necklace as well as stackable styles from RC's station collection. Buy It! Diamond Station Bracelet, $448; ringconcierge.com Buy It! Pavé Diamond Border Signet Ring, $548; ringconcierge.com 04 of 26 Brilliant Earth Brilliant Earth has been a pioneer in the lab-grown diamond space since 2005. "We started Brilliant Earth in 2005 to raise the ethical standards of the diamond industry and to create a new way to buy beautiful fine jewelry," Beth Gerstein, CEO and co-founder of the brand has shared about the ethos of her company. 96% of the brand's gold and 97% of it's silver is recycled and the company is built around maintaining transparency with customers about where the precious metals and gemstones come from and how the jewelry is made. Brilliant Earth recently teamed with Jane Goodall on a capsule collection inspired by the lush forests where Goodall studied chimpanzees in the wild, The limited-edition line features Brilliant Earth’s capture collection diamonds, which are made in clean energy facilities with CO2 before it’s released into the atmosphere, There's no better place to invest if you're looking for a meaningful milestone gift for a loved one (or yourself!). Buy It! Brilliant Earth Perfect Tennis Lab Diamond Bracelet, $1,950; brilliantearth.com 05 of 26 Lana Jewelry When Lana Bramlette couldn't find the perfect pair of gold hoops, she decided to design them herself. And she didn't stop there. In 2002, Bramlette launched her own jewelry brand focused on "effortlessly sexy designs that reflect a certain swagger and unspoken confidence." Since then, everyone from Beyoncé and Madonna to Jennifer Lopez, Faith Hill and Rihanna have worn her pieces. Whether you are in the market for a pair of beautiful hoops, personalized necklace or some tennis jewelry, Lana has it all. Buy It! Lana Jewelry Initial Block Letter Diamond Necklace, $680; lanajewelry.com 06 of 26 David Yurman For many (including the millennial writing this gallery), David Yurman holds nostalgia as the first fine jewelry brand they remember shopping. The classic cable station bracelet is still a best-seller for the brand, which has found a strong hold in the Gen Z and Gen Alpha markets. (See the stacks of rings and bracelets on the #BamaRush girls!) The brand also has a robust roster of celebrity ambassadors including Scarlett Johansson, Henry Golding, Michael B. Jordan and Iris Law. What better gift than a David Yurman piece that will stay in your family for years to come! Buy It! David Yurman Crossover Three Row Ring with 18K Yellow Gold and Diamonds, $995; davidyurman.com 07 of 26 Cast Jewelry Cast Jewelry is a three-year-old fine jewelry brand, co-founded by Rachel Skelly and Eric Ryan, which emphasizes the importance of women recognizing their worth and investing in themselves. Issa Rae recently collaborated with the brand on a capsule collection, aligning herself with the company's ethos."That really spoke to me, especially in the way that [Skelly and Ryan] mentioned how typically jewelers will have men buy jewelry for women," Rae told PEOPLE in September. "They're waiting for this guy to purchase this piece for you. And as someone who lives for the empowerment of women [their approach] was really satisfying to hear." The Braeve Collection features 22 pieces of 14-karat gold, sterling silver, black onyx, and Cast-created diamonds, the company's exclusive lab-grown diamond collection. Modern and versatile, the pieces suit a range of budgets with prices from $250 to $5,900. "Lab grown diamonds are such an amazing option when people want big bling but don’t have a big budget," Skelly tells PEOPLE. "They’re identical to natural diamonds but at a more accessible price point making it easier to fill your jewel box with sustainable fine jewelry." Skelly adds customers are shopping a lot of "big, bold looks" right now. "Statement earrings and necklaces, colorful gems and of course diamond sparkle is always trending for holidays," she says. Buy It! The Midi Braeve Hoop, $500; castjewelry.com 08 of 26 Astrid & Miu Astrid & Miyu was founded by Connie Nam in 2012 and inspired by her childhood in Seoul, Korea and travels as a young girl. She wanted to offer pieces with a strong point of view and sentiment behind them, plus innovative design. These emerald baguette hoops feature vibrants lab-grown emerald stones and are the perfect way to mix up a classic gold or silver hoop rotation. Buy It! Astrid & Miu Emerald Baguette Hoops in White Gold, $535; us.astridandmiyu.com 09 of 26 Jennifer Fisher The "Queen of Hoops" recently launched a lab-grown diamond collection featuring her famous diamond-and-gold hoops, which anyone would love to find under the tree on Christmas morning. Buy It! Jennifer Fisher Lab 1.5" Thread Baby Hoops, $2,800; jenniferfisher.com 10 of 26 Plum Diamonds The woman-owned and operated company has been creating lab-grown jewelry for decades and has a large selection of pieces ranging from engagement rings to gorgeous necklaces, earrings and more. These drop earrings are 1.22 carat in weight and on-trend marquise shape makes them feel extra special. Buy It! Plum Diamonds Marquise Droplet Earrings, $1,290; plumdiamonds.com 11 of 26 Lauren Deyoung Lauren DeYoung is the sixth generation of her family to enter the jewelry business and founded her eponymous line of jewelry spanning vintage and modern eras in 2014. These diamond studs featuring .84 carats are the perfect mix of both and are a very special gift for a big occasion. Buy It! Lauren DeYoung Audrey Diamond Studs, $2,400; laurendeyoung.com 12 of 26 Logan Hollowell Even if you haven't heard of Logan Hollowell, you've likely seen the brand on one of its celebrity fans (Jennifer Lawrence! Rihanna! Jessica Alba!). Handcrafted in Los Angeles using 14k and 18k recycled gold, ethically sourced gemstones and conflict-free diamonds from around the world, Logan Hollowell creates one-of-a-kind pieces like this 14k gold ring from the Queen Collection featuring a 1.80-carat pear shaped moonstone and 0.07 total diamond carat weight. (For the astrology lover on your list, moonstones are known to bring good fortune, promote inspiration, enhance intuition and foster success in love and business.) Buy It! Logan Hollowell Baby Queen Water Drop Moonstone Ring with Sprinkled Diamonds, $2,325; loganhollowell.com 13 of 26 Jane Win If you're looking for something unique and colorful for the person on your list that likes to make a statement, look no further than Jane Win. The company offers a variety of pieces including gold-plated pendants and charm bracelets. This carved stone heart pendant is set in 10k gold and accented with pink tourmaline detail. The variety of stones to choose from include Amazonite, Amethyst, Lapis, Malachite, Mother of Pearl, Rose Quartz, and Turquoise. Buy It! Jane Win Carved Heart Necklace with Gold Setting, $448; janewin.com 14 of 26 Lightbox Jewelry Lightbox is one of the newer celeb-loved lab-grown diamond brands to enter the space, and they take a very modern approach. The company grows their diamonds using 100% Wind Power in a lab in Portland, Oregon. This year, the brand has been working closely with WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark on classic pieces to accessorize her looks. Her recent favorite is the Bezel Lariat Pendant, which she's worn with pre-game fits, at galas and on date nights. She's also a big fan of the tennis bracelet and the pavé huggie hoops. Buy It! Lightbox Jewelry Pavé Huggie Hoops, Medium, $1,200; lightboxjewelry.com Buy It! Lightbox Jewelry Bezel Lariat Pendant, $1,050; lightboxjewelry.com 15 of 26 James Allen James Allen is a one-stop shop for all your fine jewelry needs, from engagement and wedding rings to colorful gemstones. With tennis necklaces being one of the biggest trends in jewelry right now, the brand offers a huge selection, including this modern twist on the classic. The half strand totals 3 carats in diamonds and is great to wear by itself or layered. Buy It! James Allen Half Diamond Tennis Necklace, $2,238; jamesallen.com 16 of 26 Gorjana The Laguna Beach-based jewelry brand recently launched its first ever lab-grown diamond collection, available at all of their brick-and-mortar locations and online. The line features ten pieces that are perfect for mixing, matching and layering with the brand's semi-fine collection. Gorjana also named WNBA No. 2 draft pick, Cameron Brink, as a brand ambassador. Brink has been a fan of the brand since she was a student at Stanford and is now incorporating the pieces into her game day looks. Buy It! Gorjana Lab Grown Diamond Classic Tennis Drop Earrings, $750; gorjana.com Buy It! Gorjana Lab Grown Diamond Circle Charm Tennis Bracelet, $1,750; gorjana.com 17 of 26 Elle Perahia The lab-grown jewelry brand offers high-quality, consciously crafted designs made from produced diamonds and 14 karat or 18 karat solid gold. The pieces are perfect for every day outfits and layering. These huggies hold .5 carats of round, scattered diamond set in 14 karat gold. Buy It! Elle Perahia Aura Huggies, $1,120; elleperahia.com 18 of 26 Foundrae If you're looking to fill up your jewelry box with future generations of your family in mind, then a Foundrae splurge might be the perfect gift this holiday season. Gwyneth Paltrow and Taylor Swift are huge fans of the bespoke brand founded by Beth Hutchens, which is all about buildable, personalized pieces that symbolize something special. This custom love token necklace can be personalized with up to five small block letters. Buy It! Foundrae Custom Oversize Love Token Medium Mixed Belcher Extension Chain Necklace, $5,900; foundrae.com 19 of 26 Alison Lou Blake Lively has been known to wear all of her Alison Lou pieces at once (the girl loves a jewelry stack), and who can blame her? The vibrant, kitschy jewelry, designed by Alison Chemla in New York City, is cheerful, whimsical and will make anyone you gift it to smile. (The brand also calls Kendall Jenner, Selena Gomez and Lady Gaga fans and designed Jennifer Lawrence's engagement ring.) Consider adding a piece from the "In Your Feelings" collection or a popular two-stone cocktail ring to your list. Buy It! Alison Lou Lover Necklace, $1,260; alisonlou.com Buy It! Alison Lou Two-Stone Cocktail Ring, $1,775; alisonlou.com 20 of 26 VRAI These VRAI lab-grown diamond earrings went viral when Taylor Swift was seen wearing them in the stands at Arrowhead Stadium while cheering on boyfriend Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs. Considering they're back in stock, it's worth investing in a pair before the sell out again. The sustainable, lab-grown jewelry brand offers a variety of pieces, ethically made, and also calls Zoe Saldaña, Hailey Bieber and Emma Stone fans. Buy It! VRAI Solitaire Studs, $1,200; vrai.com 21 of 26 Sydney Evan Sydney Evan has been a celebrity jewelry staple since 2001. The brand, founded by Rosanne Karmes, features pieces inspired by "sentiment, spirituality, and strength," like this evil eye anklet, which looks just as cute barefoot on the beach as it does with a pair of heels at cocktail party. Buy It! Sydney Evan Gold & Rainbow Enamel Eye Anklet, $1,025; sydneyevan.com 22 of 26 Stone and Strand "Just because we've got expensive taste doesn't mean we have to make expensive jewelry." That's the motto of Stone and Strand, a New York City-based contemporary luxury fine jewelry brand founded by Nadine Kahane. The company offers an extensive collection of pieces made from solid gold and silver and uses ethically-sourced natural gemstones and diamonds. The emerald drop earrings and 5-carat rainbow strand tennis necklace, featuring sapphire, peridot and tanzanite, offer a fun pop of color to any jewelry box.Buy It! Green Goddess Drop Earrings, $675; stoneandstrand.com Buy It! Stone and Strand Rainbow Bright Tennis Necklace, $2,750; stoneandstrand.com 23 of 26 Studs Add some edge to your ear stack with this 14k gold chain featuring a lab grown diamond. Even better? Set a piercing date with your friends and family at one of STUDS 30 locations. The ear piercing and earrings brand offers a highly consultative ear-piercing experience in-store to help customers build out their "earscapes." Buy It! Studs 14K Round Chain Diamond Stud, $320; studs.com 24 of 26 KAY Jewelers A classic strand of pearls has been a wardrobe mainstay for decades. But these are not your grandmother's pearls. The timeless gem gets a modern twist with the freshwater cultured pearls stationed along a 10k yellow gold rope chain. Buy It! KAY Jewelers Cultured Pearl Station Necklace, $224.99; kay.com 25 of 26 Jennifer Behr Hair bling is a great way to add some sparkle to your holiday wardrobe and no one does it better than Jennifer Behr. Behr started her eponymous NYC-based line in 2005 and it quickly became one of the leading luxury hair accessory brands sought after by celebrities. In Spring 2017, she launched her jewelry line, an organic expansion. For the girl on your list who has everything, a unique hair piece or jewelry moment from Jennifer Behr is definitely something she'll love. Buy It! Jennifer Behr Bianca Bow Barrette, $425; jenniferbehr.com Buy It! Jennifer Behr Belle Bow Barrette, $478; jenniferbehr.com 26 of 26 Missoma What's better than a blue boxed filled with jewelry? (That was a rhetorical question). Missoma's 2024 advent calendar boasts six of the London-based, sustainable jewelry brand's most versatile and popular pieces that will elevate any collection. The best-selling, solid gold pieces, worth a total of $2,455, include pearl studs, mini hoop earrings, a snake chain bracelet and a fine diamond solitaire pendant necklace. Plus, the keepsake jewelry box features two levels with a large mirror. Buy It! Missoma Fine Jewelry Advent Calendar, $1,813; us.missoma.com Close