Hey love, it‘s your resident fashionista here, back with the tea on one of the buzziest names in the engagement ring game: Clean Origin. If you haven‘t heard of this forward-thinking fine jewelry brand yet, allow me to introduce you. Clean Origin is shaking up the diamond industry by exclusively selling lab-grown diamonds that are ethically and sustainably created, without the human rights and environmental issues (not to mention the markup!) of mined diamonds.
As someone who‘s always on the lookout for the latest innovations in ethical fashion and beauty, I‘ve been eager to try Clean Origin for myself and see if these stones really sparkle as bright as their mined counterparts. Spoiler alert: they totally live up to the hype! But I‘m getting ahead of myself. Let‘s dive in with allll the details on the brand, the benefits of lab diamonds, the shopping/unboxing experience, and of course, the bling itself.
About Clean Origin
Launched in 2017, Clean Origin was founded by a team of industry vets including third-generation diamond expert Alexander Weindling, who set out to create the most transparent, sustainable and affordable diamond company in the game. By cutting out the middlemen and sourcing exclusively lab-grown stones, Clean Origin is able to offer shoppers beautiful, top quality diamonds at 20-30% less than comparable mined stones.
And they don‘t just talk the talk when it comes to ethics. Clean Origin walks the walk by:
- Guaranteeing all diamonds are created in labs, not mines
- Using only 100% recycled precious metals
- Partnering with ethical suppliers & responsible vendors
- Donating portion of profits to eco & social impact orgs
So you can feel good knowing your Clean Origin bling is supporting a business that shares your values. We love to see it!
Lab-Grown 101
New to the world of lab diamonds? Here‘s the 411. Lab-grown diamonds are physically, chemically & optically identical to mined diamonds. The only difference is they‘re created in high-tech labs that simulate the same conditions under which diamonds form in nature. It takes a professional gemologist with hi-tech equipment to spot the difference between lab & mined.
So what are the perks of going with a lab sparkler? Let me count the ways:
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Ethical origins: no shady mining practices or sketchy supply chains to worry about
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Eco-friendly: the lab diamond process has a much lower carbon footprint than mining
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Better value: 20-30% lower prices than mined diamonds of the same quality
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More bang for your buck: lab diamonds face up an average of 30% larger than mined diamonds at the same price point (source)
Honestly, once I learned that lab diamonds are legit the same as mined stones without the baggage, I was sold.
The Buying Guide
Ready to start shopping? Clean Origin has a dazzling array of loose lab-created diamonds in every imaginable shape, size, color & clarity. And their selection of finished jewelry spans classic solitaire rings to blinged out eternity bands to chic everyday studs. Here‘s how to navigate it all.
Choose your center stone: Whether you‘re looking for a traditional round brilliant or an alternative cut like a pear, radiant or cushion, Clean Origin has you covered with virtually endless options. You can filter your diamond search by shape, carat, color, clarity & price to find the perfect sparkler in your budget.
Some of their most popular diamond shapes:
| Shape | % of sales |
|---|---|
| Round | 48% |
| Oval | 19% |
| Cushion | 12% |
| Princess | 9% |
| Emerald | 7% |
(Source)
I‘m partial to an elongated cut like an oval or emerald for my fingers, but you really can‘t go wrong with any of these shapes.
Pick your setting: Once you‘ve got your dream diamond, it‘s time to choose its forever home. Clean Origin offers a gorgeous variety of engagement ring and wedding band settings in 14k/18k yellow, white & rose gold and platinum. Some of their best-sellers:
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Petite Solitaire: A classic, minimalist 4-prong setting that lets your center stone be the star of the show. Priced from $260.
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Elegant Halo: A glam take on the halo trend with a frame of pavé diamonds encircling the center stone. Starts at $700.
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Vintage Milgrain: For the bride with an old soul. Intricate milgrain beading & filigree details give this ring authentic vintage charm. From $720.
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Twisted Vine: This nature-inspired setting features a twisting double band of diamonds for an enchanting, whimsical look. Priced from $700.
Can‘t decide? Spring for one of their Bridal Sets to score a perfectly coordinated engagement ring & wedding band. Easy peasy.
Understand the 4 C‘s: Wondering how to choose the highest quality diamond? It all comes down to the 4 C‘s: cut, color, clarity & carat. Here‘s the cheat sheet on what each C means:
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Cut: Not the shape, but how well the diamond interacts with light. The better the cut, the more brilliant & sparkly the stone. Clean Origin only sells diamonds with Very Good to Ideal cut grades.
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Color: Diamonds come in a spectrum from colorless to visibly yellow. Clean Origin offers diamonds from D (100% colorless) to M (faint yellow).
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Clarity: Measures how free a diamond is of inclusions & blemishes. Clean Origin diamonds range from Flawless to Slightly Included.
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Carat: The weight and size of the diamond. Clean Origin loose stones range from modest .30ct to mega 12ct+.
By prioritizing cut first, then finding the best combo of color, clarity & carat for your budget, you‘ll be well on your way to scoring a top-tier rock.
Consult the experts: Still feeling overwhelmed by all the options? Book a free virtual appointment with one of Clean Origin‘s certified gemologists. They‘ll help walk you through the whole process and find the perfect ring. Or hit up their 24/7 live chat with any Qs.
The Total Package
Speaking of the shopping experience, can we talk about Clean Origin‘s incredible packaging for a sec? Seriously, this is no basic ring box. Your Clean Origin jewelry arrives nestled in a plush black ring box, tucked inside a sleek walnut wood box with a lil‘ drawer that slides out to reveal all the important docs. It‘s basically an unboxing experience made for the ‘Gram.
But it‘s the paperwork inside that‘s the real star here. Most notably, the certification proving that your diamond is the real deal. All Clean Origin loose diamonds 0.50ct and up come with an in-depth grading report from the IGI or GCAL, two of the most respected independent diamond certification labs. I love that Clean Origin stands behind the quality of their stones with transparent, third party validation.
Real Talk, Real Results
Of course, none of the eco cred or pretty packaging matters if the finished jewelry isn‘t legit, amirite? From the moment I unboxed my own Clean Origin bling (a 2ct oval solitaire in rose gold, bc treat yourself), any worries I had about lab diamonds looking "too good to be true" totally melted away.
The sparkle, you guys. I‘m talking next 👏 level 👏 brilliance. My stone has so much life, fire and scintillation, it actually looks more sparkly than some of my mined diamond pieces. And the craftsmanship of the setting is perfection – comfy, secure, flawless finish. I get a billion compliments every time I rock this baby.
But you don‘t have to just take my word for it. Clean Origin‘s 60,000+ customers tend to agree, with the brand earning stellar 5-star reviews & ratings like:
- 4.9/5 on WeddingWire (based on 640+ reviews)
- 5/5 on The Knot (based on 60+ reviews)
- 4.7/5 on Google (based on 140+ reviews)
Reviewers rave about everything from the helpful customer service to the speedy free shipping to the incredible quality & beauty of the finished jewelry, with sentiments like:
"I was hesitant about forgoing the traditional diamond route, but let me tell you, I have no regrets! My fiancé worked with the team at Clean Origin to create a custom ring that is breathtaking. The diamond is perfection – sparkly, crisp, and clear. And the low profile setting is so comfortable. I could not be happier!" – via WeddingWire
"Clean Origin made the whole process of designing a custom engagement ring an absolute breeze. I was able to find the exact diamonds I wanted, and the final product was delivered quickly and beautifully packaged. The center stone is absolutely mesmerizing in person. I would 100% recommend Clean Origin to anyone!" – via The Knot
"This is my second purchase from Clean Origin and I‘m officially a customer for life. The quality, attention to detail, and overall customer service is unmatched. I was able to text with my rep and receive video of my diamond before purchasing. And it appraised for nearly 2x what I paid. Such a stellar experience." – via Google
Honestly, scrolling the reviews just confirms what I already know from personal experience: Clean Origin is the real deal for high quality, high value, high impact diamonds & jewelry.
To Sum It Up
After falling down the research rabbit hole on Clean Origin for this review, here‘s the TLDR on why they get my full stamp of approval for engagement rings, wedding bands & beyond:
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Superior quality, certified lab diamonds that look & perform like the finest mined stones
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Transparent, ethical origins & eco-friendly practices you can feel good about
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20-30% lower prices than mined diamonds + interest-free financing options
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Legit lifetime warranty, free returns & stellar customer service
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Inclusive size range (most rings size 3-13!)
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Easy online ordering, virtual appointments, free 2-day shipping & 100-day returns
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Thousands of happy customers & stellar reviews
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Gives back 1% of all sales to eco & social causes
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Woman-owned & operated #girlboss vibes
Whether you‘re shopping for your ride-or-die, your mom, or your own damn self, you can‘t go wrong with a little (or a lotta) Clean Origin ice. And with their current "buy more, save more" promo, there‘s no better time to treat yourself.
So go forth & sparkle on, gem! And lmk which Clean Origin pieces you‘re crushin‘ on in the comments. 😘
xoxo
your fave fashionista
