Casting is the process of heating metal to the melting point, and then pouring it into a mold, where it hardens into the shape of the mold.

We start with a polymer or wax model. The model is encased in a plaster-of-paris-like slurry called investment. Once the slurry hardens around the wax model, it's heated in an oven until the wax melts out. What remains is a cavity in the investment that is the perfect replica of your ring.

Next, we pour molten gold or platinum into the investment, and fill the empty cavity with precious metal.

Yes, all our natural diamonds that are .50ct or larger comes with a GIA certification.

A lab-grown diamond is a gem that is identical in chemical composition to a mined diamond, but which was grown in a laboratory environment, rather than mined from the earth. Lab-grown diamonds are “real” diamonds in every way! In fact, in 2018 the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ruled that lab-grown diamonds were “natural” diamonds and can be referred to as such.

Whitehurst offers and extensive collection of white lab grown diamonds, which we are proud to inform everyone that they are made and cut in the USA. They have the same physical, optical, and chemical characteristics as our natural mined diamonds. Each lab grown diamond comes with a GIA or IGI Certification and are laser engraved with the certification number on the girdle for identification purposes and assures you peace of mind.

There are two distinct manufacturing processes used to grow diamonds in a lab: HPHT and CVD.

HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature) is the older of the two processes, around since the 1950s. In HPHT, a small amount of graphite is subjected to extreme temperatures and pressures, which replicates the extreme heat and pressure conditions deep inside the earth that cause diamonds to form.

The second and more recent method is termed CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition). This is a vacuum deposition method that is often used in the semiconductor industry to produce thin films. The diamond CVD technique was first investigated over 30 years ago, but it is only within the last decade that the technology had improved to the point where very high quality diamond can be formed.

In CVD, a thin slice of diamond – called a seed – is placed in a sealed chamber and heated to a very high temperature. After the chamber is heated, a carbon-rich gas mixture is introduced into the chamber, and those gases are ionized into plasma. The chemistry created in the plasma along with the high sample temperature results in growth of high-quality diamond.

It's important to note that neither natural diamonds nor lab-grown diamonds are better than the other. Rather, each type of diamond offers certain benefits that may be appealing to you depending on your interests and values.

One of the primary benefits of a lab-grown diamond is that you can get more – and more beautiful! – diamond for the money. Of course, another benefit of a lab-grown diamond is that it can give the wearer boasting rights. Lab-grown diamonds are a fantastic example of advancing technology and scientific ingenuity. If you’re into innovation, a lab-grown diamond is certainly symbolic of that. Lab-grown diamonds also do not require blasting holes in the ground, do not chemically pollute water sources for nearby communities, and are not associated with the kind of conflict and human rights abuses often associated with mined diamonds  So, if you’re looking for a lot more diamond for the money, love the idea of wearing a jewel that is the result of human ingenuity, and would like to avoid the moral quandaries that can affect mined diamonds, lab-grown diamonds will be a good solution for your diamond-jewelry ambitions.

We can't answer whether a lab-grown diamond holds its value any more than a seller of a mined diamond can say. That's because all diamond prices fluctuate over time. A better question to ask would be "is there a resale market for lab-grown diamonds?" And the answer is, yes! There is a resale market for lab-grown diamonds.

Yes, we offer a Lifetime Diamond Upgrade on both Natural mined and Lab Grown Diamonds. View our diamond upgrade policy for more details.

Yes, we have many suppliers that we source natural, and lab created gemstones. Please contact us so we can help you find the gemstone that is perfect for you.

Many of our items are made to order, which makes us able to customize each item to your personal preference. We recommend setting up a virtual meeting with one of our jewelry designers to capture every detail that’s needed to design you the perfect item.

Yes, we have been manufacturers for over 40 years and specialize in creating “one of a kind” jewelry items for our clients. You can have peace of mind knowing that our team is extremely talented, skilled and passionate artists who take pride in every item that they create. Please contact us so we can set up a virtual consult with one of our designers who will personally walk you through the process.

Yes, at Whitehurst we totally understand that choosing the right ring can sometimes be a process and we are here to support you through it. That’s why we will offer you the option to purchase a Whitehurst designed plain solitaire ring mounting in your choice of 14kt white, yellow, or rose  gold for $600.00 or Platinum for $900.00 to set your diamond or colored gemstone in to present to your future fiancé.

Within 60 days of your initial purchase, you and your fiancé may return the solitaire mounting and choose from our Whitehurst custom designs or create a “one of kind” personalized ring.

A $75 refurbish fee will be deducted from the purchase price of the Whitehurst solitaire ring and the remaining credit will be applied towards the purchase of the new Whitehurst ring. Please feel free to call us at 1-727-934-2171 to learn more about this option.

Whitehurst accepts all major US credit cards, bank wire payment, financing, and PayPal?  View our flexible payment options.