VRAI Chicago — Local services in Chicago

Had the best experience with Elijah at the Chicago showroom. I shared a few of my favorite engagement ring designs before our appointment, and he had them ready for me to try on, plus encouraged us to browse the showroom to see if anything else caught our eye. I'm certainly glad we took him up on the offer -- that's how we spotted the ring we ultimately chose! The online version looks quite different than the gorgeous ring in real life. Online, it appears a bit like a bulky rendering and just doesn't do it justice. I would've scrolled past it. But in person, it's delicate and dazzling!

Upon our arrival for our appointment, he greeted us with champagne and water and sat us in a bright, private area where we could try rings on and discuss the options. He made the experience smooth, informative and fun. Afterward, he emailed us notes from the appointment with details like ring size, our favorite designs and price. It was super helpful to refer back to this months down the road when my now-fiance placed the order online. For such a big purchase, the shopping experience was as smooth as it possibly could've been.

We were drawn to VRAI for its sustainable, lab-grown diamonds, and we stayed for the fabulous experience and beautiful designs. I've attached some photos of my ring. It's the Three Stone Oval Engagement Ring in yellow gold, with 1/4ct pear side stones and a plain band. Pictures don't do it justice, of course! I wanted a low-set ring, and this does just that. Great insight from Elijah: all of VRAI's engagement rings are designed to sit flush with a wedding band, regardless of whether it's low- or high-set.

Note: I learned through some research that VRAI's included insurance policy doesn't cover lost or stolen rings/stones. Definitely recommend purchasing additional insurance in case a stone falls loose and you lose it, or in the unfortunate instance where it's stolen. Jewelers Mutual Insurance Group is affordable ($25-100ish per year, depending on the value of the item).

NOVEMBER 2024 UPDATE: Still absolutely loving this ring. For how dainty it looks, it's so far been strong and durable. Even took a little chunk out of my wooden kitchen cabinet when the ring got caught on something -- that's how strong the...

It likely goes without saying, but you cannot understate the significance of making the right decision on an engagement ring. Furthermore, the level of uncertainty, simply because of the nascent nature of the industry, rises when dealing with lab-created diamonds.

The people at VRAI flipped that uncertainty and indecision into confidence and anticipation. They delivered a fantastic experience, from beginning to end, helping me find the perfect engagement ring and helping me realize that lab created diamonds are just as beautiful as the real thing, but far more aligned with my own values.

SELECTION: VRAIs options are comprehensive. I had options to consider more classic looks as well as more alternative engagement ring styles that nearby competitors like Brilliant Earth didn't offer. Although I wish they had a wider diamond stock, I understand the limitations they're dealing with.

CUSTOMER SERVICE: I'm sure that everyone at VRAI in Chicago aims to deliver outstanding service to clients. But Jen Kripas was the main protagonist in my purchase story. She took a diamond amateur like myself and equipped me with the knowledge I needed to find the right diamonds/ring. Jen never pushed to far, but she also never shied away from providing perspective when needed. Along the way, Jen ensured I had all of the ancillary information (e.g. insurance, cleanings, etc.) I needed to guide my decision. Even after the purchase, Jen checked in to make sure everything was in order and clarify any questions I may have had.

PURCHASE PROCESS: Not much to say here other than the simplicity was key. The process of selecting, purchasing, tracking, and receiving my ring was easy and frictionless. VRAI's interface is simple and convenient. I could track my shipment at every step with detailed routes in the last mile to be there the moment the ring arrived.

5-stars is the limit on Yelp, but I'd go higher for VRAI, Jen, and the Chicago...

Im saddened to write this review. My now Fiancé and I went to the store in Chicago to try on rings to see what I would like. We had a great salesperson Andrea and she was attentive, nice, and responsive. We had high hopes. Unfortunately when my Fiancé ordered the ring they delayed shipping and he had to push his proposal back. (This was a minor inconvenience) they eventually apologized and said they would expedite the shipping so he could have the ring within a day. He proposes and I say YES. Upon proposal shock wearing off. I notice my ring is slightly crooked. Not wanting it to be true or part ways with my new sparkly ring I say nothing. A week later my Fiancé asks if it is just him or if the ring crooked. And I chuckle because I noticed the same thing. We ultimately decide to ship the ring back and they said it should take 2-3 weeks. While it’s not an ideal timeline I couldn’t stand looking at a crooked ring. After 2 weeks we hear nothing from them. So we email about any updates. Customer experience tells us they have not been updated. We wait 3 weeks still no response. We email again about any updates, still nothing. To make this excruciatingly long process short they finally ship the ring back after 6 weeks (double the time they quoted) and the ring is still very much crooked and was clearly never touched by the production team. I believe they just sent us the ring back to shut us up instead of being upfront about production delays in the first place. While my ring is nice. I would not recommend Vrai to anyone.

I deleted photos so I wouldn’t be reminded about how this turned a very beautiful time in my life into stress and anxiety. Unless you live near headquarters I would advise using a different Lab Created Diamond company. If that’s what...