Are lab diamonds the equivalent of handbag Superfakes?

[EpiFanatic]

I primarily buy earth grown diamonds. I tried lab growns and discovered they are not mind-clean for me so no more. I know labs are the same as earths chemically but I just prefer the ones earth ones. I think of it like there are two sweaters, both the same. One knitted by hand and the other machine made. If I had the money, all other things being equal, I would choose the hand knitted one.

 

[KathyB]

IMO, a beautiful diamond is a beautiful diamond, regardless of how it was created -- mined v. lab. The choice between mined diamonds and lab diamonds is completely subjective. I have jewelry with both. I also have moissanite jewelry. The thing is, though -- I KNOW which ones are which. Doesn't mean that everyone around me is required to know. Plus... I'm not planning on selling off my jewelry. All of it goes to my granddaughter, anyway!

 

[Vintage Leather]

@missie1 Do you consider Mikimoto pearls to be super-fakes? Or Tahitian, or South Seas?

Because cultured pearls are the same thing as lab stones.

 

[missie1]

@missie1 Do you consider Mikimoto pearls to be super-fakes? Or Tahitian, or South Seas?

Because cultured pearls are the same thing as lab stones.

I don’t wear Pearls so unfortunately I have done zero research on them myself. So I don’t have an opinion on Mikimoto.

 

[Vintage Leather]

I don’t wear Pearls so unfortunately I have done zero research on them myself. So I don’t have an opinion on Mikimoto.

In the last century and a quarter, cultured pearls have replaced natural pearls and now dominate the market.

It’s resulted in a wider range of available colors and sizes (different species developing in different conditions.)

I guess I don’t understand the outrage over lab diamonds when lab stones have permeated the jewelry market for the last century and a half.

 

[missie1]

In the last century and a quarter, cultured pearls have replaced natural pearls and now dominate the market.

It’s resulted in a wider range of available colors and sizes (different species developing in different conditions.)

I guess I don’t understand the outrage over lab diamonds when lab stones have permeated the jewelry market for the last century and a half.

I personally don’t have outrage over lab stones. I prefer mined stones and actually find it quite interesting to see everyone’s opinions.

 

[MinimalStyle]

@missie1 Do you consider Mikimoto pearls to be super-fakes? Or Tahitian, or South Seas?

Because cultured pearls are the same thing as lab stones.

I beg to differ. If I understand the process correctly, a grain is placed into the mollusc and then the creature does the job so not really lab grow, I’d say ‘farmed’ in a sense.

Lab grown is a process completely without organic matter (pure carbon is not an organic compound) accomplished with machines.

 

[Vintage Leather]

I beg to differ. If I understand the process correctly, a grain is placed into the mollusc and then the creature does the job so not really lab grow, I’d say ‘farmed’ in a sense.

Lab grown is a process completely without organic matter (pure carbon is not an organic compound) accomplished with machines.

They both are taking a process for finding natural precious materials, a process that has historically been a high risk - low yield - high reward and substituting it for a human-driven activity that results in something materially identical from a low risk - high yield - moderate reward process.

Also, the amount of genetic manipulation required to achieve out current pearl oyster species means that they have as much in common with a natural oyster as a kiln does with a volcano