From my perspective it’s apples to apples as I was always talking about the consumer purchasing these items never about the seller and the legalities surrounding legAl/illegal markets. Often person purchasing a superfake wants to pass it off as authentic because they are unwilling to pay the price for whatever reason. For diamonds people want to have certain size, clarity cut but not pay price required to obtain that level so they go to lab diamonds.
Are lab diamonds the equivalent of handbag Superfakes?
- Thread starter missie1
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It might be a generational thing. DH‘s protege just got engaged and he and his fiancée are happy to openly announce to all their friends that they got a lab diamond. And, their friends are of the mind that this is the most sensible and sustainable choice.
I don‘t buy superfakes because they are taking another brand’s design and copying the bag and trying to pass of as that brand‘s design.
I have both natural diamonds and lab diamonds, it’s not always about the price for a buyer. Most of my purchases have been driven by the jewellery design rather than cut, clarity or price. If someone asks me I’d tell them it’s lab grown diamond, I have no desire to pass it of as a natural diamond.
Lately I have been leaning towards lab diamonds as I’ve recently come across articles and a document explaining that diamonds are not actually rare and was a marketing strategy to drive prices up. For me the decision towards lab diamonds is ethically motivated rather than price so I’m not sure it is comparing apples to apples for many consumers when purchasing lab diamonds vs superfakes.
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You asked for opinions in order to start and encourage a discussion, I gave mine and I stand by it. It isn’t apples to apples because one is fake and one isn’t. My opinion was from the perspective of a buyer. I don’t consider the two similar because one is openly sold as an authentic lab created diamond while the other is simply a fake good.
On TPF when you mention super fake the operative word is FAKE. If you then use that as a comparison to lab diamonds it alludes to the notion that you are saying they are fake and that just isn’t so.
I would never by a super fake, but in the right circumstance I would buy a lab diamond.
I don't think she was saying your opinion is wrong by any means! I think she is just interested in the discussion and providing her counter-opinion to your opinion to see if more thoughts are generated from the back and forth. @missie1 please correct me if I am mistaken
You are so correct… As my love for jewelry is always increasing I’m just curious to hear how others perceive this sector of the market. The reply’s have been very interesting.I don't think she was saying your opinion is wrong by any means! I think she is just interested in the discussion and providing her counter-opinion to your opinion to see if more thoughts are generated from the back and forth. @missie1 please correct me if I am mistaken
I am not saying your opinion is wrong or challenging how you view the question. I was simply responding to your advertising comment about labs being promoted by jewelry stores and superfakes aren’t promoted by luxury stores. Not my intention to come across negative in any way.
This is interesting. Technically no, you can't compare lab diamonds to fakes because they're not fakes.
But I understand, emotionally, if you compare them from an angle of "status symbol for cheap" then yes, lab diamonds are making it so big mined diamonds no longer stand out as a status symbol.
However, many people buy diamonds for reasons other than status (ie its hardy, scratch-resistant, sparkly properties...), so it's rather rude to accuse ALL lab-buyers of wanting to pass it off as a status symbol (whereas fake bag buyers are definitely in it for showing off).
The actual bag equivalent of a lab diamond might be Hermes outsourcing somewhere, making the exact same bag at the same standards with the exact same materials, but using a cheaper/faster labour force. Identical quality end products, except one is stamped "made in Paris" in tiny font inside, and one is priced much cheaper. They'd never do this of course, as it'd collapse their status symbol, but it'd be perfectly legal and a good comparison to lab diamonds.
People that want visible status symbols will have to switch from big shiny rocks to something else, while people that just find hard shiny things pretty can continue to enjoy it more and more accessibly in years to come.
But I understand, emotionally, if you compare them from an angle of "status symbol for cheap" then yes, lab diamonds are making it so big mined diamonds no longer stand out as a status symbol.
However, many people buy diamonds for reasons other than status (ie its hardy, scratch-resistant, sparkly properties...), so it's rather rude to accuse ALL lab-buyers of wanting to pass it off as a status symbol (whereas fake bag buyers are definitely in it for showing off).
The actual bag equivalent of a lab diamond might be Hermes outsourcing somewhere, making the exact same bag at the same standards with the exact same materials, but using a cheaper/faster labour force. Identical quality end products, except one is stamped "made in Paris" in tiny font inside, and one is priced much cheaper. They'd never do this of course, as it'd collapse their status symbol, but it'd be perfectly legal and a good comparison to lab diamonds.
People that want visible status symbols will have to switch from big shiny rocks to something else, while people that just find hard shiny things pretty can continue to enjoy it more and more accessibly in years to come.
I'm not sure if I'm on board with the apples to apples either. Even if people were trying to pass a lab grown diamond off as a mined diamond, many of the issues and concerns related to fakes are not an issue when buying lab grown through official retail channels.
Fakes are illegal in most places where there's any sizeable market for them, and illegal trade has a bunch of unfortunate implications, from serious product safety issues to supporting terrorist groups or even more dangerous state actors. Even though product safety issues may seem far-fetched when it comes to super fakes given that they may be made with similar materials as the real items, there's no way of knowing how or where the product was made, so it could have been made partially in let's say North Korea. You lose the entire quality assurance and accountability aspect when you buy a fake.
This sounds like some of the 'straight to outlet' items lots of luxury brands produce.
Or the intra EU outsourcing (or to Serbia) that has been going on for a long time (LV factories in Romania etc.).
But you are talking about the identical duplication of a commodity, a diamond, not a purse or a Cartier love bracelet that is made in a very specific form with markings to identify it as being manufactured by a particular company. In my mind, lab-created diamonds are totally different than fake handbags or other luxury goods.
I'm against fake goods not because of the price. I'm against fakes because since they operate outside the bounds of the law, there's no guarantees that any of the process is above board, which includes appropriately compensating the creator, fairly compensating their workers, ensuring that worker conditions meet health and safety regulations, requiring truth in marketing, and the use of profits for other legal operations. Consumers who knowingly purchase these products are themselves engaging in illegal activity themselves and supporting these activities.
While I recognize the seeming preponderance of clout chasing these days, I wouldn't assume that's what purchasers of lab diamonds are doing. Diamonds are durable, easy to match, and have a distinctive fire. No, lab diamonds don't have the same entry fee to get in, but I'm happy to see an option that's attainable for more. I do understand there might be frustration for people who have substantial natural diamonds as labs have caused prices to come down, so can only hope they bought the item because they truly loved it.
While I recognize the seeming preponderance of clout chasing these days, I wouldn't assume that's what purchasers of lab diamonds are doing. Diamonds are durable, easy to match, and have a distinctive fire. No, lab diamonds don't have the same entry fee to get in, but I'm happy to see an option that's attainable for more. I do understand there might be frustration for people who have substantial natural diamonds as labs have caused prices to come down, so can only hope they bought the item because they truly loved it.
No, I get that. I was restating my initial opinion and explaining why it was from the buyers point of view and not the seller’s. I am a consumer, that is always what drives my viewpoint.
I get what you mean here, the progression of your argument. But….
Granted I have no research data, but I believe the vast majority of people who do buy lab diamonds do so not to deceive or fool people. It’s not that they want to make people believe they can afford a big diamond but can’t. Diamonds are not the only clear crystal stone available in jewelry - there is white sapphire, white topaz, moissanite, quartz, etc. Diamonds are just seen as the “best” and have been made the most expensive due to marketing.
But many people are questioning this…personally I prefer moissanites for their fire. It’s the central stone in my wedding set and I never lie about it being diamond. Many of my friends’ children (I’m in that age bracket) are very upfront about choosing moissanite or lab for their engagement rings, both for environmental reasons and because it allows them to use their hard-earned funds on more important things, like a down payment on a home.
Imho, the whole comparison has more to do with marketing than the actual materials. And intent…if someone wants to portray themselves as uber-wealthy (why?) they can just strut around in cz carrying a knock-off Hermes. So it’s the person who is superfake, not the stones.
I’m uncomfortable with lab diamonds from a completely different perspective. I view lab diamonds kinda like cloning and/or ai, it’s a slippery slope. I’ve very much simplified this for the sake of time and not delving into the potential religious sides of this. Just because we can do something, doesn’t mean we should.
Lab diamonds are MARKETED as sustainable and environmentally friendly, just like mined diamonds are MARKETED as “forever” and engagement rings.
Few other thoughts: How come Mother Nature can’t claim “intellectual property”? If man can re-create Mother Nature in a lab then what is the point of saving it? These are philosophical questions, not literal.
Ultimately, it doesn’t really matter what we think because the almighty dollar trumps all. If lab diamonds make money they will be around and we will be influenced to buy them. Cynical, but true.
Lab diamonds are MARKETED as sustainable and environmentally friendly, just like mined diamonds are MARKETED as “forever” and engagement rings.
Few other thoughts: How come Mother Nature can’t claim “intellectual property”? If man can re-create Mother Nature in a lab then what is the point of saving it? These are philosophical questions, not literal.
Ultimately, it doesn’t really matter what we think because the almighty dollar trumps all. If lab diamonds make money they will be around and we will be influenced to buy them. Cynical, but true.
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Lab-grown diamonds are like the real deal. On the other hand, handbag "superfakes" mimic expensive designer bags but are not genuine products. While lab-grown diamonds offer an ethical and eco-friendly alternative, superfakes can deceive buyers looking for authentic luxury items. So, they're similar in that they imitate valuable goods, but lab-grown diamonds have their own value as real gems, while superfakes are essentially replicas.