Engagement ring -- Would you rather: (Smaller) Natural Diamond or (Bigger) Lab Grown

[RQH5061]

Heyy TPFers! I would really love your thoughts & opinions.

For an engagement ring, would you rather a natural diamond just over 2cts or a lab grown that's just over 3cts?

The specs would be roughly the same for both. We're looking at something along the lines of G, VS1 or VVS2, and Super Ideal. Shape is tbd!

Thanks for all your help!

 

[nicole0612]

I would much rather a natural diamond. If you prefer a larger stone, I would look at a preowned stone for the savings out of the commonly available options for reducing the cost.

 

[NLVOEWITHLV]

I don’t have a preference of one over the other. I currently have a 2.16 carat natural and if I wanted bigger I’d be ok with a 3 carat lab grown. Honestly, this is such a personal choice only you can make it. Gl!

 

[Norm.Core]

Are you able to try the two different stones/carat weight in person? Maybe that way you can decide which size suits your hand and makes your heart sing. And then you can decide on natural vs man made. Good luck!

 

[NLVOEWITHLV]

Are you able to try the two different stones/carat weight in person? Maybe that way you can decide which size suits your hand and makes your heart sing. And then you can decide on natural vs man made. Good luck!

This is a great idea. I tried on a 3 ctw solitaire and it looked too gaudy to me for my finger, even the 2.5 and 2 3/4 was meh. It’s all going to be relative to what you feel your finger can handle.

 

[floatinglili]

Both are large stones.

I understand that natural diamond has become the cultural norm, but lab created is a different beast to natural so perhaps it is worth considering further afield than diamond?


Sapphires, spinels, garnets are absolutely beautiful and can offer something a bit different.

Being a bit of a devils advocate in raising the question of looking at other natural stones I guess, as of course lab created will pass as a natural.
However (for the sake of this discussion) I think many people would like the idea of a natural stone rather than lab created for their engagement ring. ?

I’m feeling that because they are new to the market, lab created diamond currently come with more cachet than lab created moissanite. Moissanite has its own properties though, including superior sparkle.

 

[Onebagtoomany]

For me it’s a no brainer as I don’t like the idea of lab grown diamonds, but then to see a 2 carat+ diamond where I live in the UK is not common at all so would be quite the dazzler! Personally, if I wanted a very large stone of 3 carat+, I would look at preowned to get the best price rather than going down the lab grown route to save money.

The other thing to consider is that diamonds around this sort of carat weight - 2/3 carat+ - are a big buy no matter what your financial status, so I wouldn’t feel comfortable with buying lab grown which is almost certainly not going to hold much value in the long-term as a natural mined diamond with the way things currently stand. To me it would feel like I was throwing my money away. However, I appreciate that I am biased in not liking lab grown stones.

 

[lill_canele]

Hmm, probably depends on a some thing:

1) does it matter to you if it is natural or lab? (honestly most people cannot discern with the naked eye)
- does it bother you if a diamond is not all natural~?

2) budget, does the amount you spend on a natural vs lab diamond concern you? I know the sizes are different, but would you rather prefer the one with a lower price?
- if the lab diamond is more affordable, and you prefer to save money, then go with that one

3) are you concerned about how diamonds are sourced? the ethical issues? blood diamonds?
- if you're concerned about whether your diamonds are ethically sources, then lab diamonds won't give you that burden of figuring it out or second guessing.

4) Since they'll have the same specs, it's really about size. Do you want a bigger diamond in general for the look you are going for?
- if you think you'll regret getting a smaller diamond, then you know where your heart lies!


Personally it does not matter to me, but I do tend to go for lab diamonds more. Having been to Africa a few times, including Botswana, which is known for its diamonds and the diamond industry is completely controlled by the government (so if you see someone selling it on the street, definitely illegal if it's real). A lab diamond does give me more peace of mind. But that's just based on personal experience lol

Hope that helps you in your thought process! Good luck!

 

[RQH5061]

I would much rather a natural diamond. If you prefer a larger stone, I would look at a preowned stone for the savings out of the commonly available options for reducing the cost.

Thanks for your input! Do you know any places that sell preowned stones?

 

[nicole0612]

Thanks for your input! Do you know any places that sell preowned stones?

Oh my goodness, too many to name and it’s hard to recommend without knowing your background knowledge about diamonds and your comfort level with different buying options. It is a huge purchase; I would join the forum called Pricescope - it is basically for diamonds and gems what tPF is for bags and branded jewelry. They will give you excellent advice.

 

[RQH5061]

Oh my goodness, too many to name and it’s hard to recommend without knowing your background knowledge about diamonds and your comfort level with different buying options. It is a huge purchase; I would join the forum called Pricescope - it is basically for diamonds and gems what tPF is for bags and branded jewelry. They will give you excellent advice.

We're luckily well versed with diamonds! With that said, I'm very set into my specifications and don't want to skimp on quality for a larger stone.

 

[tinytrees11]

I'd go with lab grown. Chemically, natural and lab grown diamonds are exactly identical. Lab grown are also a lot more environmentally friendly and unless you're looking for ethical stones, the diamond industry funds criminal activity in places like Africa. I would think also because you can control lab settings, you could probably get a better quality lab grown stone than an equivalent natural stone for a lower price. I too used to prefer natural stones until I read about what happens to the workers and the land in the process of extracting these stones and it was disgusting and inhumane, so now I think lab grown is a better option.

 

[RQH5061]

Hmm, probably depends on a some thing:

1) does it matter to you if it is natural or lab? (honestly most people cannot discern with the naked eye)
- does it bother you if a diamond is not all natural~?

2) budget, does the amount you spend on a natural vs lab diamond concern you? I know the sizes are different, but would you rather prefer the one with a lower price?
- if the lab diamond is more affordable, and you prefer to save money, then go with that one

3) are you concerned about how diamonds are sourced? the ethical issues? blood diamonds?
- if you're concerned about whether your diamonds are ethically sources, then lab diamonds won't give you that burden of figuring it out or second guessing.

4) Since they'll have the same specs, it's really about size. Do you want a bigger diamond in general for the look you are going for?
- if you think you'll regret getting a smaller diamond, then you know where your heart lies!


Personally it does not matter to me, but I do tend to go for lab diamonds more. Having been to Africa a few times, including Botswana, which is known for its diamonds and the diamond industry is completely controlled by the government (so if you see someone selling it on the street, definitely illegal if it's real). A lab diamond does give me more peace of mind. But that's just based on personal experience lol

Hope that helps you in your thought process! Good luck!

1.) Tbh, I prefer a natural diamond for a variety of reasons. First of all, I think lab grown's are essentially worthless. I can't fathom spending 20k+ for something that holds very little to no value. I know natural diamonds don't hold much either, but at least they're worth something and highly desirable.

Another reason I'm leaning towards natural is because I have seen a coworker's lab grown diamond and it has insane amount of blue nuance. To me, the diamond straight up looks blue. That's definitely not the look I'm aiming for. To be fair, I've only seen her ring on an airplane with plane lighting, I suppose. I actually don't know what her ring looks like in natural light -- we work on the airplane so it is likely that it will bug me every single day.

I've also seen lab grown diamonds IRL when we made an appointment at a Brilliant Earth. I didn't see any blue nuance, but the lighting was so bad that we were literally looking at the diamonds in the shade.

2.) I think he's looking to spend no more than $25k natural or lab grown. It is likely that he'll end up spending nearly the same amount should we decide on lab grown (but it'll be a larger stone with the same specs -- G, VS1 or VVS2, super ideal cut).

3.) I definitely prefer a conflict-free diamond. But how can retailers be sure that they're conflict free if they're sourced from Africa?

4.) I really don't know! To me, 2cts is sufficient for round and oval. My dream shape has always been a cushion though, and a 2ct cushion looks way smaller than a 2ct round or oval. All in all, the blue nuance bothers me just as much as a 2ct cushion. But the blue nuance might bother me a bit more lolol

Thanks so much for your well thought response

 

[lill_canele]

1.) Tbh, I prefer a natural diamond for a variety of reasons. First of all, I think lab grown's are essentially worthless. I can't fathom spending 20k+ for something that holds very little to no value. I know natural diamonds don't hold much either, but at least they're worth something and highly desirable.

Another reason I'm leaning towards natural is because I have seen a coworker's lab grown diamond and it has insane amount of blue nuance. To me, the diamond straight up looks blue. That's definitely not the look I'm aiming for. To be fair, I've only seen her ring on an airplane with plane lighting, I suppose. I actually don't know what her ring looks like in natural light -- we work on the airplane so it is likely that it will bug me every single day.

I've also seen lab grown diamonds IRL when we made an appointment at a Brilliant Earth. I didn't see any blue nuance, but the lighting was so bad that we were literally looking at the diamonds in the shade.

2.) I think he's looking to spend no more than $25k natural or lab grown. It is likely that he'll end up spending nearly the same amount should we decide on lab grown (but it'll be a larger stone with the same specs -- G, VS1 or VVS2, super ideal cut).

3.) I definitely prefer a conflict-free diamond. But how can retailers be sure that they're conflict free if they're sourced from Africa?

4.) I really don't know! To me, 2cts is sufficient for round and oval. My dream shape has always been a cushion though, and a 2ct cushion looks way smaller than a 2ct round or oval. All in all, the blue nuance bothers me just as much as a 2ct cushion. But the blue nuance might bother me a bit more lolol

Thanks so much for your well thought response

Oooh, I understand! haha, yes, I guess my nerdy brain thinks more along the lines of, well, they have the same basic chemical molecular structure so it's the same. (though I know natural diamonds do have a tiny bit of Nitrogen, which synthetic/lab diamonds do not have)
Then, yes, if it bugs you then it'll always bug you, don't go for the lab diamond.

I suppose for conflict-free diamonds, if you're looking to buy brand new, it's half a lot of your own research and half trusting in the seller's explanation of how they source their diamonds. Go with what makes sense to you and gives you the right gut feeling.

If your dream is the cushion, then get it! My biggest regrets in life have always been getting something that does not fit my exact specifications, and then later down the road I do end up spending the money in getting exactly what I want, lol.

No problem! It's a great thread! a lot of good info and discussion

 

[nicole0612]

We're luckily well versed with diamonds! With that said, I'm very set into my specifications and don't want to skimp on quality for a larger stone.

In that case, how about going directly to a dealer?