Lab grown Diamonds - Thoughts?

[FunBagz]

I read all your comments and I’m not sure what route to go. I want a 2.5 carat and lab is ideal due to price but if I want natural my bf can only get me 2 carats which is not bad bc my finger is size 4.25.

has anyone purchase from Vrai?

Regarding Vrai, I don’t believe their diamonds are graded by an independent, third-party lab. They only come with GIA gemologist certified, which is not an actual lab report and is biased since it is their in-house gemologists (who completed a simple GIA course) providing their opinions.

Regardless of which route you take, I strongly encourage you to go with a diamond that is graded by a reputable, independent, third-party lab. Think GIA and AGS for mined, GIA and GCAL for lab grown. IGI is a very popular lab for grading lab grown diamonds, but they have somewhat of a reputation for being softer on grading, so you may want to go up a grade or two in color and clarity if you get a diamond with an IGI report because it would likely grade lower had it been sent to other, more reputable labs. Diamonds graded these labs will be accompanied by actual reports as to their characteristics, vs. a gemologist certificate, appraisal, or other documentation, which only provides a general opinion as to their characteristics (as noted above, usually biased since the people providing these opinions work for the retailers selling the diamonds).

Go to the pricescope website for loads of info on the importance of lab grading reports, how to select a diamond, and a lot more. The folks on the rocky talk forum can help with mined diamonds and I believe there is a separate forum for lab growns. FWIW, I personally would go for the mined diamond. Best of luck to you!

 

[katieCH008]

Regarding Vrai, I don’t believe their diamonds are graded by an independent, third-party lab. They only come with GIA gemologist certified, which is not an actual lab report and is biased since it is their in-house gemologists (who completed a simple GIA course) providing their opinions.

Regardless of which route you take, I strongly encourage you to go with a diamond that is graded by a reputable, independent, third-party lab. Think GIA and AGS for mined, GIA and GCAL for lab grown. IGI is a very popular lab for grading lab grown diamonds, but they have somewhat of a reputation for being softer on grading, so you may want to go up a grade or two in color and clarity if you get a diamond with an IGI report because it would likely grade lower had it been sent to other, more reputable labs. Diamonds graded these labs will be accompanied by actual reports as to their characteristics, vs. a gemologist certificate, appraisal, or other documentation, which only provides a general opinion as to their characteristics (as noted above, usually biased since the people providing these opinions work for the retailers selling the diamonds).

Go to the pricescope website for loads of info on the importance of lab grading reports, how to select a diamond, and a lot more. The folks on the rocky talk forum can help with mined diamonds and I believe there is a separate forum for lab growns. FWIW, I personally would go for the mined diamond. Best of luck to you!

Thank you!

 

[hab818]

Agree with @FunBagz said.

Ultimately, if it bothers you that you have a lab grown, do not go that route.

It also depends on which of the "Cs" you're willing to compromise. If you're ok with a lower color, lower clarity stone, there are some nice mined diamonds that face up quite white in the I-L range. May take some time to hunt down one but could fit in your budget.

If you choose the lab-grown route, would go with a REPUTABLE seller who can vet which stones are actually good. There are a lot of nuances that aren't reported in the lab reports (blue tints, striations, etc) so you have to be careful. Recommend heading to pricescope (there's a dedicated MMD forum). I spent many many hours reading through the forum. Some experts will weigh in on your potential options if you post.

I personally went with a lab grown because I wanted the best "4 C's" in my budget and also have a tough time justifying the overblown inflated cost of a mined diamond. This is just personal preference though!

Good luck on your search!

 

[katieCH008]

Agree with @FunBagz said.

Ultimately, if it bothers you that you have a lab grown, do not go that route.

It also depends on which of the "Cs" you're willing to compromise. If you're ok with a lower color, lower clarity stone, there are some nice mined diamonds that face up quite white in the I-L range. May take some time to hunt down one but could fit in your budget.

If you choose the lab-grown route, would go with a REPUTABLE seller who can vet which stones are actually good. There are a lot of nuances that aren't reported in the lab reports (blue tints, striations, etc) so you have to be careful. Recommend heading to pricescope (there's a dedicated MMD forum). I spent many many hours reading through the forum. Some experts will weigh in on your potential options if you post.

I personally went with a lab grown because I wanted the best "4 C's" in my budget and also have a tough time justifying the overblown inflated cost of a mined diamond. This is just personal preference though!

Good luck on your search!

I end up telling my boyfriend that I prefer natural with 2 carats. He told me he has a few contacts to find the right diamond so I trust he will find the right one. Thank you for your input!

 

[TraceySH]

Interesting development …

 

[Onebagtoomany]

Interesting article:

LEIBISH Learning Center - Your Educational Hub | LEIBISH

Delve into the world of diamonds, jewels, and gemstones with the LEIBISH Learning Center. Gain invaluable insights, expert tips, and comprehensive resources to enhance your understanding and appreciation of these exquisite treasures.

www.leibish.com

 

[Gourmetgal]

Yes, interesting article written by a diamond merchant. he keeps citing the $8500 price point for a mined diamond and wouldn’t every jeweler prefer selling that. Well, they are selling plenty of LGD at that price point….so nice to by an excellent 3 Ct LGD for that.

 

[Onebagtoomany]

Yes, interesting article written by a diamond merchant. he keeps citing the $8500 price point for a mined diamond and wouldn’t every jeweler prefer selling that. Well, they are selling plenty of LGD at that price point….so nice to by an excellent 3 Ct LGD for that.

Just another perspective…

 

[880]

I don’t have any, but I loved this designers lab creations posted by @DoggieBags
post #1580

What Other Jewelry Brands Do You Buy/Wear?

We need to go sometime! It would be so much fun! That would be an amazing tPF meetup. o own one-of-a-kind pieces that have history and a story to tell. Deco Cartier piece, a work of art and a piece of history, Briony Raymond is at the show in Vegas now and she is posting amaaaazing photos...

forum.purseblog.com

 

[TraceySH]

I don’t have any, but I loved this designers lab creations posted by @DoggieBags
post #1580

What Other Jewelry Brands Do You Buy/Wear?

We need to go sometime! It would be so much fun! That would be an amazing tPF meetup. o own one-of-a-kind pieces that have history and a story to tell. Deco Cartier piece, a work of art and a piece of history, Briony Raymond is at the show in Vegas now and she is posting amaaaazing photos...

forum.purseblog.com

These are gorgeous!
I think there’s room for both natural and lab, I have some of both. I feel less nervous wearing a lab diamond out and about (granted it’s still over 50k) vs a bigger natural diamond in the 6 figures. So I now see them more as “daily wear”. When you realize that earth mined diamonds aren’t rare at all, and debeers has something like 100+ years’ demand worth of diamonds just stockpiled… not sure that feels super precious to me either!

 

[saligator]

I think the article is interesting, and of course each stakeholder in the diamond business (as well as each type of customer) has an opinion about it--and all of them are valid to them.

To someone who is a materials scientist, engineer, or geologist with a technical bent, the idea that diamonds can be truly created in a lab might be very exciting and a "luxury." To diamond cartels, it's a gauntlet thrown down, challenging their rein on the market. To dealers, it, along with online purchasing, is a thorn in their business plan and model. They have to sell "real"diamonds at a certain price which is part of the whole cartel deal, right? But if they continue to, as more people go "lab," they will keep losing customers, so framing it as a 'fad' is part of that story. I know, "poor diamond dealers" isn't a phrase we mention here, but that's their perspective. For environmental aware folks, the water usage, the toil on human labor, the mines, all make it harder for one to consciously purchase cartel diamonds. And for consumers, a shot at a 4 carat never deemed possible to them in the cartel-controlled market, suddenly becoming available is amazing.

The problem is that everyone is entitled to their perspective and are enacting it at the same time, which makes sorting out status and luxury harder--especially if luxury brands get in the lab game. Personally, I suspect they might if the Russian sanctions continue--if only to keep up with the change in times and a lack of ethical supply.

If the cartels priced diamonds according to their availability in the world, they would have a lot less value, and it would upend the entire industry. Including lab diamonds.

So there is tension between the status and price regulation of diamonds, and the lure of cheaper lab diamonds which elevate people without the means to own mined ones, as well as to status that changes for people wearing lab ones, who can't afford mined ones of the same size.

Personally, I'm all for Lab diamonds. I am sorry that it may change people's livelihoods, but overall, they seem better for the planet to not be mined, and better for the people who are losing lives mining them.

That said, I'm not an economist, so I don't know all the ins and outs of this, but I do research status.

IF mined diamonds become tainted socially or unavailable due to sanctions, I fully expect to see luxury brands pivot to them going forward.

 

[thelilachour]

I’m looking forward to the next few years when labs become ubiquitous and the prices drop. I’m not a diamond or bling aficionado, and enjoy interesting natural inclusions so seeking a lab stone for the perfect 4 C’s isn’t a deciding factor for me. Some of my favourite stones are not yet available by lab with naturalistic features (alexandrite, emeralds, diamonds in colours like violet). Natural alexandrite (at least with the desirable colour change), is so different from lab created that the difference is visible from a few feet away and even more obvious under certain lighting.

However…if what I wanted was an eternity band with near exact stats, a set of larger, clear portrait cuts, or unusual fantasy cuts then lab seems like a better choice over mined. So many high end jewellery brands already use semi-precious stones, resin, glass etc in their pieces. Why not lab diamonds? Most of the cost in the popular styles from VCA comes from the metal and labour quality, not the stones, and they have mentioned pieces being discontinued due to supply shortage. Why not synthetic diamond as an alternative to rock crystal? In pieces where design and quality metalwork is the feature, and imperfect stones would be a distraction, synthetic stones make sense. I have a feeling though, that brands will take advantage of lab diamond marketing and replace existing natural diamonds in their jewellery with no further drop in price for the consumer.

If we are concerned about the ethical or environmental impacts then we should advocate purchasing preowned jewellery.

 

[thelilachour]

If anyone is interested in hearing some updated professional opinions on the future of lab grown diamonds, I just saw Rapaport & IGI are hosting a webinar on this topic July 12. If you search ‘IGI presents Fast-Tracking the Future: What's Next for Lab Grown?’ it should come up

 

[mrs moulds]

I asked my jeweler about lab grown diamonds because I saw them in a jewelry store. According to him, lab grown diamonds are diamonds made in a lab instead of within the earth. Lab diamonds test as diamonds, and look the same under a loup because it’s a diamond. If it’s certified, the only thing that would give it away is the laser inscription on it that signifies it is lab grown.

Exactly! I have a lot of mined diamonds, however, after doing some extensive research online and speaking with jewelers, lab created and mined diamonds have the same components and test the same. Plus, diamonds don’t increase in value and retain a large resell value ( only if your a major celebrity like, the Late Elizabeth Taylor) your not going to get the same or more money if you resell. I am dying for a tennis necklace. However, I don’t want to spend 17,000 for the one that I want. I’m leaning towards lab -created instead. Plus, my daughter, would have a fit; due to how mined diamonds are sourced, especially in Africa, and labor abuse, destroying the earth.

 

[purly]

I've been pretty tempted to add some lab grown diamond studs to my jewelry box just because you can get them in rare fancy colors like pink for the same cost as the clear ones. I'm not sure which brand has the best ones though.