I agree. I also think that once they find more ways to perfect lab grown diamonds, the price will further decrease. Also, they currently don’t have resale value, so they’re not worth anything if you try to resell.
Lab grown Diamonds - Thoughts?
- Thread starter Minimalist_Chic
- Start date
TPF may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others
I love the discussion we have here even though personally I view this quite differently. It’s so refreshing to see different opinions! IMHO, handbags are expensive because of the brands they are attached to. A Birkin, by definition, is not a birkin if it’s not made by Hermes. A man-made diamond, by definition, is true diamond. It’s not a replica of anything - I view it more as a “wild plants vs plants from my local nursery” kind of scenario.
I do think there is a difference between a piece of finished jewelry and a piece of raw gem. A team worked together, learning your need, studying the gem, designing the jewelry, and then molding, polishing, assembling every part of a beautiful creation. That’s what sets the diamonds on a finished piece apart from loose stones. Not to mention the added value if you purchase it from a well known brand like Graff or HW. VCA is the reason an Alhambra piece is considered Alhambra, but a diamond will still be a diamond when you pry it off a pair of earrings. Frankly speaking, as soon as someone takes the diamond out, that stone itself will immediately lose a significant amount of its value which does show the true value of small diamonds even they are high quality.
At the end of the day, I think everyone deserves to have something sparkly in their life. Who doesn’t go head over heels when they see the glimmer and radiance of a gem? That’s why I love the idea of MMD. Be it natural or MMD, go with what makes you happy because that’s what shopping is all about!
Yes it’s definitely true that the designer branding does add a lot of value to the jewellery piece.
My point was more around someone earlier mentioned how a lab diamond is made of the same properties as a natural diamond - hence my comparison to a fake replica bag made of the same materials.
A natural diamond is a lot rarer than a lab produced diamond and a lot goes into the mining process, so at the end of the day it is worth a lot more than a lab one. As someone else on this forum said, a lab one will be as common as a cubic zirconia as the technology gets better and more are produced.
Each to their own as you say, everyone has their own preferences.
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.
Last edited:
Not entirely true. Lab grown diamonds can have nuances that are not commonly seen in mined diamonds (blue nuance, grey tint, growth/strain lines, color zoning, etc.). While it would take someone savvy in diamonds to spot these, they are differences that should be noted. Also, HPHT lab grown diamonds can carry impurities that cause them to test as moissanite or non-diamond. And while the diamond testers currently available generally can't detect the difference between lab grown vs. mined, it is quite likely that technology will catch up and more advanced testers will come available.
Maybe those are poorly made lab created diamonds. My jeweler says that in a quality stone the difference isn’t detectable with the naked eye or a loup. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, I tend to believe my jeweler in this case because he’s the expert, he also has no dog in the fight as I wasn’t looking to buy one just picking his brain because I’d never heard of it and thought it was a CZ.
Regarding new technology being able to detect, I doubt it because chemically it has the same makeup. In order for the detector to pick out the difference, it would have to know whether it came from the ground or a lab. Detectors are made to use high heat to cause a transference to test how the heat moves through the diamond which somehow tells if it’s real or not. So again, I don’t think new technology will ever be able to pick out the difference.
In any event, I’m not here to try to change your mind, I just wanted to share with the person I quoted what my jeweler said.
Enjoy your day!
Synthesised diamonds have no interest to me, any more than lab grown sapphire or emerald.
Back in the day synthesised sapphire and emerald were embraced as proof of our progress and humanity’s improvement on nature. Today those synthetic coloured stones look too perfect, amd cheap.
Synthetic diamond has an advantage over coloured stone as it blends in with the earth created diamonds much more easily. No crazy-fake perfect colour to contend with. This could be a scenario where natural gems with their natural inclusions could rise in value as the heritage of their natural creation is right there to be seen under the loupe. Although I understand the man made makers are adding all manner of inclusions. This aspect of the industry puts me off - why deliberately include inclusions, unless to lie about the origins? Already jewellers are wary of synthetics being mixed in with their natural stones in packets. The connection to criminal fraud is a concern with the synthetics industry.
I can see that casual consumers would be happy to have the cheaper item. Same ‘stuff’ right. Well, almost. Some crystal elements are not the same but to the naked eye they look the same. I could weaken for a particular novelty design if it is cheap and fun I suppose.
But for significant purchases, synthesised diamonds are unappealing to me because they are not a gift of nature but have been commissioned and grown by humans.
Perhaps a bit like synthesised, lab grown meat - very convenient, yes a great break through and all manner of benefits - but kinda removed from the natural spark.
I’ll be sticking with the original natural occurrence gemstones which were the inspiration for these scientists and business people, not the electricity-sucking pressure cooked ones cooked up in warehouses.
Can’t wait for the prices to come right down to reflect the trinkets they are though.
Back in the day synthesised sapphire and emerald were embraced as proof of our progress and humanity’s improvement on nature. Today those synthetic coloured stones look too perfect, amd cheap.
Synthetic diamond has an advantage over coloured stone as it blends in with the earth created diamonds much more easily. No crazy-fake perfect colour to contend with. This could be a scenario where natural gems with their natural inclusions could rise in value as the heritage of their natural creation is right there to be seen under the loupe. Although I understand the man made makers are adding all manner of inclusions. This aspect of the industry puts me off - why deliberately include inclusions, unless to lie about the origins? Already jewellers are wary of synthetics being mixed in with their natural stones in packets. The connection to criminal fraud is a concern with the synthetics industry.
I can see that casual consumers would be happy to have the cheaper item. Same ‘stuff’ right. Well, almost. Some crystal elements are not the same but to the naked eye they look the same. I could weaken for a particular novelty design if it is cheap and fun I suppose.
But for significant purchases, synthesised diamonds are unappealing to me because they are not a gift of nature but have been commissioned and grown by humans.
Perhaps a bit like synthesised, lab grown meat - very convenient, yes a great break through and all manner of benefits - but kinda removed from the natural spark.
I’ll be sticking with the original natural occurrence gemstones which were the inspiration for these scientists and business people, not the electricity-sucking pressure cooked ones cooked up in warehouses.
Can’t wait for the prices to come right down to reflect the trinkets they are though.
If I can be honest, while shopping for an eternity band, I stumbled upon lab grown solitaires. The price of the lab grown diamond, with the same specs as my natural 2.16 carat diamond was staggering. I had momentary regret for spending so much on my ring even though it brings me so much joy!
I became discouraged because I couldn’t find anything that I liked. Now I’m considering just buying one sight unseen from James Allen because at least they offer returns and exchanges on eternity bands while most don’t because they consider them special order. I’m just hoping that I’m not settling. I really want this set to be it for a while!
I became discouraged because I couldn’t find anything that I liked. Now I’m considering just buying one sight unseen from James Allen because at least they offer returns and exchanges on eternity bands while most don’t because they consider them special order. I’m just hoping that I’m not settling. I really want this set to be it for a while!
Last edited:
Are you considering lab grown?
I think if the savings are significant, why not?
Also, if you are thrifty get the 3/4 eternity ring.
Resizing is a great advantage.
No, I’m not considering lab grown. I just thought that the info my jeweler shared with me was interesting. I’m actually looking for a 2-3 carat diamond eternity somewhere in the G-H color range and maybe VS-SI in clarity. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but I definitely need eye clean stones. I’ve considered a 3/4 eternity, but I just love the look of diamonds all the way around. Eventually I’m even thinking of having a duplicate eternity made with a head to fit my solitaire. A few years back, I designed and had my husbands dream band custom created. Now I’m trying to create mine.
Last edited:
For those thinking that “finding something in nature” is so special, consider educating yourself about mining. Read “Fire into Ice” about the geologist who discovered diamonds in Canada’s north, nearly killing his family and bankrupting his friends in the process. Look at the open pit mines on Google satellite view. Watch “Blood Diamond”.
Yes, Mother Nature is the most incredible artist, there’s no denying that. But our consumerism is destroying her. If you want to appreciate the beauty of nature, go for a walk outside, take pictures and leave no trace.
Right now I’m reading about the Klondike gold rush of 1897-1899, and it’s heartbreaking to see the pictures of men, horses and dogs that suffered horrible deaths in pursuit of riches.
I know...I’m a hypocrite because I still love my blingy things. But I’m really trying to keep it as minimal and low-impact as possible.
Yes, Mother Nature is the most incredible artist, there’s no denying that. But our consumerism is destroying her. If you want to appreciate the beauty of nature, go for a walk outside, take pictures and leave no trace.
Right now I’m reading about the Klondike gold rush of 1897-1899, and it’s heartbreaking to see the pictures of men, horses and dogs that suffered horrible deaths in pursuit of riches.
I know...I’m a hypocrite because I still love my blingy things. But I’m really trying to keep it as minimal and low-impact as possible.
It’s not a gift of nature when humans are literally ripping the earth apart and killing each other, and it, to get these stones. There are also plenty of poor quality, included, natural stones on the market. I don’t find them particularly special or enticing because they came from the Earth.
You have strong opinions and are entitled to them. You can also voice your opinion while refraining from condescension.
Sorry if you see my opinion as condescension. It was honest. I don’t think it was condescending in any way. You don’t have to buy a diamond that was formed in the earth if you don’t want. Buy the man made copy that’s fine. No one will know.
If you read my prior post on the matter, you would see that I am not for or against lab grown diamonds, so it is not an issue of changing my mind. But I am all for being an informed consumer and what your jeweler is telling you is not entirely true.