Would you replace real diamonds with lab ones?

[papertiger]

Silver is a precious metal. Thus, the product you added is fine, not semi-fine jewellery.
Yes, both glass and lab diamonds are manufactured, but it doesn’t mean that a lab diamond is an equivalent to glass.

Semi-fine jewellery is jewellery that is between costume/fashion and fine. Most brands do not call their silver jewellery 'fine', only reserving that category for gold.

Semi-fine can be sterling silver, gold-plated, gold-filled or vermeil.

Nothing wrong with glass, synthetic, lab-grown or composite stones in jewellery, they are not however equivalent to natural stones. OP was considering replacing natural stones with lab-grown which would compromise the vintage piece. Since then, OP has wisely decided against doing it.

 

[Swanky]

Based on the title of the thread, no I wouldn't replace real diamonds with lab ones.

 

[Mishella]

Semi-fine jewellery is jewellery that is between costume/fashion and fine. Most brands do not call their silver jewellery 'fine', only reserving that category for gold.

Semi-fine can be sterling silver, gold-plated, gold-filled or vermeil.

Nothing wrong with glass, synthetic, lab-grown or composite stones in jewellery, they are not however equivalent to natural stones. OP was considering replacing natural stones with lab-grown which would compromise the vintage piece. Since then, OP has wisely decided against doing it.

I don’t know what are your personal definitions, but silver jewellery is fine jewellery. I also don’t know where you got that thought about “brand categories”. A brand positioning on silver is easy to find. Go to Tiffany, Bulgari, etc website and check whether they put their silver pieces into other “non fine” category. No, they don’t, their silver pieces are mixed with the gold ones.
About glass and lab diamonds - following your logic you could say “glass, lab stones and Teslas are basically the same”, cause you know, they are all manufactured

 

[amateurjeweler]

Would I replace natural diamonds I already own with lab diamonds? I don’t see the point unless a stone got lost or damaged, and in that case I would consider it. Would I substitute natural diamond with lab diamond? To me a diamond is a diamond. I wouldn’t pay a premium for natural diamond unless I wanted a specific piece from a designer that doesn’t use lab diamonds.

 

[Pop Art Suzy]

I don't know, I wouldn't do it. For me, it would always bother me that they weren't "real" diamonds. But that's me. Obviously, you feel differently since you're contemplating it. I also love Emerald Cut diamonds. It's my favorite, and I would just love a beautiful pair of EC studs.