Lab-grown engagement rings are gaining popularity due to their affordability, ethical sourcing, and exceptional beauty. About 66% of couples today opt for lab-grown diamonds for their engagement rings, a substantial increase compared to traditional mined diamonds. Nearly a quarter of engagement rings exchanged by survey-takers featured a man-made stone, such as a lab-grown diamond, up 11% since 2019. Lab-grown diamonds accounted for 10% of all global diamond jewelry sales last year, up from 1.7% three years ago.
The average lab-grown diamond ring sold for $3,916, indicating that some consumers are lowering their spend when purchasing lab-growns. Lab-grown diamonds emit only 6 pounds of carbon and produce no sulfur oxide, making them a more cost-effective choice for couples looking for a symbol of their love.
The share of diamond engagement rings set with lab-grown diamonds is constantly increasing, with 17.3% of total diamond engagement ring sales in February 2023. Lab-grown diamonds make up nearly 20% of the total global diamond jewelry market, with lab-grown diamonds accounting for 13.6% of the $88.6 billion in diamond jewelry sold globally in 2022.
In 2023, 46% of all engagement ring center stones were reported to be lab-grown, nearly four times the 2019 figure.
📹 Should you buy a Lab Grown Diamond? | 2ct Lab Grown vs Natural Diamond Comparison | Ultimate Guide
Should you buy a Lab Grown Diamond? | 2ct Lab Grown vs Natural Diamond Comparison | Ultimate Guide #2ct #diamonds …
What percent of engagement rings are lab?
People like lab-grown stones for engagement rings because they are environmentally friendly and help people in need. In February 2023, 17% of diamond rings sold in the US used lab-grown gems, according to industry analyst Edahn Golan. This is partly thanks to hundreds of companies in China and India, which are among the largest producers of man-made stones. From April to October 2023, Indian lab diamond makers exported 4.04 million carats, a 42% increase from the previous year.
Is it smarter to buy a lab grown diamond?
Lab-grown diamonds are real. They have the same properties as mined diamonds and look the same. Lab-grown diamonds are a better value than rare earth mined diamonds.
Custom sapphire, emerald, and ruby rings. Lab-grown diamonds are popular and a good choice for a diamond engagement ring. But some people might be skeptical. A diamond grown in a lab might not seem romantic. Take a moment to learn about lab-grown diamonds. You might like this option. Brenda Harwick, manager of on-campus and lab gemology instruction for GIA, says you should ask for a grading report when making an investment.
A natural diamond is comfortable. People have been choosing natural diamonds for centuries. They’re attractive and dependable. Here’s what to think about when choosing between lab-created diamonds and natural stones.
Do wealthy people buy lab diamonds?
(IDEX Online) – Even wealthy clients are buying lab-grown diamonds, says the founder of a luxury jewelry brand in Dubai. Fergus James sells high-end lab-grown diamond bracelets to wealthy people.
(IDEX Online) – Even wealthy clients are buying lab-grown diamonds, says the founder of a luxury jewelry brand in Dubai. Fergus James sells high-end lab-grown diamond bracelets to wealthy clients. He says one client, an Indian billionaire, spends over $500,000 a year on lab-grown diamonds.
Do Tiffany use lab diamonds?
We don’t consider lab-grown diamonds a luxury material. They don’t belong in a luxury brand. They have their uses and places, but luxury consumers will still want the rarity and amazing story of natural diamonds. — Andy Hart, SVP of Tiffany & Co. Hi, I’m reaching out to explain why your view on lab diamonds is wrong. I’m the CEO of Ada Diamonds, a luxury lab diamond brand. I encourage you to reconsider your position on lab diamonds. Your view will age as much as Microsoft’s view of the iPhone did.
Are lab-grown diamonds popular for engagement rings?
Ring shoppers often choose these gems over mined diamonds because they are identical but cost less. Some consumers can’t afford $1,000 diamond jewelry, but they can afford $100 jewelry. But lab-grown diamonds don’t increase in value.
How common are lab-grown diamonds?
MARKETING COMPETITION With cheaper lab-grown diamonds and young people preferring them, natural stones are losing market share. Globally, lab-grown diamonds now make up 5-6% of the market. The traditional industry is fighting back. The marketing battle is on. Some say lab-grown diamonds won’t hold their value.
“In 5-10 years, I think few customers will spend thousands on lab diamonds. “I think it’ll sell for about $100,” said Zimnisky. He thinks natural diamonds will still sell for thousands and tens of thousands of dollars for engagement rings.
Can a jeweler tell if a diamond is lab grown?
A jeweler can tell the difference between a natural and lab-made diamond with a diamond tester. With a magnifying glass, they can sometimes tell the difference by looking at the inclusions in the stones. You need an appraisal for a lab-grown diamond if you want to insure it or sell it. An appraisal will tell you how much the lab-grown diamond is worth. Are there any downsides to buying a lab-grown diamond?
Is it tacky to get a lab-grown diamond?
Lab-grown diamonds have pros and cons. They may not be as real as natural diamonds, but they are more ethical and eco-friendly. They cost less than natural diamonds and are just as good. Whether lab-grown diamonds are tacky is up to you, but they are a good choice for eco-conscious consumers who want to avoid conflict diamonds and support the responsible diamond industry. We’ll help you design your dream ring without stress. Click Free Consultation to get started.
Do wealthy people buy lab-grown diamonds?
(IDEX Online) – Even wealthy clients are buying lab-grown diamonds, says the founder of a luxury jewelry brand in Dubai. Fergus James sells high-end lab-grown diamond bracelets to wealthy people.
(IDEX Online) – Even wealthy clients are buying lab-grown diamonds, says the founder of a luxury jewelry brand in Dubai. Fergus James sells high-end lab-grown diamond bracelets to wealthy clients. He says one client, an Indian billionaire, spends over $500,000 a year on lab-grown diamonds.
Does Cartier use lab diamond?
Cartier only uses natural gemstones in its jewelry. Synthetic and imitation materials are not used in Cartier jewelry. Only traditional stone treatments are accepted: these are commonly called “modifications” and are not considered treatments by the World Jewelry Confederation. Cartier doesn’t use processes that change the stone’s composition or durability. Treatments that undervalue stones are not accepted. Heating is not allowed for stones over 1 carat. Heating is only allowed for stones under 1 carat. Heating is used to improve color. For rubies, heat removes blue or brown tints to make them red. Pale sapphires get brighter when heated, while dark ones get lighter. Heating makes the stone color stay the same.
Is it OK to propose with a lab-grown diamond?
Conclusion: Are lab-grown diamonds for engagement rings? Lab-grown diamonds are fine for engagement rings. They are real diamonds. Lab-grown diamonds are ethical and affordable. When choosing between natural and lab-grown diamonds, consider where the diamonds were sourced. Knowing the differences and considering your values helps you make an informed decision that meets your needs and priorities.
📹 NATURAL VS. LAB DIAMONDS: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
Here’s a presentation that I originally made for a friend and client that I’ll refer to as Big Ben. But Big Ben is more than just …
Here is the list of resources and articles: Lab-Created Diamond Vs. Natural Diamond diamonds.pro/education/lab-grown-diamonds-vs-natural/ Ethical diamonds: What Conscientious Consumers Need to Know diamonds.pro/education/ethical-diamonds-conscientious-consumers-need-know/ How Are Lab Diamonds Formed? diamonds.pro/education/how-are-lab-created-diamonds-made/ How Diamonds Are Formed diamonds.pro/education/how-diamonds-are-formed/ HPHT and CVD Diamond Growth Processes: Making Lab-Grown Diamonds gia.edu/hpht-and-cvd-diamond-growth-processes The sparkling rise of the lab grown diamond bbc.com/future/article/20200207-the-sparkling-rise-of-the-lab-grown-diamond “Economic Growth” diamondfacts.org/economic-growth/ 💍For inquiries, email us at [email protected] Follow me on IG & FB👇 instagram.com/bybonniejewelry facebook.com/bybonniejewelry Our Website: bybonniejewelry.com
Thank you for your articles. I have watched them all now😂. I have a 2ct natural champagne that I absolutely LOVE but for some reason I’m wanting a Colorless too😬. My husband says natural but I’m leaning towards lab. I just can’t justify spending that money on myself when we could donate it/save for our boys. I feel bad spending more as it is. In the end it’s a personal decision and no one should look down on or judge anyone for having a lab grown or a natural. I just always hear my dad say “Just because you can afford it doesn’t mean you should spend it.” My husband will hopefully be contacting you soon to get my new one made for our 25th anniversary😍
Heres the thing – If you want to buy a lab diamond because its “cheaper” more power to you… If you prefer a natural diamond because its one of a kind and cant be duplicated.. that’s great too. Its really nobodies business and Lab diamond buyers AND natural diamond buyers shouldn’t make claims of one being better than the other. Just be happy with what you have.
Everyone I know prefers lab diamonds over mined diamonds but why is it that jewelers try to discourage the purchase of lab diamonds? This whole article insinuated that a $20,000 mined diamond is “better” than a $7,000 lab diamond without really getting into the specifics. All you really said was that the latter could be a “poor investment” and discussed unfavorable “long term value” but this is simply not relatable as 95% of millennials do not buy diamonds expecting to re-sell it. We look to the stock market for financial returns, not the ring we bought as a token of love. I felt that this article was not informative at all. If you feel up to it, I would be interested in a more detailed article that focuses on the true differences between the two rather than just talking about price and showing a short comparison article.
Good comparison and great info on lab-grown diamonds! I would like to point out some stuff not mentioned in the article though – buying a diamond engagement ring from a jeweler usually has a markup of around 300% (and can be as high as 1000%!). So you can’t really say that buying a diamond at such a high mark-up is any kind of a good investment because you can never sell it privately for what you paid – or, very rarely anyway. Most consumers are grossly overpaying for natural diamonds. So at what point does it just become excessive enough to start looking at more reasonable options? Your article and comparison was so great that it really makes a good argument for lab-grown diamonds, when all things are considered.
I’ve been married 49 years and the big 50 isn’t far away! My wedding ring has a small very good quality diamond. I remember the jeweler brought out a bag of diamonds and poured them out in front of us! That many years ago quality was more important than quantity. But here’s the point I’m trying to make! I would never have considered trading my original diamond for any other diamond! Guess I’m overly sentimental! So it never mattered if my ring went up or down in value! Because it’s valuable to me!🥰
That article was not only incredibly well done but the entire process was very informative & helpful to those who are not only curious to the process but want to do it themselves. I have a large collection of gemstones & have always wanted to apprentice at a jewelers. I have many articles, books, & tools to start being a bench jeweler only for myself. Some of those tool, especially the flattening tool. I do have a few questions tho. What was the metal value? Was it white & yellow gold mixed & what kt. Of the metal. Also, why didn’t you use Flux? I have subscribed & look forward to many more & will save them & watch over & over. The process makes much more sense in the way you made that ring. Becoming my own bench jeweler is my dream. Thank you so very much, I loved it.
It’s so interesting seeing the comments on this topic! Diamonds will always be a demand, even if they aren’t “rare” like people say etc, there are thousands, millions of girls out there that hope to experience being engaged and receiving a diamond ring. Man made are duplicates, but it’s what people prefer or how much people are willing to spend. Man made or natural who really cares?? Except the girl that is wearing it of course. There’s pros and cons for both I suppose, but I know many girls who would put up their hand for a natural over a man made, but again there is nothing wrong with that.
Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) This newer technique enables scientists to grow synthetic diamonds using moderate temperatures (700°C to 1300°C) and lower pressures. Carbon-containing gas is pumped into a vacuum chamber, depositing onto a diamond seed and crystallizing as synthetic diamond. The eventual size of the diamond depends on the time allowed for growth. 💎 Synthetic diamonds are seeded with a very tiny diamond, probably industrial grade diamond in size. A good grade industrial diamond is used to produce a good grade synthetic diamond. As the carbon-containing gas deposits upon this diamond ” seed “, the crystal grows and depending upon how long it is allowed to grow will decide it’s size and end result. A synthetic diamond starts it’s life with a real diamond ” seed ” and can be considered ” real ” for all intents and purposes. ☺️
I made my wife a classic tennis bracelet using lab grown for her birthday back in November 2020. She has yet to take it off since. She loves it and it cost me about 70% less than had I used natural diamonds (I have my own workshop but the percentage saving is the same along the supply chain). So, for bang for bucks, lab grown are the winner by far.
Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t think about value when I’m looking at purchasing a diamond (specifically for an engagement ring). I’m not thinking about how I can get my money back for it in the future. I view it as lost money that I’ll never get back and not as an asset so that removes the value proposition of getting an earth diamond for me. I’ll save the money, or get a bigger and better quality lab diamond instead every time.
Liked & subbed because I’m shopping the new Pandora lab-created line and and am now armed with everything I need to make the right choice. I’d also forgotten how VITAL the setting was 😳 That, and the editing on this article was top-notch! Not too long and very useful! Browsing your site now Bonnie and am digging the idea of “curation!” Thank you so much!
Good info. I went with a 2.0 carat lab grown diamond for my fiancé. A few factors lead me to this here are my top three. 1. PRICE – the cost savings on a lab grown diamond and bang for your buck is attractive. I find an even greater price difference than discussed in this article between the lab grown and natural diamonds of equal quality ratings regarding the 4C’s. 2. EMOTIONAL PURCHASE NOT AN INVESTMENT – My fiancé and I don’t view an engagement ring as a financial investment. It seems like a sales trick to think of it as such, even with a natural diamond it’s not exactly liquid or something you will want to ever part with provided the marriage lasts, and the cash value will likely always be a fraction of what was paid. It’s an emotional purchase, pure and simple. If you wanted to make an investment then put the money in real estate or the stock market. 3. THE DE BEERS CARTEL – not a fan of how De Beers has maintained a grip on the diamond industry for years. They are a cartel and have manipulated markets for years not to mention the exploitation of labor. So I prefer not to support them directly with my purchase.
Lab grown diamonds are beautiful. I have mined diamond in wedding rings and things given to me in family and recently in the last couple of years I got a lab grown diamond and I absolutely love it. It’s just as beautiful as the mined type. No difference. I also have mossianite earrings I received as gift I love as well
I have been listening to Abraham for over 15 years, I have watched them evolve into who they are today. I can say this without reservation, Abraham is the clearest information available on the planet today. No other spiritual teaching comes close to the true understanding of the Universe, Law of Attraction & who we really are:Source. Never thought in the 1980’s that anything could go beyond Seth. Abraham, I believe evolves as we evolve. I’m so thankful that I’m a match to this information.LoveU.
I have researched the lab grown diamonds for over 10 years now. I just purchased my first lab grown diamond ring for a special teenager as a gift -, H color/VS1 clarity is the standard for this brand. It’s a tiny .10 diamond in rose gold. The chemical and physical properties are the same as a natural mined diamond! It’s a diamond, and it’s beautiful, even it’s a hard concept to accept at first. LOL! The scintillation of the diamond is amazing, and It cost me 40% less than the natural mined diamond. Whatever diamond one gets, enjoy!!
I ordered a 2.20 ctw lab grown diamond 3 stone ring. Center round, and 2 pear on each side. Waiting for it to come in. I did my research on how it is produced. Same chemical makeup and refraction. Omg it is gorgeous, looks like “old money”, timeless, not trendy. Should be in next week, and I am so excited. It is my right hand ring. I have a 3 stone moissanite, and actually that one is a great dupe of a diamond. Definitely NOT a CZ, this moissanite is on fire, and even tested with that diamond tester tool as a diamond. I was floored!
Unless it’s a multi generational heirloom (long hold) you lose more money trying to resell a natural diamond because of the upfront costs in comparison to lab diamonds of the same quality. IMO the difference in money would be better invested in physical gold (can be artificially produced) or shares in the S&P500. Gold and Silver also goes up in value historically over time and unlike natural diamonds it precious metals can’t be lab grown. This is the main reason that I usually buy gold and silver fine jewelry that has more pricing due to the weight and Grade of the metal rather than gem content
Sure, historically speaking, natural diamonds have retained its value. This doesn’t necessarily mean it will continue to retain its value in the future. Lab diamonds and the technological improvements with creating them is accelerating. As long as you’re getting what’s being advertised from your jeweler, that’s great. Buying diamonds are a luxury, but I prefer lab diamonds and investing those savings into crypto lol
Natural Burmese Rubles if AAAA quality and Alexandrite of equal quality are super rare . There’s so many more beautiful gems than diamonds . My favorite are Spinel they rival Rubies,sapphires and tourmaline with out the massive inclusions . I have several and they’re spotlessly clear and absolutely gorgeous. However spinel are not advertised so most people have never heard of them.. I also love Russian chrome diopside they’re clear vibrant green and rival emeralds without inclusions . These are mind only 3 months out of the year because of the extreme cold weather conditions
Last time I checked no one will sell their wedding ring so unless you are going in for a purpose of investment, it isn’t necessary to include this thought in your purchase. A natural vs lab are identical and actually lab is better because you can afford a nicer cut and color. They are the same and you couldn’t tell the difference. It’s like a natural birth vs a test tub baby. Still result in a person, you couldn’t tell the difference of how they were created.
I think the issue with lab grown vs blood diamonds is. It’s been a dominated industry were they never cared about the lives taken to get it. Money money money. And the big people in the game don’t wanna lose that market. It’s a diamond just a safer way in a controlled environment. So why not buy it if it still reads and has the same break down chemical characteristics and process is the same.
There are a couple of points you missed regarding value. If you buy one of the 99% of natural diamonds that are not investment pieces, you’ll be losing money if you want to sell it. If for example, you buy a 5ct natural stone for $50k, it’s going to be worth half that if you want to sell, so a $25k loss. If you buy a lab stone for $5k, you’ll still lose 1/2, but that’s only a $2.5k loss – so which was the better investment? The other point about future value is that lab grown diamonds are not common in the high street yet. When the average consumer discovers that they can buy a chemically and physically identical stone for far less money (or one that is far bigger) for their budget, it’s very likely to start pushing down demand for natural stones as they lose potential customers to the lab stone market. This may have a seriously adverse affect on the natural stone market and their value, so I would not count on the retained value of natural stones.
As a jeweler of 15 years, we started selling labs a few years ago. It all comes down to your level of wealth. If you’re normal income, spend 5k get a 1ct or bigger lab grown & solid mounting. It will look great and your girl won’t get self conscious or feel diamond envy towards her friends. If you have some excess wealth get the natural. It will indeed always have good resale value just be prepared to spend market price.
In my case, it would also have to do with age, to get married again, being a senior, as much as I LOVE diamonds, why would I want an outlay of tens of thousands of dollars at this point in my life? Lab grown would be just fine for the years I might have left. At this point, long term value isn’t an issue. Both stones presented in the article were beautiful!
Natural diamonds don’t retain their value when you take into account inflation. If you look at the graph she showed it doesn’t even keep in line with inflation. Not to also mention the typical jeweler will mark up 100% of the price when they sell it to you . So if you went back to trade in odds are they will give you 1/3 of what you paid for it . Lab grown is the way to go . At the end of the day diamonds and paper money is worthless. The only value that comes from it is the value we give it . For that reason I would never consider a resale value because a diamond is not a investment .
It’s about value, not necessarily resale. but you’d also sell your original back to the jeweler you bought it from for an upgrade, which is extremely popular to do. Most people haven’t heard of the Kimberly Process and it shows. I love both but taking digs at one to justify your purchase or preference of the other, is trashy🤷🏾♂️ let people enjoy their rings and spend their money how they like
can you pls explain? why a diamond 1 ct in size color D and vvs2 round cut costs 189 USD ( in Hong Kong trade fair LAST JANUARY 2023 ) and a same 1 ct diamond D color vvs round Natural origin costs 13.800 USD IF WE DON’T SEE THE DIFFERENCE, WHY IS THIS PRICE DIFFERENCE SO HUGE….. WHAT IS GOING ON !!!! IS NATURAL RARE .
Bonnie … I have watched every single article you’ve ever made. I’m not even going to tell you my age … (but, I’m older than Moses) … and … when I find my guy … I am coming to you to get my ring made. (**Single, never been married, took care of my parents until they went to heaven, had a medical disaster and was paralyzed for 3 years (I look great now, you would never know it happened), I’m super educated (4 Master’s Degrees), and I still believe in true love and that Mr. Right is out there.) … When I find him … I’m going to come and see you!
I honestly think the demand for natural diamonds is going to tank shortly because there really is no practical benefit over these beautiful man made diamonds. As man made diamonds become cheaper and better quality, this will accelerate the declining demand for natural. At least, that’s my prediction. If I were shopping for a diamond, I would be looking at the man made ones.
I wrote under one of your articles that I can tell the difference – correction I CANNOT I went to a jewelry store and bought one and I still can’t tell it’s not real – it so depends on the quality and I’m very happy with my 4ct ring! Could have never bought such a nice looking certified Diamond unless it was lab grown – I highly recommend
Lol comments be like, natural diamonds are special, made by earth a billion years ago, there’s more value than a lab-grown… but me personally, I strongly don’t want anything that’s not environmentally friendly. Told my now fiancé to never buy me a natural diamond. So he proposed with a lab-grown that costs thousands of dollars knowing the fact that there’s no resale value. That idea is the most special to me because to him, I’m the diamond. Not the ring 😂 basically I’m the “investment” lol
6:25 Personally I don’t buy into the “diamonds retaining value” argument because: 1) Synthetic diamonds are indistinguishable from “natural” diamonds. If they can’t be distinguished from each other, they will be bought/sold as the same thing 2) Diamond prices are artificially high with De Beers controlling 35-40% of the global supply & other suppliers matching their price. Basically, the value will dramatically drop if this situation changes and supply increases 2b) Point 1 could cause the value drop in Point 2 Gold will retain its value. Gems will not simply because they can be synthesized.
My husband got me a 5 carat “natural” flawless E grade diamond. Decade later I wanted to to upgrade my ring, could only get 50% of the original $ spent. Tried stores, auctions, brokers. I’ve made it into a necklace and got an 8 carat flawless lab grown diamond ring instead. OVERJOYED. Will NEVER buy a natural diamond again.
My jeweler who designed my engagement ring told me that natural diamonds are like dinosaur bones that you see in a museum where lab diamonds are replica of bones that have the same composition but because of the difference in origin, it makes a huge distinction between the two. I thought this was an interesting illustration.
You’re so off on the limited supply part… there’s diamond companies with literally thousands of stones sitting there. So they are purposely keeping the price high. While lab grown prices are like 70% off now because you can make* them way faster and they don’t care about flooding the market anymore… thankfully.
what is this? why so sketchy about the reality of lab grown vs natural diamonds? Both are diamonds yet one is vastly cheaper, environmentaly friendly, and doesnt include violation of human rights! Companies want to delude people into thinking diamonds should be “authentic” and “expensive”. In reality, gold should be more precious than diamonds since it cant be synthesized like lab grown diamonds. These diamond companies hate the fact that they cant net a profit like they used too. Look at the elements of these products and understand that if it can be produced then it was a product this whole time. No need to add such sentimental value like “natural diamonds are billions of years old as compared to lab grown”. Eventually this mentality will die and diamond companies will dislike this.
Lab grown all the way. I don’t care about cost, but I do care about cost to the environment and workers. The diamond industry is so rigged — the supply side controlled mostly by one player. There’s nothing truly amazing about diamonds other than they look really cool when combusting in liquid oxygen! Society and commercial entities have programmed us to like something that is better used in saws and lenses. That being said, please don’t fund the natural diamond trade; it only causes harm, in every respect.
Hi please help! i am wondering my sister just got 3.60gr diamond ring, i google it, it says around 18karat/ carat? And price around $4.000 australian dollar and i went to jewelry shop yesterday and i like one of the ring, cost $4.500 aus dollar, but it says 0.95 Carat TW Of Diamonds In 14kt White Gold, not even 18ct, so i mean why are they different? Means 0.95 is not good ? But why more expensive than 3.60gr ? Thank you.
Easy for me to get the earth mined . I purchase GIA certified diamonds only. And yes I understand the environmental impact/ footprint that both of these stones have. Earth mined does leave a nastier footprint and also where they are sourced from is extremely important. With a lab grown diamond you have less humanitarian issues. The fact is nitrogen is different in these stones from what I understand and lab grown are suppose to be marked as such. But due to the fact that I want only earth mined ( investment quality) ai stick with GIA certified diamonds. They hold their value when lab grown really have little value once the cash hits their drawer or you have swiped your credit card through. And btw, most jewellers can tell the difference because they have invested into equipment to help them spot the difference. Or else you could just purchase a lab grown at a great 80% savings atm. And then turn around and sell it as a natural earth mined diamond. Basically you are paying less for a created diamond that has very little value in the marketplace. So the choice is in your hands. Each to their own I always say. If lab is what you like them by all means..
Testing cannot tell mined Diamonds from Lab grown are composed of the same chemicals the same pressures to produce a natural mined diamond and the Lab grown diamond, it’s only time taken to produce the mined diamond is longer than lab grown diamond. Just as hard, both types can have inclusions and Faceted the same too. Nothing! other than the time is synthetic. Why bother buying mined diamonds if there are no differences other than time or price.
Should you buy a Lab grown diamond? Hmm…Let see. Do you believe a natural diamond ring is a symbol of your love? Do you believe a symbol of your love should be something anyone can buy at anytime, and anywhere. And what happens when that symbol of your love WILL LOSE AT LEAST 50% OF ITS VALUE once you walk out of the jewelry store. And that’s on the very best day with a certified GIA diamond. Uncertified diamonds lose much more…and most places don’t even want to buy back Lab diamonds. IMO your better off with Moissanite, it sparkles better for only fraction of the cost. Or a CVD/HPHT lab diamond, which is essentially a real diamond for 1/3 the retail price, and much less if you can find one used. And it is GUARANTEED to be conflict free from War, human suffering etc . All depends on how he and SHE chooses to symbolize their love.
Natural black and multi colored diamond including white here…my response to this whole article and situation going over exactly what she said is that ultimately lab diamonds have no resell value because of the fact that where they come from there is unlimited supply…me personally have looked at several lab grown vs natural if the same (cut and clarity) and the natural always looks more clear and brilliant to me … also I know that because there is so many lab diamonds produced in the same way that there is always pattern similarities in all lab grown diamonds that natural diamonds don’t have…again natural diamonds take the W in my opinion..for me has very little to do with money and more to do with the fact that you are getting an item unlike any other item every natural diamond is extremely rare and unique and has its own characteristics..kind of like a human where as most lab diamonds are extremely similar kind of like robots..just keep that in mind…but if you are buying the diamond because less money to buy it well personally think you should wait and think about purchasing one that you may see a return on some day when you really need it..just a thought
They might look the same, they might be physically identical. Yet the psychological feel is world’s apart. One is made in weeks, while the other has formed itself over the course of millions of years. 1 is fake, the other is real. Some might not be bothered with it, some are. I fall into the last category. I just couldn’t give a lab diamond to my girl. I would feel cheap. I can understand why some would go for lab diamonds and I respect that. Just my personal opinion.
I’m perusal this article and realizing that YouTube just probably does not want to be taken seriously. This would be a great article to see the like-to-dislike ratio, especially for a serious purchase like a diamond. But no, with YouTube not allowing us to see dislikes anymore they are saying “don’t get your serious recommendations from us. Go to a better source for feedback”. And that’s what I’ll do. Now since the community can’t show it’s nonsupport with viewing dislikes, I have to go off of YouTube to find another source
Only time a diamond is valuable is when you sell it, otherwise, it’s not anymore than a lab grown diamond. Are you going to sell your diamond? Most people don’t, they pass it on! Are you getting a divorce and want to sell your ring? You still will not get back what you paid for it because it’s only valuable to up grade by double the price you paid.
To me lab grown is for everyday and rest is for special occasions or for your wedding rings. Also real is to pass down to your family or friends you want to have them after you leave the earth. Reason I say this because of so much theft and violence these days. I only wore my wedding ring all the time at least until we separated for good. wearing your real jewelry is great for all the events we attend in life but just for everyday I prefer lab grown. I know people do it for earth consciousness and the like to each their own it your choice even if you wear your real jewelry all the time it’s your choice. 🙂❤️🕊️🔥
I told my bf to get me a lab grown Diamond when he proposes! Its like IVF – one is natural, one is helped by science at the end of it all it’s the same beautiful end result. Saves him a ton too. If he’s re-selling it one day I either died or were getting divorced and the value of my ring will be the least of his problems lol.
Lol thank you.. just one question though.. sorry if it’s silly. Can you expect a lab made to last as long as a diamond? Can you expect a lab made to be as strong as a real diamond? Sorry, I know you said they are the same materials. But im curious to know if the quality of a real diamond is actually mimicked. 🤔 thank you.
You keep talking about “limited supply” however Diamond are one of the most common gemstones in the world. The only limit to the supply is artificial inflation which can also collapse over time. Imagine if we could make ”lab grown” gold, the whole gold market would collapse. The same will happen with diamonds one day, we put short term importance on something that lacks long term stability.
Bonnie Jewelry, just for info, what do you do with milky diamonds or gems with inclusions in them because most diamond dealings are in quantity and less time is used to sort the best in quantity instead of Qualities. We would like to Propose to any Jewellery shop or providers to sell us all your Rejected diamonds or gems that they think will Not earn them as they should. We also would buy all your cut-offs of gems and its dust. If you deal with any Synthetic gem Producers, we (LOGON) would like to propose a much better dealings Not in Synthetic gems but in larger quantity provisions of the gems. What is Waste is my Treasury for in our Findings, Nothing is Waste, it is Just How we See and Do things. We Hope we can Organise a better Dealings to every Rejected gem in the Market. We have found that in all, there is a great way to Create what is Rejected to what is UNIQUE. If Agreed, our Agent(s) will be with you soon. Happy Jewellery Creating and GOD Bless. Amen.
People who insist that natural diamonds are the best just can’t accept the fact that people can now afford the same quality of diamond for less. IT takes away their bragging rights. Imagine if you can buy a Ferrari for a price of a Honda, why wouldn’t you do it? Of course Ferrari owners who used to treat their cars as bragging rights would be pissed off if they see everyone riding a Ferrari, that’s just what it is. Natural diamonds don’t have anything over lab grown diamonds except for the “value” in the minds of the people who bought them
DeBeers controls the world diamond market and creates over-inflated values. According to some industry experts, if DeBeers ever released all the diamonds they keep stored up, the market values of diamonds would nearly collapse. In addition to that, lab-created diamonds really are far more rare. Diamonds aren’t near as rare as some people will have the general public believe. The lab created stones can be made in a shorter period, however they have been making gem-stone quality diamonds for only a few short years. The numbers made in labs are far far fewer than the millions of diamonds gathered up over so many many more decades (hundreds of years?). Lab-created diamonds are, in fact, far more rare than natural diamonds. The diamond business is also very corrupt, exploiting labor and creating many other problems including doing great environmental damage. The bottom line, both are chemically the same, etc. and have virtually all the same physical properties, both are definitely identified by the “experts” as diamonds, so it’s basically a “phycological game” of marketing. Personally, I choose lab-created.
The only reason to buy a mined diamond is to make the diamond companies and jewelers rich. Let’s face it. When purchasing an engagement ring for my wife years ago, the jeweler emphasized that the mined diamond was part of earth’s history – it’s over a billion years old whereas the lab made had no history and was made in a ‘lab’, with a dismissive tone in his voice as he finished that sentence. The two stones were identical in every aspect – cut, clarity, though the lab grown diamond was ‘D’ color and the mined was ‘E’. As I took my time to consider which stone to choose, he excused himself and ran to his car to get something – his $100k+ Porsche. It was at that point I chose the lab grown diamond since it was – and is today – identical in every way to the mined diamond (but a little better quality). Guess what? Today, my wife has a gorgeous diamond ring that she still loves after 10 years. However, know what she loves more, though. Her Porsche 911.
IM NO EXPERT however here is something to consider. They say lab diamonds have no resale, you figure, I have a customer wants 110 emerald diamond, price SI1/H apron 3500. mined diamond, same or better lab apron $1200. Try selling your 3500 diamond might get 2000/2500 if your lucky, you lost 1000/1500 $. If you decide to get rid of lab created, throw it away and you only lost $1200, not to mention you could pass it on to loved one.
I love the lab diamonds, the only draw backs that you will not get a value back verses the natural. Frankly I don’t care. I will not be selling my 3carat anyway. So, for me, if buy to sell, I will get a natural, however I learned a natural diamond is like buying a car once you buy it loses value when you walk out the store. The only way you will not is if the natural is an extremely rare diamond like the one Liz Taylor had, it was expensive when I think Richard bought it for her and today it is super expensive. But on the other hand you have some lab diamonds costing more than the natural diamond. I bought my brilliant 3 carat for 1/3 of the price than the natural. Labs to me are better, the earth is not being torn apart and they are not conflict. And besides they are the same in every way. One is from the earth while the other created in a lab. Even gemologist can’t tell the difference except through that magnifying tool😂. Whoever thought to create lab diamonds THANK YOU❤❤❤❤You made diamonds affordable to basically all women. Do your research by all means!!
So question. I want to buy an engagement ring. I was told about lab grown vs natural diamonds. I feel like lab made is less sentimental over natural, but with lab grown I can get more stone for my dollar. I feel like a natural grown one gives you the feeling of it being naturally made like our relationship. If this wasn’t an engagement ring I feel like the choice would be much easier and I’d go with lab grown. What do you think for buying an engagement ring? Thanks!
Funny thing about diamonds. they DO NOT retain their value actually. If a girl insists on natural it’s a little strange and unsettling. I talked with my current gf about it. I mentioned the lab grown and she just said, “not interested” and I was like hmmmm I’m losing interest in marrying this girl. I’ve said I’m willing to drop good money on a ring. But I DO NOT want a blood diamond on my girl’s finger. So if push came to shove and it was give her a blood diamond or leave her…..I’m leaving her. I’m not going to be party to what those poor kids are going through in Africa. I’m a Christian first and foremost. If that means no wife, then so be it.
It’s funny because my fiance and I before which is my husband now, we went to a jewelry store. I have no idea about diamond. But I choose a lab grown diamond because It’scheaper $3,999 compare to a natural diamond it was double of the amount. I wanted to be practical. But my husband he bought a natural diamond. He told me the quality of the natural diamond is better than the lab grown . BTW his mom is a huge fan of diamond. So I guess she told him to buy natural😁 and I love it no regrets. Love my wedding ring🥰 thanks for sharing your article🥰
Both are real diamonds. I don’t think synthetic is the best word to describe lab grown. Both are made of carbon so neither are synthetic. The price of natural diamonds are only high because of artificial inflation by the major companies. Diamonds are NOT rare. Most adult women have at least one and many men also own diamonds.
The thing is when you can get something for a lesser price, what is the harm. If natural diamonds were priced lower people won’t have purchased it, it is reason the prices were jacked up by few morons (who eventually looted India for Kohinoor and now have the audacity to call theirs). Things like food and other neccesities when replicated are welcomed (that’s for things which you put inside your body or consume, however lab grown diamonds and lesser price are of a concern, I mean I am still trying to digest why it is not the number one priority, when practically it would just be a show-off and please don’t say it serves any other purpose or sign or love this and that, because it is not true). A person wanted a diamond and here it is as good as the real one and for fraction of a price and to be put a naked eye can never call out a difference, so why not. It helps to go easy on a wallet and also satisfy the urge of certain gender of the population to be approached only with diamonds (which is kind a heavy for certain gender, because they’re the usual one’s who pay the bill). To end diamonds are not that worthy, instead gold and platinum are, because they’re actually rare and do stand out more than a bullshit diamond ever will.
They are the same chemical composite and lab diamonds can be made perfect, harder, and stronger than natural diamonds. Both will outlast human lifespans, therefore other than materialism, I do not understand they there is a need for natural diamonds these days. As for investment, pure gold will be better unless you have a rare diamond of a certain cut or size or history etc.
I love my lab grown! I know that I’m not paying into corrupt companies and tbh it’s a rock. Lol. Like you’re going to die and what it’s going where? Right back into a jewelers hand and resold for more money. Doesn’t matter to me. The person does. I hope we break this mentality one day. It’s a natural element woopty dude. Lol. No dinosaur is going to say hey that diamond was back in my time. 😂😂 the fact diamonds aren’t even rare should say it all for you. Who cares- love the dude who worked hard for your love.
Mined diamonds are terrible as investments for a variety of reasons. Let’s start with the markup. It’s almost always three times cost no matter what, and often much more. KAY, ZALES, or whoever, storefront jewelers charge a minimum of “triple keystone” (the jewelery business’s term for three times cost). There may be low overhead online dealers selling for a bit less, but don’t count on it. And when jewelers show you those bar graphs of diamond prices over time, they refer to RETAIL PRICES, NOT RESALE PRICES. The actual selling of a diamond by a consumer is notoriously difficult. Diamonds are not like gold bars. It probably took the smooth talk of a well compensated salesperson to get you to by HER store’s particular piece of highly processed crystalline carbon. I’ll give you one guess who provides the money for that well compensated salesperson. Now you may hear that some jewelers offer a “trade in” value of 100% on your mined diamond, but that is NOT, NO, NYET NEIN, UH-AH the same as offering to BUY BACK your dimond at 100% of the retail price. In fact, most jewelers will only allow that trade-in value on something SUBSTANTIALLY more expensive than what you are trading in. This offers no more value to the consumer, than if you had changed your mind about the diamond purchase during the store’s money-back return period and decided to, (THANK GOD!) exchange it for a more expensive item. And if you decide to do this trade-in a decade after you bought the original diamond, don’t expect your smooth talking jewelery salesperson to pull out that diamond price increase bar chart they used to sell you the item, and offer you the increased price in trade-in value.
Until they are no longer traceable or detectable compared to a real diamond. The genuine will always holds it’s value while the man made synthetic diamonds will continue to drop in value. How valuable is something when you could just keep making more. As more manufacturers get into the business it will only keep going down.
Moissanite and lab grown diamonds have NO resale value. Natural mined diamonds DO have resale value, even if it’s not the full value of what was paid. So if I spend $7000 on a Moissanite or lab, I’m out that $7000. I’ll never recoup any of that price. With a natural diamond I would get, at a minimum, close to half of what I paid, and depending on prices at the time, I could get close to the purchase price. I’ve already tested that when trying to resell a natural diamond. Resell was within $2000 of purchase price. I may lose some money, but I’ll never lose the full purchase price like with a lab or Moissanite, or any other “created” diamonds out there. And as for getting 100% “trade-in” to upgrade, normally that’s only when upgrading to TWICE the purchase price of the original cost. Jared’s has that promotion. You get 100% of the purchase price of your original purchase but you HAVE to upgrade to a minimum of TWICE the price, IN A SPECIFIC PERIOD OF TIME – 2 YEARS. So if you bought a 2ct. for $20,000, you HAVE to spend AT LEAST $40,000 to upgrade WITHIN 2 years. After that, that offer is null and void.
The only reason lab created stones are so undervalued is because of DeBeers and their snarky attitude regarding lab created stones and the fact that they control the flow of natural diamonds. They encourage this bias against lab created stones because they don’t want to lose their financial piece of the pie. There is no difference!! I just recently purchased a lab grown diamond and ruby ring and I have to say; she’s a beauty!! I will never sell her!! But if I were thinking of doing so I feel that there is a bigger resale market for lab grown stones than one might think. (Even if you sell a natural stone you’re never going to get what you paid for it in the first place. The mark up is just too high!) You also can’t beat the prices for lab created stones. In my book; their a beautiful bargain!!!
If you have more money than sense … buy the nature made diamonds 💎 … But if you have more smarts you should get the LGD !!! There is no difference!! Just the amount of people that was taken advantage of. To put it in the simplest form… You want beef stew that’s super tender ? You can boil it for hours and hours on slow heat or you can pressure cooker it in minutes but in the end you get same stew !! You can pay more for more gas and labor for the slow cooking if you want
I watched this all the way through and have to say I disagree with some of your statements. Natural diamonds are not rare, they never have been. Artificial scarcity is what happens. A lab grown diamond is a diamond and has the same inherent inclusions and imperfections as the seed on which it was grown. Yet you alluded to them being inferior. Yet the industry market chocolate diamonds as if they are special, when they are not. They are just imperfect diamonds based on traditional 4Cs. The reality is there is only a few differences between natural and lab-grown. None are the diamond themselves. Origin method of acquisition, cost and how it makes some one feel. There is no method of telling a lab or natural diamond apart unless you know it’s absolute origin.
The reason why natural diamond is more expensive is not because it took thousands of years to form it is because it is man made rarity. The amount of diamonds that are put on the market is controlled to maintain the price. Diamonds are not rare. Buying a diamond is not like gold. If you try to resale a diamond you can expect to have up to 70%drop. Otherwise the diamond comparison was interesting ☺️
Lab is chemically, physically, optically the same as natural. It is designed and engineered in a lab, which to me is very impressive. After spending ten thousands of dollars on jewelry for my wife over the years (Natural diamonds), I came across a factory on Reddit who sells lab diamonds (For like 50% off the market price), I purchased her an amazing tennis bracelet, Even big brands such as James Allen are selling lab diamonds 90% of the time, more and more people understand that natural diamonds are mostly a marketing gimmick. diamonds are not actually all that rare. Their value comes from the DeBeers being able to control their flow into the market
I recently bought my wife a new engagement ring for our 15 year wedding anniversary. I purchased a VS1 G color cushion cut 3 karat LAB Diamond ring for 9 grand. Everywhere she goes people talk about how beautiful it is. I went to sell her old 1 karat natural Marquis cut ring that I spent 6 grand for in 2005 and was offered $550 bucks . I will never buy a natural Diamond again.
Trax has literally stated in previous articles that SI clarity stones are a respectable standard when it comes to them being in people’s jewelry. He also previously mentioned in a article with his man William that he didn’t feel like making CVD/HPHT pieces unless many people began to gravitate towards that market. I never comment on articles, but the reason why I’m bringing this up is to demonstrate that even those that harbor certain opinions regarding something they’re experts at will periodically change their tune if it makes sense for them financially. At the end of the day, don’t be swayed by what others have to say regarding your purchases. If you like labs, by all means get them. If you like naturals, that’s cool too. As long as there is honesty in what is being presented to you then it shouldn’t matter what people think about your purchases, just keep in mind that ultimately business men like Max will do their due diligence and do what it takes to close a sale. I appreciate what he’s doing as far as transparency goes and it’s honestly been a long time coming that the jewelry industry gets shaken up, I just wish his opinions now were more consistent with those he had in the past. But then again, the man does have a business to run and market trends are forever changing. Respect from an aspiring jeweler/future business owner.
Excellent article TraxNYC !!! Several thoughts 1. Very scary that even diamond experts need a machine to determine natural diamonds vs Lab diamonds. 2. Is this the end for the natural diamond market? 3. What is going to prevent sellers from fooling their customers by selling them a lab diamond and charging them for a natural diamond? Even now more than ever you need a seller you can trust.
Thank you for your honesty. The value of diamonds has always been about the narrative… People buy into The idea that an everyday object has value Because it symbolizes something of value. They buy something Expensive to communicate a message to the outside world or to declare their love to someone, and in this sense, the stone becomes something of great value.
I was just looking at jewelry yesterday. And the best looking diamonds in the store. Were the Leo diamond collection. All are lab made. But the cut, color, and just the overall beauty. Was better than “real” diamonds. And you just got so much more. For your money. Wedding rings are something that you buy because you love someone. Not because you are wanting to resell them. Wedding rings are not an investment. They are a to show your commitment to someone
Very well said. Wether DeBeers like it or not, lab diamonds are here to stay. No brainer, Pau 5 times for an earth mined diamond is not logic for the same look, and feel. Plus no guilty conscience of bloody diamonds. Enjoy shopping your lab made diamonds. Identical chemical, physical characteristics.❤
I certainly understand everything you’ve said. When it comes to resale value, if you can tell the difference by using the Yehuda machine, then they’re not the same, and if they’re not the same, I will go with natural stone. No one is going to come up to my wife’s ear with a diamond tester so at that point why not just use a CZ can’t really tell the difference between that and a lab stone.
Young man I’ve been perusal you fora while now .I have to say .and I don’t say a lot but you would have made a good operator in my field. You are a very intelligent and confident person that mean everything in life I don’t have one piece of jewelry. I stack silver and gold .but i want to let you know .I appreciate your manner .Roger that
Dam!!!!!! As a man that truly appreciates authenticity and exclusivity, I can’t and won’t ignore Trax!!! Not a lot of men would stand up with truths on the current standard and future outlook on Precious metals and minerals. Gotta give Trax alot of respect for that….and of course, my business. Stand up men always get RESPECT!!!!!
As a jeweller myself this article is very interesting and relevant. I think both natural and lab have a place in the market but the main difference is in 2032 when people look back at this article – the natural diamonds will (hopefully) hold some sort of value, possibly even increase, but I don’t think the labs will be worth even 10% of what big Ben paid. Again, doesn’t make either right or wrong just reality
You all seem to be forgetting he made this article for a specific client and decided to share with us. He has a goal of making a sale of course and also people even in an industry are allowed to change their opinions. The quality of lab created diamonds in the past five years has changed dramatically. Also, the political landscape of the world will have an effect on diamond mining and the desire for natural diamonds. It’s likely that only the most elite people will want to purchase a diamond still because it’ll become a faux pas in regular circles. Buying diamonds as investments in General is a bad idea. If you want the beauty aspect, lab created stones will do the job, or even moissanite.
This means all rappers mostly wear lab diamonds (and it’s probably mixed with SOME vvs diamonds) think about it if that cross costs 22K that can buy a Cuban, for the real vvs stones there’s like 30-40 carats in a medium size cuban so 5.5ct (approx £20000) times that by 6= £120000 for just a full vvs cuban chain
Amazing how Trax changes his tune on lab diamonds when he sees the profit margin on lab diamonds. How about you tell your client and the rest of us what the profit margin is on a real stone compared to lab grown? Not to mention diamonds in the ground are finite especially clean ones where as lab grown the supply will be endless which will continually drop the price of lab diamonds
It will be just like with pearls. Cultured pearls have largely replaced natural pearls, with the result that you can’t get anything in the 2end sale for cultured pearls, while natural pearls are very expensive and in high demand all the time. So it will be with lab diamonds, the lab diamonds will be worth nothing in the 2end sale and the natural ones will be rare and valuable. As a result, the money you now “save” for Lab Diamonds is almost 100% wasted money…. Lab Diamonds will be worthless on the 2nd market, a sheer waste of money. Also comparable to super clones of RLX watches, simply worth zero on the 2nd market. Pure self-deception. Just my opinion and my experience from european market, roast me if you want but we will talk in 10 years and I’ll hand you a handkerchief 😉
What this article doesn’t take into account is rarity, and supply/demand. The reason Diamonds are worth so much isn’t just the aesthetic value, but the scarcity, and how hard it is to mine them. There are tons of gem stones out there that look way better than diamonds, but they are way easier to find and mine, so they aren’t worth as much. Yes the lab can make better clarity for cheaper, but they don’t have the providence attached to them. That’s why some people still will only buy natural.
I been a fan for a while now. My man here don’t take no shit. That’s how every man should operate. Good on there word, and don’t take no shit. I’m a father of 2 boys and Preach exactly just that, stand on your word and take no shit! Quality over quantity!! and wish I had the money to go and grab jewelry from TraxNYC, if and when I do have money you can bet the bank that I will shop with you and only you. I appreciate the real you preach. Your straight up to the point and live in the real world, can’t wait for the day I can do t with you!
How do lab look in tennis bracelet???? 10-12 carat? Thanks. I have been looking at labs recently as they are popping up even at Saks, Bloomies,…not good places to buy diamonds…just looking at pretties while.caring for my dear husband who is ill..so can’t get to LA district downtown…should ask my jeweler there, just saw you and thought I would ask…thanks..fun article
I love your explanation!!! And I truly agree your opinion… I’ll rather buy lab diamond not only because of his reason but it’s environment friendly & much more humanitarian!!! But I wish he made his comparison table “presentation” in some article clip or something easier to read so other have a better view of the difference (or similarities actually of clear natural diamond & lab diamond… It’s so hard to read his table