Lab created diamond

[pocketvenuss]

What do people think of lab created diamonds. They are the same molecular structure and are actual diamonds. Only specialist jewellers with specific devices that can allow the differences in the inclusions that indicate lab growth rather than natural.
Would you be happy with a lab grown diamond engagement ring?
On the plus side they are miles cheaper and conflict free. On the negative side, they are somehow not the same as a 'naturally created' diamond even though they are real diamonds.
But then again real diamond prices are artificially boosted by DeBeers.

I have a blood diamond for an engagement ring. I wish I had made my feelings clear that I'd prefer a lab one but I did not want to be ungrateful. It is very very beautiful and I was so touched that he'd invested so much in it too.

DD has a lab grown diamond engagement ring . It is beautiful. The diamond in my engagement ring fell out & I lost it. I will replace it with a lab grown one.

Conflict free, ethical and look the same/as hard wearing but cheaper. I think they're great. In my opinion someone who wouldn't want one insisting on a mined diamond instead is likely to have a fragile ego.

I insisted an an ethically sourced ring when I got engaged. One trip to Hatton Gardens beforehand and seeing how dodgy it was what made me look into this and insist on a ethical jeweller. I love that I can look at my ring without feeling guilty.

I was, around 15 years ago, about to be put on a project to design a security survalence system for a new mining site in central Africa. The security was needed because part of the site creation involved damming a river, which flooded several local villages. The displaced locals were apparently quite upset about this, so the site needed to be protected from attack. I would never want a 'real' diamond.

I think we need to ask what is it thats so special about real diamonds? If its just that they are expensive and therefore represents the 'worth' of the relationship then most people are already aware the prices are kept artificially high.

I absolutely love diamonds. I find them fascinating and beyond beautiful.

I don’t know how I feel about it tbh. Obviously it’s great for solving the ethics issues.

But then does it not just make diamonds not special? And I am not talking about any individual diamond. I just mean if something only is special because it’s finite then by mass producing them are we not ruining that?

And larger diamonds aren’t a rarity they are just grown in a lab by a machine. So huge stones become the norm.

And before anyone jumps on me calling me an awful human or whatever. I feel like this about a lot of things if I think about it. Is a hand knitted jumper more special than a mass produced machine version - yes. Is a hand carved table more special than a machine made - yes. Is the Mona Lisa more special than a reproduction or a print - yes.

And when I try to think what is it about a natural original diamond that’s so special. Well I can’t tell you because besides the beauty and the fire which is also in lab grown its hard to say. Is thinking there’s something special in it being natural a vanity? Or is wanting a sparkling ‘new’ stone the vanity. Or am I overthinking this and the true value just in that beautiful rainbow fire.

It’s been an interesting thought experiment for sure!

I'd actually rather have anything but a diamond, such a plain boring stone that has been inflated to absurd status and desirability by very good marketing. Baffles me that regular, intelligent people still get suckered into it. But if I had to choose I'd choose the ethical option.

I think that's a really interesting comparison to the handmade items. I do see where you are coming from but also there is skill and craftmanship in the sweater or furniture, and while there is craftmanship in the forming of the diamond into jewelry, the actual mining is done by the worlds poorest people, often in a way that basically renders them disposable.

The answer is probably ethical mining, maybe some kind of mining co-op, but as PP's have mentioned there is a company that is deliberately keeping the price of diamonds inflated and they won't take kindly to that kind of competition.

But as I realised above, the cost of mining is not just the toil on the miners, the environmental impact of the mining operations is destroying whole swathes of the developing world. We made a huge fuss about coal mining potentially restarting in the NW of England, is it a case of out of sight out of mind?

Does anyone have a recommendation for real life shops that sell lab grown diamonds rather than online?

Personally I wouldn’t be happy with a lab created diamond. I buy vintage / antique instead and get the real thing. You can always have a ring remodelled with old gold / platinum if it isn’t to your taste.

The value of them are dropping rapidly as they become mass market , which makes the real thing more valuable

if I’m honest I would prefer a real mined diamond and not a man made replica

lets be honest, a lot of the attraction of diamonds is and was the value. An engagement ring was an expensive investment and a heirloom. With the man made this is lost as They started off about 20 percent cheaper than Real diamonds and are now about 70 percent cheaper and that’s going to keep dropping. So it is effectively costume jewellery

I would like one. The cost of the ring is putting me and DP off getting engaged in some ways, we are renovating, love travelling and have a teenager so spending ££££ on a ring is way down the priority list at the moment. I don't wear expensive clothes or jewellery, but I do prefer the style and look of bigger stones in rings, so this appeals to me.

Lab grown , every time. Soon "natural" diamonds will be seen like real fur.

@Porcinimushroom

if I’m honest I would prefer a real mined diamond and not a man made replica

Even knowing the ethics of the supply chain issues?

Yes it’s tricky isn’t it. I couldn’t think of any natural examples, but I suppose what I am getting at is nature ‘hand crafted’ or something.

Yes I like the idea of ethical mining.

I am keen on the environment so don’t like the damage aspect. Real diamonds are problematic there’s no denying.

And to a pp re. Fur; I haven’t got a problem with naturally sourced real fur rather than mass farmed fur. Another tick in the awful human box but you can’t say I am not consistent!

Lab made is still a real diamond is just made in a lab and to tell the difference you need specialist equipment not just someone with a loupe.
a real diamond may hold value better but in reality a £5000 ring would get less than £2000 at auction!

Much more ethical and just as sparkly.
They weren't around when I got engaged, but I insisted on a second hand ring as that was the best option.
I did get lab grown diamonds for my last significant birthday and I love them.

Can’t natural diamonds be ethical if bought secondhand?

I actually agree with @LemonSwan hence why I eventually bought a natural diamond.

Exactly. As with your furs, always go vintage for your diamonds 😉

Lab grown are costume jewellery. I’m afraid this question has highlighted that I’m a snob. Not great, but there it is.

Same! I just couldn't justify the spend on diamonds. Would only have had lab grown though, real diamonds are so unethical.

I always feel that the value of second hand diamonds are overestimated. Insurance appraisals seem to give artificially high values for diamond jewellery but you can often buy something similar cheaper.

I tend to agree. I don't particularly like diamonds that much, they aren't very interesting to look at! So many much prettier stones.

I have a lab diamond on my engagement ring. I love it.

See this is what I originally. But I've since discovers that they are diamonds. They have GIA and IGI certification. They are diamonds in the same way IVF babies are real babies. They are actual diamonds with all the molecular structure if diamonds. The only difference is that they have been lab created rather than ground created. They are cut and polished as all diamonds by the same diamond cutters.