Talk to me about lab grown diamonds and prices

[GrumpyOldGran]

I'm looking at replacing my very small original engagement ring with a new one and maybe a lab grown diamond.

I bought a replacement wedding ring some time ago from Samara James (online) and was impressed with their service (they send mock-ups in silver first before you go ahead.)

The rings I'm looking at are fairly traditional solitaires and priced around £1300 for a 1carat in 18c gold.

I quite like a rubbed-over 'halo' modern setting but they don't do one for lab grown diamonds.

Any other sites I should look at?

I think they’re the latest con, I’m afraid. Nothing about them warrants the high price tag. I’d look into second hand diamonds instead - real diamonds and you get much more for your money.

Lab grown diamonds are the same mineralogically as mined diamonds. That’s how diamonds are defined. Not a con.

Why are they a con? I love mine.

I wouldn’t even want a second hand one really, who knows how they were mined. At least with the lab grown you know the story behind it.

IME the only people who say that lab gems are a con or ‘artificial’ either trade in mined diamonds or have bought them new and don’t want to admit they’re a waste of money (and ethically doubtful).

Not I, I’d no more buy new diamonds than I would a brand new car!

Fair enough. Where does the con come in then?

Their resale value is pretty much zero so as long as you're happy spending that much on what is effectively a piece of costume jewellery, go ahead!

The mark-up on new mined diamonds is about 500% so they're not really worth it either, in my book. I'd rather have a nice piece of vintage jewellery bought at auction that will at least hold its value a bit better.

I think it’s unfair to call it costume jewellery. It’s the same process just sped up.

I think it’s better than supporting the exploration in and around the stone mining industry.

Exploitation I mean.

https://www.welovediamonds.co.uk/post/why-lab-diamonds-are-a-complete-con

Of course We Love Diamonds thinks they are a con.

@GrumpyOldGran Just do your research and ask the seller questions, certifications. Hopefully there’ll be more on with advice on that.

I love mine because the back story is an incredible artist designed it, it’s lab grown but it looks beautiful, the theme of the ring is beautiful and the person who gave it to me means the world to me. Obviously if it’s all about money and reselling and time sitting in the Earth then ignore me and listen to the posters above. All the best.

Is it maybe the perception of rarity ? Like diamonds mined from 'The Earth' as opposed to 'mass produced' so yes same process but just no longer interesting or exclusive?

I definitely don't want to buy a lab grown diamond, it just (to me) is like a mass market version of the real thing. I'm not explaining it well.

I have 2 lab grown diamond rings and absolutely love them. They are a carat I could never ever afford. I did look at vintage pieces but with auction fees something I really liked was over budget still.

I've used diamond heaven both times (online but they do have stores too) and had no problems. As someone said though there is no resale value, so as long as you're happy with that I'd say go for it. I don't plan to sell mine, they're rings I have dreamed of for a long long time and I'm so glad I went lab grown.

I think you’re proving my point! That’s a post by a group that represents traders in mined diamonds.

The market value, new or secondary, of mined diamonds has always been artificial in any case.

I read that whole article, it’s so sneery. I’d research both sides op to decide.

I lost the diamond from my original solitaire engagement ring & had it replaced with a lab grown one for our silver wedding. I love it, it may not be valuable as a family heirloom but it will be just as sentimentally valuable to.my family one day.

I wouldn’t buy a lab grown diamond. I’m a traditionalist and see them as fakes. I know they are the same composition yada yada but to me they aren’t the same. But whatever you choose will be special for you so it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks.

I’m not sure if you’re on tiktok but there’s a user called OnyxWhy who has done an interesting video on lab grown diamonds. And one on moissanite. She’s pro both.

https://www.tiktok.com/@onyxwhy/video/7412011758845480235

https://www.tiktok.com/@onyxwhy/video/7412349597600861483

Lab grown diamonds are actually better than "real diamonds" because they don't have inclusions. Earth grown diamonds are a con, because De Beers who control the trade only release a low number every year when they have loads in storage.

Lab grown have the exact same composition as natural, but don't have the ethical issues natural has!

I love my engagement ring which is lab grown. I don't care about resell. If we are in need of money in the future, I'd like to think my ring wouldn't be an option because of its sentimental value anyway! I'd be devastated if any future children or grand children saw it as a way to get money when it means so much to me.

Wow! I never expected this to turn into a debate on the ethics of diamonds etc.
It was a question about where to buy online.

I won't wear a 2nd hand ring, other than my Mum's perhaps when she's not around any more. I think rings are really personal and I just don't want someone else's.

I have tiny hands and all rings have to be made to measure (ideally) or altered (and then they sometimes don't look 'right') . I can't buy off the shelf without it being made smaller.

I am really not bothered about resale value in the future. My family can do what the heck they want with all my stuff.

I could afford a 'real' diamond up to several thousand, but being frugal, I don't see the point.

I'm waiting for someone else to come along now and suggest a cubic zircona.

https://regalhattongarden.co.uk/collections/lab-grown-diamond-engagement-ringsgoogle result

I also read the article posted by @autumnfoxes and found it very unbalanced. I expected that considering the source, but I did not expect the weird statements I can find nowhere else (eg, that sealants are often used to improve the look of lab grown diamonds, which I highly doubt).

Lab grown diamonds are in no way fake and are difficult to distinguish from mined diamonds with a jeweller’s glass. A factual article about them by Fran Malloy of MacQuarrie University posted on 8 Sept 2023 can be found at the website physics.org

FWIW my engagement ring is a mined diamond, but if lab grown diamonds had been readily available at the time I would have been happy with one. The only drawback I see is that their production is somewhat energy intensive

The choice is personal

Lily arkwright is good for lab grown

Moissanite x

I buy loose stones from India and my local jeweller sets them in platinum and it will last forever.

Always get compliments x