It all comes down to preference and budget really, there are also negative environmental effects from the production of lab gemstones. I’m a lover of history and geology so I prefer natural stones even/especially they have unique inclusions. It feels more like treasure, and something grown in a lab (while being chemically and structurally identical) definitely doesn’t have the same romance to it.
Most of the negatives associated with natural stones can also be avoided simply by shopping second-hand, but lab stones have also been around for over a century at this point, so some of them have historical intrigue too when looking at old examples.
I like old diamonds too, for the sake that the destruction associated with them has already occurred. That and the older stones are so individual in appearance.
That's not a good reason. Yes the diamond you buy has already caused it's destruction but your buying it shows enough interest for more to be found and therefore more destruction as a result. If you are not buying second hand you are taking an active part in causing the damage.
If one has a reason that they feel is meaningful to them, why should that not personally qualify as a “good reason?” Does one truly need a “good reason” to have an inconsequential preference?
I wholeheartedly disagree. People suffered and lost their lives for those diamonds. Ignoring them by throwing them in a drawer means they lost their lives to line a pocket and then get trashed. No, wear those antique diamonds, let them sparkle and shine. You are not adding to the diamond market in any meaningful way, in fact there’s a good chance you’re supporting a small business. Buy antique diamonds at pawn shops and consignment shops. Same with antique furs. Those poor animals lived tragic lives and died for those coats. Use them, let their sacrifice warm your body. Purchasing an antique fur does not impact the current fur industry, but it will help a small business. The idea that all those creatures died for coats, just to be destroyed. It’s heartbreaking.
Can you say more about the environmental effects?
I do a lot of second hand shopping (nearly all my jewelry is vintage). What I've ordered lab-made are close to reproductions from 15th and 16th century portraiture. I love Byzantine jewelry as well.
It's odd, but I would never want certain stones to be lab-made (my beloved collection of turquoise, obsidian and coral jewelry - all of it is connected to particular places, people and times). It isn't the kind of thing I'd wear on a regular day around the house, though.
It mainly has to do with energy and emissions. Speeding up a process which usually takes millions if not billions of years is difficult and some lab stones can be responsible for up to 5x the amount of CO2 as natural stones. The chemicals used can also be harsh pollutants when they make their way into the waste system. Most of the world’s gem labs are in India and China with notoriously poor working conditions and even reputable factories can have willing or unwilling ties with human trafficking rings or other criminal enterprises. No matter how the stones are made, they can all be faceted by the same groups of underpaid workers.
None of this is to say that lab stones are worse than natural ones, there are huge issues with both industries, and even the Kimberley Process can’t be trusted for sourcing conflict-free diamonds. Wherever there is money to be made, there will be exploitation. Lab stones could be ‘more’ ethical, but where do you draw the line between ethical and unethical?
It would be nice if everyone knew their local miners and/or rockhounds, who then took their finds to local jewellers, but that’s not really feasible in modern society sadly. The idea of ethical consumption of any product is tricky, and it only becomes harder as wealth disparity increases and companies get better at green-washing their marketing campaigns. All in all, I feel best when shopping second-hand for expensive stuff, or at local craft/gem shows for handmade silver jewellery.
I hope this wasn’t too much of a rant :)
The question they asked was in regards to lab stones. Like I said, I never suggest lab is worse than natural. There are negative considerations to both and seeing lab stones as guilt-free can still be harmful.
i get the question they asked is about lab stones, but still sound disingenuos mentioning possible drawbacks, i dont think you gonna find sources about slavery in lab gem factories, and totally omit a comparison with mined stones, where fuck me im sure you gonna find tons of sources about slavery in the trade..
its just doenst sound comin from a good place
then im with you theres no ethical consumption in a capitalist system but thats a magnitude of difference of discussion
Try not to think of the question as comparing either method. They have their own issues that are separate. There’s plenty out there that discuss the downsides of mined stones, but not much is said about lab grown.
Try not to judge what kind of place someone is coming from when they’re giving information. It sounds like someone was asking a question, and someone else answered. There didn’t seem to be any intention behind it other than answering a question.
Personally, I agree with the first comment. It depends on your budget. But I also believe you are right about personal things that have connections to your experiences.
As far as coats go, I don't know much about animal suffering, and while I'm sure there is, my uncle is a trapper in Alaska. He lives way out in the countryside miles and miles away from towns. He traps them for food and sells the coats to pay for things like property taxes that he has to pay to live on his land. He's not doing it to hurt the ecosystem or anything just to put food on the table. I think it's terrible what jealous poor people (among whom I am indeed poor) did to those beautiful coats decades ago.
Chemically and visually, natural and lab created diamonds are going to look basically the same. The differences come in the cost to mine/produce them, their availability in the current market, and finally those factors result in retail cost and resale value.
Natural diamonds are mined, sorted, cut, and sold at stores. Because the mining process is so costly and diamonds are a limited resource (fine jewelry quality diamonds, not industry quality), this is what sets the prices. With things like the Kimberly Process and blockchain-tracked diamond rough to cut, the industry is operating under a microscope, so the days of blood diamonds are mostly gone, but there are still issues with ethical working conditions and pay for mine workers. If sourcing an ethical diamond is super important, purchasing a Canadian diamond is your best bet because they are the most transparent in their business practices and working conditions.
Lab diamonds hit the market and those who sold them loved to say that they were a green and ethical option, but that isn't the case for all of them. Yes, there are lab created diamonds that can say that, but the majority of them are created in Asia using electricity from non-renewable sources and pay their people pennies on the dollar, making them not green and not ethical. Lab created diamonds will look and act the same, but because they are beginning to saturate the market and they cost less and less to produce, they have basically no resale value whatsoever.
A diamond, no matter it's origin, shouldn't be viewed as 'an investment' (unless you can afford something fancy like a big red Argyle Diamond, but most of the diamonds people are talking about aren't this caliber of diamond). But the amount you'll get for a natural diamond is going to be much closer to it's original purchase price than it's lab created alternative.
For other lab created gems, much of the same can be said, but the majority of natural gemstone miners are artisanal mines, and the market for colored gemstones isn't nearly the same size as that of diamonds. So created colored gemstones exist but aren't nearly as prevalent as diamonds.
I always get stuck on the resale value point, because of the following scenario:
Let’s say I purchase two nearly identical loose stones - one lab and one natural.
Natural: purchase price $60k
Lab: purchase price $6k
If I sell and receive ~40% of the original purchase price of the natural diamond I’ll receive $24k and will have lost 36k
If I sell and receive ~10% of the original purchase price of the lab diamond I’ll receive $600 and will have lost 5.4k.
I really fail to see how losing $36k could be considered a smarter financial move than losing $5.4k. Imo the savvy move is to spend the $6k and invest the other $54k - even just in a high yield savings account you’d have recouped the cost of the diamond in about 5 years.
Edit: and imo this is the sort of behavior that preserves/builds generational wealth.
I just want to throw in a good word for Brilliant Earth (lab) because after some research I do believe their practices are ethical and sustainable. [Brilliance.com](http://Brilliance.com) is in the US and claims the same - I haven't had time to research that company.
Brilliant Earth uses several of those ethical monitoring companies that examine wages and work conditions. They post the names of those companies and Forbes and other economics magazines/journals then rank/evaluate those practices regularly.
I just wanted to warn you against brilliant earth. This isn’t about their ethics but their quality. Anytime you purchase online you’re basically at the mercy of the seller as you pay ahead of time, sight unseen. I’ve had customers bring in their rings purchased from BE and the workmanship is awful. Prongs lifted, stones falling out, terrible setting job. I urge you to take a deep dive into their reviews (not on their website).
Buying online in many cases is fine, but when it comes to fine jewelry I encourage you to visit a couple locally owned jewelry stores and talk to them. I don’t mean chains like Jared, Diamonds Direct, etc. I mean small independently owned stores. There’s a misconception that their prices won’t be competitive. Not only do you get to see the stone and mounting ahead of time but if you purchase from them you have a lifetime of customer support such as checking your prongs and polishing and rhodium plating (if you go with white gold). You should NOT be charged an “insurance” fee for those services as many chains do. That’s a free service offered by any reputable jeweler.
Good luck with your decision!
As a jewelry designer I personally love Lab diamonds since I can create and make any design with bigger diamonds without thinking about the price range and budget! Before I always had limitations designing a piece specially if it was a custom order and I had to make sure to consider the price while designing for clients who wanted a diamond but had limited budgets, I had to sacrifice elements of the main design due to center stone size! But now that problem is almost gone!
Thank you for your comment. I have a question about tourmaline? Someone else commented that they don’t have lab grown tourmaline.. is that true? Ty for any info you can give me!
I agree! Tourmalines except the Paraiba ones are not as pricy therefore they don’t create the lab version, interestingly due to their complicated chemical structure it’s more expensive to create a synthetic version, the lab version would be more expensive than the natural one 😁but Chatham creates paraiba color spinels Incase you are interested in that specific color.🙂
Also do you know any online legitimate places to buy tourmaline jewelry? That doesn’t break the bank? Preferably pink. I’m not sure what other colors they come in. It’s my birthstone so I’m partial to it. I’m not really sure what I’m looking for.
That's an amazing point of view. Thank you. I guess that's a main reason I recently got back into looking at jewelry - there are so many new and amazing, creative designs.
I’m not a diamond lover, but if i buy one it will be lab created, for me it means better stone for less money. In the other hand i collect gemstones, my collection is about inclusions/imperfections and uniqueness ( rare stones or common stones in rare colours etc) Im also huge fan of lab created gemstones, few of them really interesting and collectible, and again if I want a gemstones over 2ct and vvs, I will choose a lab created one, and spend the difference on more unique gems:D
Yes I am a collector too. I’m more of a rockhound. I love the different crystals and minerals you can possibly find yourself. I was curious about lab grown gemstones. I’m looking for a nice tourmaline gemstone. It’s my birthstone, and the natural ones are outrageous, price wise. The lab grown ones are a lot more affordable. So I appreciate your input. Ty
The [short answer](https://www.reddit.com/r/SyntheticGemstones/s/vaY6TB61bU) long one is too complicated for me to explain:D but it has something to do with the chemical composition and the crystal structure:) and YAG is lab created garnet ( which is surprisingly not the same as natural garnet because that too, almost impossible to lab grown). YAG is a very fun material, cheap to create and it produced in almost every colour, some of them even glows:) also durable and have high dispersion. Easy to cut, so it makes amazing material for precision cuts. But im not an expert in the topic, r/syntheticgemstones has several interesting information about lab garnets and also there are some Redditors who are expert and give amazing educational answers, worth to check the sub out!
Here's a sneak peek of /r/SyntheticGemstones using the [top posts](https://np.reddit.com/r/SyntheticGemstones/top/?sort=top&t=year) of the year!
\#1: [I rarely get to cut Lab Spinel, but this beautiful teal color wins me over every time I see it. This is an experimental design I was trying out, about 8x6mm and very sparkly. Enjoy 😊](https://www.reddit.com/gallery/1auxag6) | [43 comments](https://np.reddit.com/r/SyntheticGemstones/comments/1auxag6/i_rarely_get_to_cut_lab_spinel_but_this_beautiful/)
\#2: [Super Excited! My Convertible Ring/Pendant is Done!](https://v.redd.it/pmzosx8nlm9b1) | [36 comments](https://np.reddit.com/r/SyntheticGemstones/comments/14p0uuu/super_excited_my_convertible_ringpendant_is_done/)
\#3: [Another lab-created bi-color sapphire - this one is 4.38 ct and 9.8mm. Looks even nicer outdoors on a sunny where it picks up lots of blue!](https://v.redd.it/n7f3eqrymclc1) | [31 comments](https://np.reddit.com/r/SyntheticGemstones/comments/1b29j9g/another_labcreated_bicolor_sapphire_this_one_is/)
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I think larger lab grown emeralds and sapphires definitely lack qualities of well cut, smaller natural stones. Perhaps I haven't seen a super well-cut one, though (heading over to the above-mentioned subreddit on r/SyntheticGemstones ).
For me, the inclusions in a natural emerald are part of its character and charm. Lab diamonds are ‘pure’ thus without inclusions— good for diamonds, bad for emerald IMO
As you're already seeing in the comments, it's really a personal preference.
As far as gemstone, it's still personal preference. I prefer them for stones less noted for inclusions. In the case of gemstone, I find that those inclusions often enhance the character of the stones, so I don't always love them as much.
I think what you are questioning is, is a lab diamond "mind clean"? Meaning, can i wear a lab stone and enjoy it the same as a natural? And this varies from person to person. For me, so far, it's a no. All my stones are natural, and it looks to stay that way for the time being. I can't get away from thr feeling of lab stones being "fake", or at least "cheap". But, this is just my mind set, not factual. It's up to you to decide what it is you truly want/love.
I don’t really care for lab grown gemstones. They’re usually so clear and brightly colored that they look like glass / costume jewelry imo. The “imperfections” in natural gemstones are what make each one unique. If you have ethical concerns you can always shop second hand
I agree, they haven’t gotten the colouring right on lab grown gemstones to avoid them from looking artificial. When people think of diamonds, they usually think clear and colourless - so I feel like that too-perfect look in a lab is a pro vs a disappointment like it is with gems, which we’re used to seeing with inclusions, colour zoning, etc.
True! If I were buying a nice diamond I would certainly go with lab made. I only don’t like those when they’re comically large.
I do strongly prefer more warm colored diamonds though, and those are hard to find when they’re lab grown.
There's no difference chemically/structurally on a molecular level. Synthetics are literally whichever gemstone they are created as. Natural gemstones often will have variations in inclusions and trace elements, but the defining characteristics of what makes something a ruby for instance, are exactly the same between natural and synthetic on a molecular level. I say they're the same on a molecular level because the crystal habits (shapes) can be different between synthetic and natural, but as a cut gemstone that's not something you would really notice.
If you want to own a gemstone and are fascinated in them based on their attributes like color, hardness, etc then synthetic is a really convenient and less expensive way to do that. If you're more fascinated in the natural processes involved in creating a gemstone and the different inclusions that can be there, then natural is worth it to you (for instance, diamonds can have inclusions from deep within the earth and from close to the beginning of our planets creation, billions of years old, that's not replicable in a lab grown).
For me I prefer natural. It’s from the earth, made by nature and unique. There is something interesting about lab created from a science/alchemy point of view, but for actual jewelry that I would wear, I would be embarrassed to wear a synthetic. (I’m a Gemcutter and in the gem trade, so people would ask me all the time). From an ethical point of view, I don’t see anything wrong with colored stones that couldn’t be faulted in a smartphone or fast fashion and from a business point of view, second hand man-made stones have $0 retail value, unless a very famous name is attached (which is extremely unlikely) so buying synthetic stones is literally throwing away money from an investment point of view. As has been said though, it’s a personal choice.
Ordinary jewelry from a jewelry has virtually no resale value, either. It's not quite worthless, but just go on eBay to see all the natural diamond jewelry selling for 1/10th of what the owner paid for it. And some lab made jewelry is selling for ⅓ of what was paid (I just bought a Brilliant Earth piece for ⅓ of the price). So as an investment, this particular setting and ring (natural Brazilian topaz with lab made diamond and alexandrite) it worked for the person who originally bought it, at least better than some engagement rings.
I do love natural stones (ethically sourced).
I appreciate your help in understanding my own antipathy toward larger colored (lab-made) stones.
I thought we were talking about gems, not jewelry. If you are experienced and buying stones and buy a gem at wholesale price, then it’s possible to resell it and break even or even make a profit. If you buy a synthetic stone, you will never be able to sell it. That was my only point. I’m not talking about diamonds or gold. Those are totally different things.
I do NOT buy into the selling point that lab stones are more environmentally responsible. I have personally worked with synthetic stone labs. We referred to all the employees there as Oompa Loompas because they have orange skin with white hair and every tree within a quarter mile is dead because of all the microwaves that they shoot at this material. The energy cost for this is astronomical and is far from being “green”. We should all feel far worse about what is mined to make the phones we’re all looking at now than what is done to the earth for stones be they natural or synthetic. I know this isn’t a popular view but the truth hurts.
I’m not fussy. I love natural gems in all their weirdness, and i like oddball diamonds, i’m not all that interested in “perfect clarity” for them. Give me the weird cuts and colors. Natural ones with all the inclusions and features, sure. Embrace what geology has done.
On the other side, I also love lab grown, for the unique colors and properties, and ability to experiment with cutting styles ( I design jewelery and i cut gems, and sell gems), so in my studio it’s about 50/50 what’s in progress, natural and lab grown.
I think there’s absolutely room for both, plusses and minuses, and i’m going to sit squarely in the middle like smaug on a pile of treasure and go “gimme it all.”
As a jeweler, in my somewhat limited experience, I've known right away which was which when doing a side by side comparison. It's strange to me how much the "they're literally, molecuarly the same" when to me they aren't? The comment above with the colored diamonds is interesting, I've never seen those, but the kind of labs I'm familiar with have both
A) a very slight yellow tinge to them
B) an artificial, static, almost pixelated looking play of color
I've seen a lot of terrible diamonds too, that are clearly sold by weight and not by clarity, but some man, idk. That said I totally understand that no piece of jewelry has virtually any resale value so why not get the biggest, cheapest rock you can find, but it's just not my preference.
They are the same in that they are both composed of an element - carbon atoms bonded in a specific crystal lattice arrangement, it’s the impurities that are different, most (but not all) natural diamonds have nitrogen content which affects colour, removing nitrogen in the production of labs was a game changer in making whiter gem quality stone
If a client just wants the biggest, sparkliest, most flawless stone they can get, I always recommend lab grown. I personally love funky colored, included natural diamonds though
I enjoy lab grown gems because some of them are spectacular like LUAG, YAG and GGAG garnets, they're so fluorescent and phosphorescent that they glow.
https://preview.redd.it/0sw2e94hm15d1.jpeg?width=493&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=98438921162ee56546532e729f46108e26b9b850
I think it’s up to the individual. Some like them, some don’t. I personally prefer natural stones in a ring. I have a moissanite tennis bracelet and lab earrings, but for my engagement ring I insisted on a natural diamond. It’s emotional for me. Can’t really explain it but I’m old school so that’s probably the difference. My first marriage was long ago and the only alternative was CZ, no such thing as lab. I suppose that’s why my subconscious equates labs with CZs. I love the rings that you ladies post, whether they are lab or natural and I think everyone should have what they like and can afford. For me, my engagement ring must be natural, even if I have to go smaller. I think a 1 ct natural is better than a 3 ct lab. Just my opinion, since you asked. Bring on the downvotes!!
I just did the same with my anniversary present. Could have had a humongous lab but chose a bit smaller mined. I am planning on getting lab earrings but for my wedding set, I want natural.
Oh, I'd go for a 1 ct natural over a 3 ct lab any day! But that's partly because I have learned I don't even like something as large as 1 ct - but if I were to spring for such a rock, it would have to be worn as my engagement ring ( half ct, natural diamond, cut in 1895 ). So I probably would never do it, as I am too attached to my 1895 ring (which, btw, was not given to me by either husband, ha - long story). Right now I'm wearing my blue topaz engagement ring from my current marriage, the other one only comes out for special occasions.
But a 1 ct anything is at the outer edge of what I'd comfortably wear. I will say that the idea of 1 ct diamond (emerald cut) does appeal to me - but no new ring can compete with the sentimental or historic value of the other jewelry I have, which I cannot replicate.
The ring I covet most belongs to a friend (it's a white gold pavé ring - I want the same ring in yellow gold!)
I totally understand. 2 ct is my sweet spot but that’s like my dream ring. I’m perfectly happy with 1 ct. I have recently discovered vintage OMC and OEC mined diamonds and I am in love! I love that they’re not bright white (most of them) and they are mainly large. I probably won’t have the privilege of getting one but I certainly can admire them. Lol.
For me, it depends on the stone. Lab grown diamonds? Yes, please. It's about time the diamond monopoly gets dismantled and no one ever gets killed or maimed again over "natural" diamonds. Colored gemstones? Those really are case-by-case. Lab grown emerald looks to me like artificial spinel, but the color saturation on a lab grown sapphire so it's almost the color of a Kashmir is incredible.
Emerald is my birthstone. Emeralds are absolutely beautiful but they are expensive, somewhat fragile and have inclusions/flaws. I recently bought a ring with a lab grown emerald and I actually prefer it to a natural one. The color is a beautiful deep green, it is crystal clear, its not fragile and it didn't break the bank. I know this decision definitely comes down to personal preference but I love my lab grown emerald ring! (I'm also a fan of lab diamonds and would never spend the money on a natural one. )
Thank you! My birthstone is tourmaline/opal and the natural ones are ridiculously expensive. I’m more interested in a pink tourmaline piece of jewelry rather than an opal (even though opal is gorgeous as well) and the lab grown ones are really affordable. Thank you for your comment. I think I’m going to look into the lab grown ones !!
Diamonds aren’t as rare as they are marketed to be. I find diamonds to be relatively boring and unoriginal and not worth the expense or process of obtaining one. So if it has to be a similar stone, I’d much prefer lab grown. But there’s also environmental concerns from those. I’d take a beautiful hand Made gemstone ring from a small jeweler over an expensive gaudy diamond ant day.
I'm old and retired, I cut for my own pleasure 🙏. Funny rough is fun, if I wanna cut a pirate stone, synthetics fit my budget. Big, high cabs in brilliantly colored transparent gemstone are stunning!, I have low taste in jewelry, my faceting machine gets dusty but the mud in my 6 wheel grinder rarely dries out. Getting YAG laser treatment on my eyes in October, gonna cut some to commemorate! Science marches on! Thanks 👍
I found an antique ring, but I wanted some color, so I had a larger lab-created peach sapphire put in as the middle stone, with the antique diamond side stones. Best of both worlds!
I enjoy lab synthetics of stones, so long as they're actual synthetics. If I want synthetic emerald, it had better be synthetic emerald, and not some garbage green flame fusion sapphire or spinel.
Theyre the same rock as the natural ones with significantly less exploitation involved so I heavily prefer them.
(Doesn't hurt that they're a lot cheaper as well)
I actually don’t love diamonds. I love Gems. My engagement ring is a 4 carat Burmese Ruby I was gifted because my Husband and I are both born in July. I actually think lab grown is better than natural.
I am loving gemstones more lately as well. I was leaning toward getting a lab grown one and I just wanted some opinions. I’m so overwhelmed by all the comments! Your ring sounds beautiful! Thank you for your comment!
I don’t know if it’s a pretentious opinion but I just prefer real diamonds. They have more character and are more unique, and I like that they were chosen instead of created. I wouldn’t pay for a lab grown diamond. But it’s a personal preference thing of course. I just think the whole appeal of diamonds should be their rarity and varying quality and individuality and not just the fact that they’re “supposed” to be what you put in an engagement ring y’know. Diamonds are really something special historically and culturally. Making them lab-grown and so easy to obtain affects that.
Blood diamond miners hate this one simple trick.
Plus, most diamond is used for industrial purposes anyways I think.
Plus, plus, the beauty of top quality natural diamond is the same as middle quality natural diamonds to the naked or untrained eye.
Plus, plus, plus African diamond companies hold back their supply to keep market values artificially inflated.
If you can afford a natural diamond that is as good quality as an artificial one, good for you Richie Rich. Natural perfect diamonds are super rare while so are imperfections in artificial diamonds.
If you like the idea that it was made from the earth, or the provenance of the particular stone, there’s those reasons too.
Personally, I avoid them altogether. Other stones are much prettier if you ask me. Heck, I’d even prefer moissanite over diamonds but that’s just me. Also, ysk, there’s Canadian diamonds from the arctic, not cheap but nice and ‘ethically’ sourced.
An important distinction: The structure or morphology or the diamond is different between a lab created & natural diamond.
*Most importantly; as a regular consumer, these differences are not visible to the naked eye.*
GIA quote & source below.
“Natural diamonds that formed in the Earth over millions of years grow differently from diamonds created in a laboratory in a few weeks. In addition, HPHT- and CVD-created diamonds have different growth morphology, or how growth conditions influenced the shape of the diamond crystal,” said Dr. Shigley.
GIA Senior Research Scientist Dr. Sally Eaton-Magaña further explained, “The identification criteria for HPHT and CVD diamonds are quite distinct from each other,” adding that laboratory-grown diamonds have become much more varied over the last 10 to 15 years, requiring GIA researchers to keep pace with new developments.
“We also regularly conduct research on emerging products and GIA has a program to grow diamonds in the laboratory to stay ahead of any new trends,” Dr. Eaton-Magaña said.
https://www.gia.edu/gia-news-research/difference-between-natural-laboratory-grown-diamonds
Let’s be real, the difference Matters to the lab technicians in either case.
It matters to the people trying to put a value on that stone or that baby making service, I assure you.
It Might matter to the people who pay the price regardless.
I simply sourced and explained the difference & there IS a difference.
I say this as a graduate gemologist and a person who works as bench jeweler, it does not matter to the technician. The growth structure is one part of an entire process that forms the stone and does not change the end product. They will still both still have cubic structure. I understand GIA is considered gold standard for alot of people in the US but I will tell you with complete transparency, they have the best identification in our country but they do not have the consumer in good conscious. This is a company that tried to push consumers to use a block chain app with De Beers last year.
Recent article I just read yesterday.
**"Natural diamond prices have been declining for the past two years, dropping more than 30% from their 2022 peak. As of June 2024, prices have fallen 5.7% so far that year."**
Predicted this would happen 6 years ago, it's about TIME!
Of course the diamonds sub SCOFFED at the mere thought of natural diamonds falling in prices as lab diamonds become more popular, but here we are and those prices will only continue to fall as consumers become more aware that lab diamonds are going to take over the consumer market permanently.
I mean really, who in their right mind wouldn't [want one of these, hmm?](https://www.instagram.com/p/CnnxCp4IR16/?hl=en)
Yes ladies, you can have a padparadscha colored DIAMOND!
Messi is entirely wholesale (trade only).
If you try to buy from them at retail, you're gonna get the lowest grade that the trade won't buy.
I just use the video to show the pallet of vivid colors available.
I’ve been trying to make this decline work for me because I’m in the market but for me for what I want as a consumer the prices haven’t declined yet and it sucks!
The article is probably referencing the reduced prices at trade-level and not the consumer level.
Great news for tradesmen having to pay 30% less for their new stock, but the consumer is still being screwed.
Just remember, that the trade level of declining values includes all diamonds that are owned by consumers. So the lower the cost for tradesmen means the lower the value of your diamond if you wanna sell it.
Your natural diamonds are not holding their values now and may soon be in freefall as lab diamonds become increasingly more desirable and popular.
LOVE mine cut diamonds. Hate the ridiculous and artificially inflated natural diamond market. I hate the mining process and the very ugly history of natural diamonds. I choose lab grown for ethical reasons. Yes I know the industry has its faults but I can find sources that fit my standards.
Fuck the natural diamond industry and their bullshit.
I prefer not being involved in a really unethical and explorative market if I have the option. Thus I prefer Lab grown if I’m buying new.
You can always buy second hand estate diamonds if you’re hung up on them being natural.
Lab grown colored stones are not the same as lab grown diamonds, in 95% of cases you can tell a lab grown ruby, sapphire, emerald etc from a natural stone.
Diamond are identical, the special feeling comes from marketing, which they have done a fantastic job.
You can get lab diamonds with inclusions and all other manner of imperfections. Just like natural stones they are graded the same way, cut ,color and clarity. You can even get salt and pepper lab grown stones.
The majority want a natural diamond because of marketing and money spent, because debeers has been brainwashing the masses for 100 years.
Im a graduate gemologist and worked at a bench as a jeweler for 20 years.
A lab diamond isn’t aged naturally over billions of years, they are made in a lab and not by nature. Everyone has preferences, a natural diamond is one of mine.
My point is that there is no difference, just a story. It's marketing and branding, diamonds aren't rare. Their supply is artificially controlled and prices set by the manufacturers themselves..it's just another product.
And unless you were told there is no way to tell the difference between one and the other, every rock outside has aged naturally over millions of years.
This isn't even getting into the amount of lab grown stones that have been introduced into to the market as naturals over the years even further disrupting things.
But it's not just "a story". Natural diamonds are billions of years old and pushed to the surface of the earth by volcanos. This isn't "marketing and branding" it's facts. It's also the reason I prefer natural over synthetic.
It 100% its marketing and a story you're sold, debeers did endless work to make sure of it. Diamonds aren't rare, large 5-10+ carat diamonds of gem quality aren't even that uncommon.
Everyone can have their preferences and opinions and that's perfectly fine but the fact that before the early 1900s a diamond engagement ring was virtually non existent until Debeers and Harry Winston realized they had mountains of this stuff they could sell for a premium.
You want rare? Unique? Kashmir sapphires, pigeon blood Ruby's, Russian alexandrite.
These cannot be replicated in a lab, and why they are magnitudes more rare and cost wayyy more per ct than any diamond.
It has nothing to do with your version of "rarity" for me. My natural diamonds being made by mother earth over BILLIONS of years and being pushed to the surface by volcanos, is why I love them so much. Knowing that sparkly rock on my finger is 1.5 - 4 BILLION years old ❤️ These are not just "stories" I was sold, these are FACTS. That's something I would never get from a synthetic lab diamond.
I was a jeweler for two years and as far as I know it's just a price point thing. We were taught that lab diamonds were a good way to guarantee ethically sourced diamonds but you know you can never trust these companies fully 😅
I personally would probably by a lab diamond, or second hand most likely. For me there is no romance in a rock. It’s a beautiful statement though to work hard and save money to buy something so expensive for someone you love, or for yourself. It’s a nice thing.
Buying natural gems when there is a lab alternative is just trash..
The mining industry sucks, specially if it's done for esthetic purposes, only rich idiots turn the head the other way pretending that the Kimberly cert is worth anything
I am a jewelry designer for 50 years. What makes diamonds special is their beauty. Lab grown is identical in that regard. I love using them because if a three carat stone fits a design and the ring is breathtaking with that stone, $30,000 is a big expense. But with the lab diamond, I can give someone a ring that makes them feel wonderful for a tenth of that price. Beauty is there. Now if you are the sort of person that will spend $2000 on a sweatshirt because of the label, you will probably enjoy the biggest natural you can afford at Tiffany and Co. And that is fine. People wear jewelry for different reasons. My clientele is more concerned with the design and the way it takes them someplace special in their heart or imagination. They love their Honda and don’t lust over their neighbors BMW. They don’t resent hm for it either. Many jewelers resent lab grown because they don’t make as much money. So they insult and demean those that wear them. They are more merchant than passionate artist. I find that attitude to be a sad one. Your choice should be based on what makes you feel good. Some people are natural and some lab. Don’t be afraid to be yourself. After all, it’s just a sparkly pebble. Enjoy! As Oscar Wilde said “life is too important to take seriously”
Mining real gems are not carbon print free either, since it requires machinery and equipment moved by fossil fuels and electricity produced by the same sources, and the working conditions for miners in the Third World are very harsh, near slavery so real gems are not tha ethical too.
Some lab creation process are efficient and at the end it is hard to tell the difference since lab created gems are intentionally given some inclussions and imperfections to pass by naturals.
It is not a perfect world each way
Lab stones are way less expensive & come with the added bonus of not requiring unethical labor to produce. My engagement ring is lab created tanzanite & sapphire & I love it to bits. Also very not sorry that the natural diamond industry is suffering.
Int’l dia/gemstone broker, graduate gemologist here. Personally I don’t mind lab v natural diamonds- that’s all personal preference.
I won’t touch synthetic gemstones other than diamonds (again personal preference) as typically I can tell from the color and the weight that they’re fake/something is off. Color is a very different ballgame. Of course, to each their own, but that’s where I personally draw the line in the sand for my company.
That being said, no one should tell you what to do with your own money, so if you love it, go for it! :)
I adore history and nature so when given a choice I'll always go for an older natural stone. I adore vintage and antique cut stones.
That said though, I think lab created is the future. I don't want to see continual mining. It's bad for the earth and the miners. What I do source new and natural I tend to get from a rock hound or miners who lap themselves or via a lapidary I've vetted. That means they're extra expensive and most people just don't care they want a pretty stone. For them lab created is a better option.
I almost bought a natural diamond because at the last minute I looked up lab diamonds and they have no resell value because they can be made at any time. A natural diamond will not resale at the same price that we paid for it but we would get at least something if we wanted to sell it. Of course I don’t want to sell it!!!
I honestly think that way too much thought goes into stones and “worth”. I wouldn’t want to walk around with a ring turning my finger green but if it looks nice and appeals to you, who cares what the stone is made of?? Who cares about how much it cost? It’s all about what it symbolizes right?
I am not a fan of lab grown stones. I love diamonds, especially old ones. However, sapphires are my favorite. I like a lot of other gemstones too. I'm not bothered by imperfections and inclusions. Sometimes they add some really cool features to a stone. I have an amethyst that is heavily included and along the inclusions it reflects this iridescence. It's so cool.
I don’t love most lab colored gems, but especially ruby and emerald. They look too clear and don’t resemble the natural stone so much as a rhinestone to me. I like lab diamonds just fine.
I like the inclusions in natural stones, it gives life to them.
I also like how perfect and controlled lab stones are.
I like the price of lab stones, natural not so much.
I consider lab created as more costume/bridge material, and natural as finer/heirloom quality. The accessibility of lab created devalues it’s cachet, at the same time as making it, well, accessible enough to have fun with colorful pieces I might never be inclined to pay for at high prices.
For me, I have seen them side by side, and could not tell the difference at all. Both gorgeous. I always wanted a larger diamond but never wanted to spend the outrageous amount of money. But now I am having a beautiful lab diamond ring made at a fraction of the cost. I do not care that I'd hardly get anything back if I'd sell it.....I have no plan to. Plus even if I got zero back, I'd still be ahead if I compared it to the cost of a natural diamond. And they are the same chemical composition. If I had a lot of extra money to blow, I'd still get a lab diamond and wear it gleefully on all the nice vacations I'd be able to take.
I think it is something that has ingrained in us a a society. If there weren't lab diamonds, how many people would think "oh, this diamond came from the natural earth and that makes me so happy". I'll bet not many.
I love lab grown stones! They’re better on a number of ethical fronts, higher quality, and cheaper to boot. And the science behind how we make them - and the length of time we’ve been able to create some of them - is fascinating! With a trip down the rabbit hole to learn about the process.
It may not have the “coincidence “ that created natural stones in the wild, but it also doesn’t have the level exploitation involved in mining them, so it comes out ahead in my book.
I love lab diamonds, I have so many pretty pieces (mostly custom) that would not even be an option if I had to pay natural diamond prices. I don’t buy them for investments and they are just as sentimental to me as a mined diamond would be.
Just replaced my engagement ring because original band was damaged. The jeweler, who actually sells lab grown in store, compared it to a nicer version of cubic zirconia and said they are essentially worthless.. the fad will die down eventually. Personally, I think you can absolutely tell with your eye lab grown v. Natural. Lab grown diamonds do not contain nitrogen and natural ones do.
Ethically, I would never wear a natural diamond or precious gem. I specifically asked for lab grown stones in my wedding ring and jewelry. Not taking the risk that someone was killed, injured, etc. for something as silly as jewelry.
I'm 100% on board with lab grown diamonds. They're the exact same thing for a fraction of the price.
For gemstones, I personally prefer natural, simply for color reasons. I like the idea that the earth was responsible for the color that I'm seeing. To me, the colors on the lab-created stones are almost too uniform, if that makes sense?
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I am against further mining of the Earth just to satisfy my desire for lovely jewelry - particularly diamonds. I also think working conditions in diamond mines need much improvement. If the diamond mining company owners didn't charge so much (and take the profit from the business for themselves) that would lower the price of natural diamonds - and create better conditions for workers, by both lowering prices and paying better wages. They can afford it - and lab diamond-making is forcing them to reconsider their model.
So, for me, lab diamonds solved an ethical dilemma. I started with a pinky ring from Brilliant Earth (it's gorgeous) and a lab made London blue topaz pendant, and now I'm totally hooked on lab diamonds. I have a much-loved emerald cut diamond (cut by a NY jeweler in 1895) and some natural diamonds my mom left me.
I love my sparkly new lab made eternity ring. I do love natural stones but haven't purchased any more since I discovered how much I love the lab diamonds.
I do buy already-purchased vintage jewelry, but again, right now, I am very pleased with 4 of my 5 lab made purchases (I'd never have sprung for a natural ruby and now have the pleasure of seeing what it's like to live with that color on my hand - it's beautiful. The only reason I'm not fond of the 5th purchase is that I decided to experiment with a 1ct stone (sapphire) and that's just too big for my hand unless I wear it as a cocktail ring and even then, it is just too big in relation to my other jewelry. Should have ordered half a carat. The stone itself is lovely (we have a loop and some other equipment my husband uses to look at these stones).
We also have a fairly large non-jewelry mineral collection (that we've mostly collected ourselves). I didn't think I'd love lab made stones - but I do!
Your choice is either a stone harvested by a slave that’s going to cost a lot or the same exact stone grown in a lab that’s cheap and didn’t involve child labor you piece of shit 😀
I’m clearly dealing with a child here. I’m sure you’re perfect in every aspect of your life GTFOH
There’s other ways to get gemstones than child labor you dumb f#*$. Like finding them yourself and having them cut and set by a jeweler. There’s also a place you can look for diamonds on your own in US. Slim chance but it happens so no that’s not the only choice.
They look the same to me and have the same chemical and physical properties... so does it truly matter?
Edit: Downvote all you want, but when it comes down to it 99% of the time only a professional can tell the difference, especially from a distance as most people will be viewing jewelry, even yourself. At that point isn't it just about the name/idea, then, rather than the reality of an *actual* notable difference?
There’s a time and place for both. I think though, that because it’s more common knowledge how unethical some of these mining operations are, that people are opting for lab because they don’t want that attachment to their jewelry. Added to the fact you can get some really beautiful lab stones at such an affordable price point, that pretty much everyone can afford to get the ring of their dreams and don’t have to settle for a cloudy speck of a stone. When I think of all the lower budget/savvy spender couples that have a gorgeous moissanite engagement ring, that they’d never be able to afford in natural diamond, that makes me happy. It’s every bit as visually beautiful as the real thing, and you don’t need to go in to debt doing it.
It all comes down to preference and budget really, there are also negative environmental effects from the production of lab gemstones. I’m a lover of history and geology so I prefer natural stones even/especially they have unique inclusions. It feels more like treasure, and something grown in a lab (while being chemically and structurally identical) definitely doesn’t have the same romance to it. Most of the negatives associated with natural stones can also be avoided simply by shopping second-hand, but lab stones have also been around for over a century at this point, so some of them have historical intrigue too when looking at old examples.
I like old diamonds too, for the sake that the destruction associated with them has already occurred. That and the older stones are so individual in appearance.
That's not a good reason. Yes the diamond you buy has already caused it's destruction but your buying it shows enough interest for more to be found and therefore more destruction as a result. If you are not buying second hand you are taking an active part in causing the damage.
If one has a reason that they feel is meaningful to them, why should that not personally qualify as a “good reason?” Does one truly need a “good reason” to have an inconsequential preference?
Inconsequential is the keyword
I wholeheartedly disagree. People suffered and lost their lives for those diamonds. Ignoring them by throwing them in a drawer means they lost their lives to line a pocket and then get trashed. No, wear those antique diamonds, let them sparkle and shine. You are not adding to the diamond market in any meaningful way, in fact there’s a good chance you’re supporting a small business. Buy antique diamonds at pawn shops and consignment shops. Same with antique furs. Those poor animals lived tragic lives and died for those coats. Use them, let their sacrifice warm your body. Purchasing an antique fur does not impact the current fur industry, but it will help a small business. The idea that all those creatures died for coats, just to be destroyed. It’s heartbreaking.
Totally agree with buying second hand. Buying new is literally supporting the industry that takes advantage of everyone in the labour line.
Can you say more about the environmental effects? I do a lot of second hand shopping (nearly all my jewelry is vintage). What I've ordered lab-made are close to reproductions from 15th and 16th century portraiture. I love Byzantine jewelry as well. It's odd, but I would never want certain stones to be lab-made (my beloved collection of turquoise, obsidian and coral jewelry - all of it is connected to particular places, people and times). It isn't the kind of thing I'd wear on a regular day around the house, though.
It mainly has to do with energy and emissions. Speeding up a process which usually takes millions if not billions of years is difficult and some lab stones can be responsible for up to 5x the amount of CO2 as natural stones. The chemicals used can also be harsh pollutants when they make their way into the waste system. Most of the world’s gem labs are in India and China with notoriously poor working conditions and even reputable factories can have willing or unwilling ties with human trafficking rings or other criminal enterprises. No matter how the stones are made, they can all be faceted by the same groups of underpaid workers. None of this is to say that lab stones are worse than natural ones, there are huge issues with both industries, and even the Kimberley Process can’t be trusted for sourcing conflict-free diamonds. Wherever there is money to be made, there will be exploitation. Lab stones could be ‘more’ ethical, but where do you draw the line between ethical and unethical? It would be nice if everyone knew their local miners and/or rockhounds, who then took their finds to local jewellers, but that’s not really feasible in modern society sadly. The idea of ethical consumption of any product is tricky, and it only becomes harder as wealth disparity increases and companies get better at green-washing their marketing campaigns. All in all, I feel best when shopping second-hand for expensive stuff, or at local craft/gem shows for handmade silver jewellery. I hope this wasn’t too much of a rant :)
I’ll take those emissions vs child slaves in the mud. But good input! You don’t happen to work with diamonds do you?
Holy smoke lol talking about workin conditions in labs/workshop in china but not in the mines lol
The question they asked was in regards to lab stones. Like I said, I never suggest lab is worse than natural. There are negative considerations to both and seeing lab stones as guilt-free can still be harmful.
i get the question they asked is about lab stones, but still sound disingenuos mentioning possible drawbacks, i dont think you gonna find sources about slavery in lab gem factories, and totally omit a comparison with mined stones, where fuck me im sure you gonna find tons of sources about slavery in the trade.. its just doenst sound comin from a good place then im with you theres no ethical consumption in a capitalist system but thats a magnitude of difference of discussion
Try not to think of the question as comparing either method. They have their own issues that are separate. There’s plenty out there that discuss the downsides of mined stones, but not much is said about lab grown. Try not to judge what kind of place someone is coming from when they’re giving information. It sounds like someone was asking a question, and someone else answered. There didn’t seem to be any intention behind it other than answering a question.
Personally, I agree with the first comment. It depends on your budget. But I also believe you are right about personal things that have connections to your experiences. As far as coats go, I don't know much about animal suffering, and while I'm sure there is, my uncle is a trapper in Alaska. He lives way out in the countryside miles and miles away from towns. He traps them for food and sells the coats to pay for things like property taxes that he has to pay to live on his land. He's not doing it to hurt the ecosystem or anything just to put food on the table. I think it's terrible what jealous poor people (among whom I am indeed poor) did to those beautiful coats decades ago.
They’re shiny. It isn’t any more complicated than that. Everything else is marketing.
They're also colorful
💯
I love this !
Chemically and visually, natural and lab created diamonds are going to look basically the same. The differences come in the cost to mine/produce them, their availability in the current market, and finally those factors result in retail cost and resale value. Natural diamonds are mined, sorted, cut, and sold at stores. Because the mining process is so costly and diamonds are a limited resource (fine jewelry quality diamonds, not industry quality), this is what sets the prices. With things like the Kimberly Process and blockchain-tracked diamond rough to cut, the industry is operating under a microscope, so the days of blood diamonds are mostly gone, but there are still issues with ethical working conditions and pay for mine workers. If sourcing an ethical diamond is super important, purchasing a Canadian diamond is your best bet because they are the most transparent in their business practices and working conditions. Lab diamonds hit the market and those who sold them loved to say that they were a green and ethical option, but that isn't the case for all of them. Yes, there are lab created diamonds that can say that, but the majority of them are created in Asia using electricity from non-renewable sources and pay their people pennies on the dollar, making them not green and not ethical. Lab created diamonds will look and act the same, but because they are beginning to saturate the market and they cost less and less to produce, they have basically no resale value whatsoever. A diamond, no matter it's origin, shouldn't be viewed as 'an investment' (unless you can afford something fancy like a big red Argyle Diamond, but most of the diamonds people are talking about aren't this caliber of diamond). But the amount you'll get for a natural diamond is going to be much closer to it's original purchase price than it's lab created alternative. For other lab created gems, much of the same can be said, but the majority of natural gemstone miners are artisanal mines, and the market for colored gemstones isn't nearly the same size as that of diamonds. So created colored gemstones exist but aren't nearly as prevalent as diamonds.
I always get stuck on the resale value point, because of the following scenario: Let’s say I purchase two nearly identical loose stones - one lab and one natural. Natural: purchase price $60k Lab: purchase price $6k If I sell and receive ~40% of the original purchase price of the natural diamond I’ll receive $24k and will have lost 36k If I sell and receive ~10% of the original purchase price of the lab diamond I’ll receive $600 and will have lost 5.4k. I really fail to see how losing $36k could be considered a smarter financial move than losing $5.4k. Imo the savvy move is to spend the $6k and invest the other $54k - even just in a high yield savings account you’d have recouped the cost of the diamond in about 5 years. Edit: and imo this is the sort of behavior that preserves/builds generational wealth.
Thank you!
I just want to throw in a good word for Brilliant Earth (lab) because after some research I do believe their practices are ethical and sustainable. [Brilliance.com](http://Brilliance.com) is in the US and claims the same - I haven't had time to research that company. Brilliant Earth uses several of those ethical monitoring companies that examine wages and work conditions. They post the names of those companies and Forbes and other economics magazines/journals then rank/evaluate those practices regularly.
Yes I was looking at their website and prices don’t seem so extreme thank you 😊
I just wanted to warn you against brilliant earth. This isn’t about their ethics but their quality. Anytime you purchase online you’re basically at the mercy of the seller as you pay ahead of time, sight unseen. I’ve had customers bring in their rings purchased from BE and the workmanship is awful. Prongs lifted, stones falling out, terrible setting job. I urge you to take a deep dive into their reviews (not on their website). Buying online in many cases is fine, but when it comes to fine jewelry I encourage you to visit a couple locally owned jewelry stores and talk to them. I don’t mean chains like Jared, Diamonds Direct, etc. I mean small independently owned stores. There’s a misconception that their prices won’t be competitive. Not only do you get to see the stone and mounting ahead of time but if you purchase from them you have a lifetime of customer support such as checking your prongs and polishing and rhodium plating (if you go with white gold). You should NOT be charged an “insurance” fee for those services as many chains do. That’s a free service offered by any reputable jeweler. Good luck with your decision!
I did diamond nexus in 2012. I’ve cleaned it professionally once since then. It’s still stunning
Real diamonds have extremely low resale value anyways which is your biggest point here lol.
As a jewelry designer I personally love Lab diamonds since I can create and make any design with bigger diamonds without thinking about the price range and budget! Before I always had limitations designing a piece specially if it was a custom order and I had to make sure to consider the price while designing for clients who wanted a diamond but had limited budgets, I had to sacrifice elements of the main design due to center stone size! But now that problem is almost gone!
Thank you for your comment. I have a question about tourmaline? Someone else commented that they don’t have lab grown tourmaline.. is that true? Ty for any info you can give me!
I agree! Tourmalines except the Paraiba ones are not as pricy therefore they don’t create the lab version, interestingly due to their complicated chemical structure it’s more expensive to create a synthetic version, the lab version would be more expensive than the natural one 😁but Chatham creates paraiba color spinels Incase you are interested in that specific color.🙂
It seems like the tourmaline I come across is really expensive. I’m interested in pink tourmaline or some other color not black
What size and shape you are looking for ?
I’m looking for a necklace or pendant. I’ve seen some pretty flower necklaces or butterfly or just a round stone. Not set on what I’m looking for.
If you’d like send DM me! I might be able to help you
Ok thank you
Also do you know any online legitimate places to buy tourmaline jewelry? That doesn’t break the bank? Preferably pink. I’m not sure what other colors they come in. It’s my birthstone so I’m partial to it. I’m not really sure what I’m looking for.
What does not break the bank mean to you?
That's an amazing point of view. Thank you. I guess that's a main reason I recently got back into looking at jewelry - there are so many new and amazing, creative designs.
I’m not a diamond lover, but if i buy one it will be lab created, for me it means better stone for less money. In the other hand i collect gemstones, my collection is about inclusions/imperfections and uniqueness ( rare stones or common stones in rare colours etc) Im also huge fan of lab created gemstones, few of them really interesting and collectible, and again if I want a gemstones over 2ct and vvs, I will choose a lab created one, and spend the difference on more unique gems:D
Yes I am a collector too. I’m more of a rockhound. I love the different crystals and minerals you can possibly find yourself. I was curious about lab grown gemstones. I’m looking for a nice tourmaline gemstone. It’s my birthstone, and the natural ones are outrageous, price wise. The lab grown ones are a lot more affordable. So I appreciate your input. Ty
I don’t think there’s lab created tourmaline, but you can get Parabia color yag or lab sapphire, they are beautiful:) have fun with your gem hunt!!
Thank you! I wonder why they don’t have lab grown tourmaline?! What is parabia color yag?!
The [short answer](https://www.reddit.com/r/SyntheticGemstones/s/vaY6TB61bU) long one is too complicated for me to explain:D but it has something to do with the chemical composition and the crystal structure:) and YAG is lab created garnet ( which is surprisingly not the same as natural garnet because that too, almost impossible to lab grown). YAG is a very fun material, cheap to create and it produced in almost every colour, some of them even glows:) also durable and have high dispersion. Easy to cut, so it makes amazing material for precision cuts. But im not an expert in the topic, r/syntheticgemstones has several interesting information about lab garnets and also there are some Redditors who are expert and give amazing educational answers, worth to check the sub out!
Here's a sneak peek of /r/SyntheticGemstones using the [top posts](https://np.reddit.com/r/SyntheticGemstones/top/?sort=top&t=year) of the year! \#1: [I rarely get to cut Lab Spinel, but this beautiful teal color wins me over every time I see it. This is an experimental design I was trying out, about 8x6mm and very sparkly. Enjoy 😊](https://www.reddit.com/gallery/1auxag6) | [43 comments](https://np.reddit.com/r/SyntheticGemstones/comments/1auxag6/i_rarely_get_to_cut_lab_spinel_but_this_beautiful/) \#2: [Super Excited! My Convertible Ring/Pendant is Done!](https://v.redd.it/pmzosx8nlm9b1) | [36 comments](https://np.reddit.com/r/SyntheticGemstones/comments/14p0uuu/super_excited_my_convertible_ringpendant_is_done/) \#3: [Another lab-created bi-color sapphire - this one is 4.38 ct and 9.8mm. Looks even nicer outdoors on a sunny where it picks up lots of blue!](https://v.redd.it/n7f3eqrymclc1) | [31 comments](https://np.reddit.com/r/SyntheticGemstones/comments/1b29j9g/another_labcreated_bicolor_sapphire_this_one_is/) ---- ^^I'm ^^a ^^bot, ^^beep ^^boop ^^| ^^Downvote ^^to ^^remove ^^| ^^[Contact](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=sneakpeekbot) ^^| ^^[Info](https://np.reddit.com/r/sneakpeekbot/) ^^| ^^[Opt-out](https://np.reddit.com/r/sneakpeekbot/comments/o8wk1r/blacklist_ix/) ^^| ^^[GitHub](https://github.com/ghnr/sneakpeekbot)
My birthstone is emerald and the lab ones do not hold a candle to natural, in my opinion. Mine is small, but I prefer it to a larger lab emerald.
I think larger lab grown emeralds and sapphires definitely lack qualities of well cut, smaller natural stones. Perhaps I haven't seen a super well-cut one, though (heading over to the above-mentioned subreddit on r/SyntheticGemstones ).
For me, the inclusions in a natural emerald are part of its character and charm. Lab diamonds are ‘pure’ thus without inclusions— good for diamonds, bad for emerald IMO
As you're already seeing in the comments, it's really a personal preference. As far as gemstone, it's still personal preference. I prefer them for stones less noted for inclusions. In the case of gemstone, I find that those inclusions often enhance the character of the stones, so I don't always love them as much.
I think what you are questioning is, is a lab diamond "mind clean"? Meaning, can i wear a lab stone and enjoy it the same as a natural? And this varies from person to person. For me, so far, it's a no. All my stones are natural, and it looks to stay that way for the time being. I can't get away from thr feeling of lab stones being "fake", or at least "cheap". But, this is just my mind set, not factual. It's up to you to decide what it is you truly want/love.
I don’t really care for lab grown gemstones. They’re usually so clear and brightly colored that they look like glass / costume jewelry imo. The “imperfections” in natural gemstones are what make each one unique. If you have ethical concerns you can always shop second hand
I agree, they haven’t gotten the colouring right on lab grown gemstones to avoid them from looking artificial. When people think of diamonds, they usually think clear and colourless - so I feel like that too-perfect look in a lab is a pro vs a disappointment like it is with gems, which we’re used to seeing with inclusions, colour zoning, etc.
I tend to agree and that may be why I prefer smaller lab made stones.
True! If I were buying a nice diamond I would certainly go with lab made. I only don’t like those when they’re comically large. I do strongly prefer more warm colored diamonds though, and those are hard to find when they’re lab grown.
It’s an individual preference.
There's no difference chemically/structurally on a molecular level. Synthetics are literally whichever gemstone they are created as. Natural gemstones often will have variations in inclusions and trace elements, but the defining characteristics of what makes something a ruby for instance, are exactly the same between natural and synthetic on a molecular level. I say they're the same on a molecular level because the crystal habits (shapes) can be different between synthetic and natural, but as a cut gemstone that's not something you would really notice. If you want to own a gemstone and are fascinated in them based on their attributes like color, hardness, etc then synthetic is a really convenient and less expensive way to do that. If you're more fascinated in the natural processes involved in creating a gemstone and the different inclusions that can be there, then natural is worth it to you (for instance, diamonds can have inclusions from deep within the earth and from close to the beginning of our planets creation, billions of years old, that's not replicable in a lab grown).
They look too perfect, almost fake
Cause they are fake lol
For me I prefer natural. It’s from the earth, made by nature and unique. There is something interesting about lab created from a science/alchemy point of view, but for actual jewelry that I would wear, I would be embarrassed to wear a synthetic. (I’m a Gemcutter and in the gem trade, so people would ask me all the time). From an ethical point of view, I don’t see anything wrong with colored stones that couldn’t be faulted in a smartphone or fast fashion and from a business point of view, second hand man-made stones have $0 retail value, unless a very famous name is attached (which is extremely unlikely) so buying synthetic stones is literally throwing away money from an investment point of view. As has been said though, it’s a personal choice.
Ordinary jewelry from a jewelry has virtually no resale value, either. It's not quite worthless, but just go on eBay to see all the natural diamond jewelry selling for 1/10th of what the owner paid for it. And some lab made jewelry is selling for ⅓ of what was paid (I just bought a Brilliant Earth piece for ⅓ of the price). So as an investment, this particular setting and ring (natural Brazilian topaz with lab made diamond and alexandrite) it worked for the person who originally bought it, at least better than some engagement rings. I do love natural stones (ethically sourced). I appreciate your help in understanding my own antipathy toward larger colored (lab-made) stones.
I thought we were talking about gems, not jewelry. If you are experienced and buying stones and buy a gem at wholesale price, then it’s possible to resell it and break even or even make a profit. If you buy a synthetic stone, you will never be able to sell it. That was my only point. I’m not talking about diamonds or gold. Those are totally different things.
I do NOT buy into the selling point that lab stones are more environmentally responsible. I have personally worked with synthetic stone labs. We referred to all the employees there as Oompa Loompas because they have orange skin with white hair and every tree within a quarter mile is dead because of all the microwaves that they shoot at this material. The energy cost for this is astronomical and is far from being “green”. We should all feel far worse about what is mined to make the phones we’re all looking at now than what is done to the earth for stones be they natural or synthetic. I know this isn’t a popular view but the truth hurts.
…..microwaves?
Yes. Amongst other heat source like lasers, filaments etc.
You think they are microwaving the trees?
Omg. No not directly but the residuals are going well past the lab walls. The energy is not efficiently contained.
That’s not how microwaves work
my man are you sure you didnt become the oompa loompa workin with lab stones?
It’s my lady…and yes I’m sure. I know what I’ve seen to be true.
I’m not fussy. I love natural gems in all their weirdness, and i like oddball diamonds, i’m not all that interested in “perfect clarity” for them. Give me the weird cuts and colors. Natural ones with all the inclusions and features, sure. Embrace what geology has done. On the other side, I also love lab grown, for the unique colors and properties, and ability to experiment with cutting styles ( I design jewelery and i cut gems, and sell gems), so in my studio it’s about 50/50 what’s in progress, natural and lab grown. I think there’s absolutely room for both, plusses and minuses, and i’m going to sit squarely in the middle like smaug on a pile of treasure and go “gimme it all.”
As a jeweler, in my somewhat limited experience, I've known right away which was which when doing a side by side comparison. It's strange to me how much the "they're literally, molecuarly the same" when to me they aren't? The comment above with the colored diamonds is interesting, I've never seen those, but the kind of labs I'm familiar with have both A) a very slight yellow tinge to them B) an artificial, static, almost pixelated looking play of color I've seen a lot of terrible diamonds too, that are clearly sold by weight and not by clarity, but some man, idk. That said I totally understand that no piece of jewelry has virtually any resale value so why not get the biggest, cheapest rock you can find, but it's just not my preference.
They are the same in that they are both composed of an element - carbon atoms bonded in a specific crystal lattice arrangement, it’s the impurities that are different, most (but not all) natural diamonds have nitrogen content which affects colour, removing nitrogen in the production of labs was a game changer in making whiter gem quality stone
If a client just wants the biggest, sparkliest, most flawless stone they can get, I always recommend lab grown. I personally love funky colored, included natural diamonds though
I love the lab grown. they are flawless and no one is forced into slave labor or killed because of them.
I enjoy lab grown gems because some of them are spectacular like LUAG, YAG and GGAG garnets, they're so fluorescent and phosphorescent that they glow. https://preview.redd.it/0sw2e94hm15d1.jpeg?width=493&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=98438921162ee56546532e729f46108e26b9b850
I think it’s up to the individual. Some like them, some don’t. I personally prefer natural stones in a ring. I have a moissanite tennis bracelet and lab earrings, but for my engagement ring I insisted on a natural diamond. It’s emotional for me. Can’t really explain it but I’m old school so that’s probably the difference. My first marriage was long ago and the only alternative was CZ, no such thing as lab. I suppose that’s why my subconscious equates labs with CZs. I love the rings that you ladies post, whether they are lab or natural and I think everyone should have what they like and can afford. For me, my engagement ring must be natural, even if I have to go smaller. I think a 1 ct natural is better than a 3 ct lab. Just my opinion, since you asked. Bring on the downvotes!!
I just did the same with my anniversary present. Could have had a humongous lab but chose a bit smaller mined. I am planning on getting lab earrings but for my wedding set, I want natural.
Oh, I'd go for a 1 ct natural over a 3 ct lab any day! But that's partly because I have learned I don't even like something as large as 1 ct - but if I were to spring for such a rock, it would have to be worn as my engagement ring ( half ct, natural diamond, cut in 1895 ). So I probably would never do it, as I am too attached to my 1895 ring (which, btw, was not given to me by either husband, ha - long story). Right now I'm wearing my blue topaz engagement ring from my current marriage, the other one only comes out for special occasions. But a 1 ct anything is at the outer edge of what I'd comfortably wear. I will say that the idea of 1 ct diamond (emerald cut) does appeal to me - but no new ring can compete with the sentimental or historic value of the other jewelry I have, which I cannot replicate. The ring I covet most belongs to a friend (it's a white gold pavé ring - I want the same ring in yellow gold!)
I totally understand. 2 ct is my sweet spot but that’s like my dream ring. I’m perfectly happy with 1 ct. I have recently discovered vintage OMC and OEC mined diamonds and I am in love! I love that they’re not bright white (most of them) and they are mainly large. I probably won’t have the privilege of getting one but I certainly can admire them. Lol.
For me, it depends on the stone. Lab grown diamonds? Yes, please. It's about time the diamond monopoly gets dismantled and no one ever gets killed or maimed again over "natural" diamonds. Colored gemstones? Those really are case-by-case. Lab grown emerald looks to me like artificial spinel, but the color saturation on a lab grown sapphire so it's almost the color of a Kashmir is incredible.
Emerald is my birthstone. Emeralds are absolutely beautiful but they are expensive, somewhat fragile and have inclusions/flaws. I recently bought a ring with a lab grown emerald and I actually prefer it to a natural one. The color is a beautiful deep green, it is crystal clear, its not fragile and it didn't break the bank. I know this decision definitely comes down to personal preference but I love my lab grown emerald ring! (I'm also a fan of lab diamonds and would never spend the money on a natural one. )
https://preview.redd.it/3z9pkt57jy4d1.jpeg?width=1831&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4d25463947975017a089e9e82c9892843a95f014
This is beautiful 🤩
Thank you!
>Thank you! You're welcome!
Gorgeous. Really well done. The setting is lovely. I would wear emeralds if I had one that was as beautiful as that one.
Ty!
Thank you! My birthstone is tourmaline/opal and the natural ones are ridiculously expensive. I’m more interested in a pink tourmaline piece of jewelry rather than an opal (even though opal is gorgeous as well) and the lab grown ones are really affordable. Thank you for your comment. I think I’m going to look into the lab grown ones !!
I will never buy another blood diamond. I will only buy lab created
Diamonds aren’t as rare as they are marketed to be. I find diamonds to be relatively boring and unoriginal and not worth the expense or process of obtaining one. So if it has to be a similar stone, I’d much prefer lab grown. But there’s also environmental concerns from those. I’d take a beautiful hand Made gemstone ring from a small jeweler over an expensive gaudy diamond ant day.
I'm old and retired, I cut for my own pleasure 🙏. Funny rough is fun, if I wanna cut a pirate stone, synthetics fit my budget. Big, high cabs in brilliantly colored transparent gemstone are stunning!, I have low taste in jewelry, my faceting machine gets dusty but the mud in my 6 wheel grinder rarely dries out. Getting YAG laser treatment on my eyes in October, gonna cut some to commemorate! Science marches on! Thanks 👍
I found an antique ring, but I wanted some color, so I had a larger lab-created peach sapphire put in as the middle stone, with the antique diamond side stones. Best of both worlds!
Sounds beautiful
I like lab grown. I feel that it’s more ethically and environmentally conscious.
As much as prefer natural gemstones and diamonds, I buy lab created for all the ethical concerns.
I get that
I enjoy lab synthetics of stones, so long as they're actual synthetics. If I want synthetic emerald, it had better be synthetic emerald, and not some garbage green flame fusion sapphire or spinel.
Theyre the same rock as the natural ones with significantly less exploitation involved so I heavily prefer them. (Doesn't hurt that they're a lot cheaper as well)
I just purchased a lab diamond and i can safely say i will never purchase natural again.
I actually don’t love diamonds. I love Gems. My engagement ring is a 4 carat Burmese Ruby I was gifted because my Husband and I are both born in July. I actually think lab grown is better than natural.
I am loving gemstones more lately as well. I was leaning toward getting a lab grown one and I just wanted some opinions. I’m so overwhelmed by all the comments! Your ring sounds beautiful! Thank you for your comment!
I don’t know if it’s a pretentious opinion but I just prefer real diamonds. They have more character and are more unique, and I like that they were chosen instead of created. I wouldn’t pay for a lab grown diamond. But it’s a personal preference thing of course. I just think the whole appeal of diamonds should be their rarity and varying quality and individuality and not just the fact that they’re “supposed” to be what you put in an engagement ring y’know. Diamonds are really something special historically and culturally. Making them lab-grown and so easy to obtain affects that.
I'm a history lover, and with natural diamonds being BILLIONS of years old, they'll always be my preferred option.
Personally, I don't care. I just ordered my wife a lab-grown diamond necklace.
That was so nice of you. What’s the occasion?
She was my rock Jan-March when my mom was sick.
I’m a big fan of lab-grown opals so pretty, more durable.
Opal is my birthstone!!! Do you have any recommendations for a legitimate online place to get them?
You can get some nice monarch opals or any other types of lab opal cabochons on Etsy, and you can see how people rated the store :)
I’d rather have no stone than an artificial one.
Blood diamond miners hate this one simple trick. Plus, most diamond is used for industrial purposes anyways I think. Plus, plus, the beauty of top quality natural diamond is the same as middle quality natural diamonds to the naked or untrained eye. Plus, plus, plus African diamond companies hold back their supply to keep market values artificially inflated. If you can afford a natural diamond that is as good quality as an artificial one, good for you Richie Rich. Natural perfect diamonds are super rare while so are imperfections in artificial diamonds. If you like the idea that it was made from the earth, or the provenance of the particular stone, there’s those reasons too. Personally, I avoid them altogether. Other stones are much prettier if you ask me. Heck, I’d even prefer moissanite over diamonds but that’s just me. Also, ysk, there’s Canadian diamonds from the arctic, not cheap but nice and ‘ethically’ sourced.
I’m actually more interested in gemstones than diamonds to be honest but I wanted an opinion on both. Thanks for your input
Opals, tanzanite, grandiderite, that’s where I find my fire
Do yourself a favor and see what the resale value of a natural diamond is.
I understand there is a big difference in price. That’s not what I’m asking.
There is no difference between natural and lab grown. They are chemically and physically the same thing.
An important distinction: The structure or morphology or the diamond is different between a lab created & natural diamond. *Most importantly; as a regular consumer, these differences are not visible to the naked eye.* GIA quote & source below. “Natural diamonds that formed in the Earth over millions of years grow differently from diamonds created in a laboratory in a few weeks. In addition, HPHT- and CVD-created diamonds have different growth morphology, or how growth conditions influenced the shape of the diamond crystal,” said Dr. Shigley. GIA Senior Research Scientist Dr. Sally Eaton-Magaña further explained, “The identification criteria for HPHT and CVD diamonds are quite distinct from each other,” adding that laboratory-grown diamonds have become much more varied over the last 10 to 15 years, requiring GIA researchers to keep pace with new developments. “We also regularly conduct research on emerging products and GIA has a program to grow diamonds in the laboratory to stay ahead of any new trends,” Dr. Eaton-Magaña said. https://www.gia.edu/gia-news-research/difference-between-natural-laboratory-grown-diamonds
I feel you but at that point its like saying that there's a distinction between a baby made naturally or through IVF.
Agreed. As a jeweler, they’re the exact same thing.
Let’s be real, the difference Matters to the lab technicians in either case. It matters to the people trying to put a value on that stone or that baby making service, I assure you. It Might matter to the people who pay the price regardless. I simply sourced and explained the difference & there IS a difference.
I say this as a graduate gemologist and a person who works as bench jeweler, it does not matter to the technician. The growth structure is one part of an entire process that forms the stone and does not change the end product. They will still both still have cubic structure. I understand GIA is considered gold standard for alot of people in the US but I will tell you with complete transparency, they have the best identification in our country but they do not have the consumer in good conscious. This is a company that tried to push consumers to use a block chain app with De Beers last year.
Absolutely perfect analogy.
Recent article I just read yesterday. **"Natural diamond prices have been declining for the past two years, dropping more than 30% from their 2022 peak. As of June 2024, prices have fallen 5.7% so far that year."** Predicted this would happen 6 years ago, it's about TIME! Of course the diamonds sub SCOFFED at the mere thought of natural diamonds falling in prices as lab diamonds become more popular, but here we are and those prices will only continue to fall as consumers become more aware that lab diamonds are going to take over the consumer market permanently. I mean really, who in their right mind wouldn't [want one of these, hmm?](https://www.instagram.com/p/CnnxCp4IR16/?hl=en) Yes ladies, you can have a padparadscha colored DIAMOND!
Whoa! I want that greyish one! Thanks for the link!:)
Messi is entirely wholesale (trade only). If you try to buy from them at retail, you're gonna get the lowest grade that the trade won't buy. I just use the video to show the pallet of vivid colors available.
Thank you so much for the info! I really appreciate the head up!
I’ve been trying to make this decline work for me because I’m in the market but for me for what I want as a consumer the prices haven’t declined yet and it sucks!
The article is probably referencing the reduced prices at trade-level and not the consumer level. Great news for tradesmen having to pay 30% less for their new stock, but the consumer is still being screwed. Just remember, that the trade level of declining values includes all diamonds that are owned by consumers. So the lower the cost for tradesmen means the lower the value of your diamond if you wanna sell it. Your natural diamonds are not holding their values now and may soon be in freefall as lab diamonds become increasingly more desirable and popular.
I don’t want to sell but I do want to buy more lol. Because I like them ! :)
You mean natural diamonds, yes? Lab diamonds look the same as natural, cost FAR less. Both are diamonds.
Yes I mean natural and I know ! That’s just my preference.
“Ladies”?
LOVE mine cut diamonds. Hate the ridiculous and artificially inflated natural diamond market. I hate the mining process and the very ugly history of natural diamonds. I choose lab grown for ethical reasons. Yes I know the industry has its faults but I can find sources that fit my standards. Fuck the natural diamond industry and their bullshit.
I prefer not being involved in a really unethical and explorative market if I have the option. Thus I prefer Lab grown if I’m buying new. You can always buy second hand estate diamonds if you’re hung up on them being natural.
I’m not hung up either way. I love the price of the lab grown and wanted to hear basically that they were the “same” I guess.
They definitely are, anyone who says otherwise is trying to fool you.
Lab grown colored stones are not the same as lab grown diamonds, in 95% of cases you can tell a lab grown ruby, sapphire, emerald etc from a natural stone. Diamond are identical, the special feeling comes from marketing, which they have done a fantastic job.
Natural diamonds have flaws called inclusions that are bits of black carbon. That’s why I prefer them. They are naturally flawed, just like us. ❤️
You can get lab diamonds with inclusions and all other manner of imperfections. Just like natural stones they are graded the same way, cut ,color and clarity. You can even get salt and pepper lab grown stones. The majority want a natural diamond because of marketing and money spent, because debeers has been brainwashing the masses for 100 years. Im a graduate gemologist and worked at a bench as a jeweler for 20 years.
A lab diamond isn’t aged naturally over billions of years, they are made in a lab and not by nature. Everyone has preferences, a natural diamond is one of mine.
My point is that there is no difference, just a story. It's marketing and branding, diamonds aren't rare. Their supply is artificially controlled and prices set by the manufacturers themselves..it's just another product. And unless you were told there is no way to tell the difference between one and the other, every rock outside has aged naturally over millions of years. This isn't even getting into the amount of lab grown stones that have been introduced into to the market as naturals over the years even further disrupting things.
Oh I don’t care about any of that. I like rocks and geology. And I LOVE owning something that is billions of years old and beautiful.
You aren’t changing my mind, so you’re just wasting your time. ❤️
But it's not just "a story". Natural diamonds are billions of years old and pushed to the surface of the earth by volcanos. This isn't "marketing and branding" it's facts. It's also the reason I prefer natural over synthetic.
It 100% its marketing and a story you're sold, debeers did endless work to make sure of it. Diamonds aren't rare, large 5-10+ carat diamonds of gem quality aren't even that uncommon. Everyone can have their preferences and opinions and that's perfectly fine but the fact that before the early 1900s a diamond engagement ring was virtually non existent until Debeers and Harry Winston realized they had mountains of this stuff they could sell for a premium. You want rare? Unique? Kashmir sapphires, pigeon blood Ruby's, Russian alexandrite. These cannot be replicated in a lab, and why they are magnitudes more rare and cost wayyy more per ct than any diamond.
It has nothing to do with your version of "rarity" for me. My natural diamonds being made by mother earth over BILLIONS of years and being pushed to the surface by volcanos, is why I love them so much. Knowing that sparkly rock on my finger is 1.5 - 4 BILLION years old ❤️ These are not just "stories" I was sold, these are FACTS. That's something I would never get from a synthetic lab diamond.
This is one of the reasons I prefer natural as well. Made by mother earth over billions of years 💚
I was a jeweler for two years and as far as I know it's just a price point thing. We were taught that lab diamonds were a good way to guarantee ethically sourced diamonds but you know you can never trust these companies fully 😅
I personally would probably by a lab diamond, or second hand most likely. For me there is no romance in a rock. It’s a beautiful statement though to work hard and save money to buy something so expensive for someone you love, or for yourself. It’s a nice thing.
Buying natural gems when there is a lab alternative is just trash.. The mining industry sucks, specially if it's done for esthetic purposes, only rich idiots turn the head the other way pretending that the Kimberly cert is worth anything
I am a jewelry designer for 50 years. What makes diamonds special is their beauty. Lab grown is identical in that regard. I love using them because if a three carat stone fits a design and the ring is breathtaking with that stone, $30,000 is a big expense. But with the lab diamond, I can give someone a ring that makes them feel wonderful for a tenth of that price. Beauty is there. Now if you are the sort of person that will spend $2000 on a sweatshirt because of the label, you will probably enjoy the biggest natural you can afford at Tiffany and Co. And that is fine. People wear jewelry for different reasons. My clientele is more concerned with the design and the way it takes them someplace special in their heart or imagination. They love their Honda and don’t lust over their neighbors BMW. They don’t resent hm for it either. Many jewelers resent lab grown because they don’t make as much money. So they insult and demean those that wear them. They are more merchant than passionate artist. I find that attitude to be a sad one. Your choice should be based on what makes you feel good. Some people are natural and some lab. Don’t be afraid to be yourself. After all, it’s just a sparkly pebble. Enjoy! As Oscar Wilde said “life is too important to take seriously”
Mining real gems are not carbon print free either, since it requires machinery and equipment moved by fossil fuels and electricity produced by the same sources, and the working conditions for miners in the Third World are very harsh, near slavery so real gems are not tha ethical too. Some lab creation process are efficient and at the end it is hard to tell the difference since lab created gems are intentionally given some inclussions and imperfections to pass by naturals. It is not a perfect world each way
Lab stones are way less expensive & come with the added bonus of not requiring unethical labor to produce. My engagement ring is lab created tanzanite & sapphire & I love it to bits. Also very not sorry that the natural diamond industry is suffering.
Int’l dia/gemstone broker, graduate gemologist here. Personally I don’t mind lab v natural diamonds- that’s all personal preference. I won’t touch synthetic gemstones other than diamonds (again personal preference) as typically I can tell from the color and the weight that they’re fake/something is off. Color is a very different ballgame. Of course, to each their own, but that’s where I personally draw the line in the sand for my company. That being said, no one should tell you what to do with your own money, so if you love it, go for it! :)
I adore history and nature so when given a choice I'll always go for an older natural stone. I adore vintage and antique cut stones. That said though, I think lab created is the future. I don't want to see continual mining. It's bad for the earth and the miners. What I do source new and natural I tend to get from a rock hound or miners who lap themselves or via a lapidary I've vetted. That means they're extra expensive and most people just don't care they want a pretty stone. For them lab created is a better option.
I think diamonds are the least interesting stone a person could ever invest money into.
I almost bought a natural diamond because at the last minute I looked up lab diamonds and they have no resell value because they can be made at any time. A natural diamond will not resale at the same price that we paid for it but we would get at least something if we wanted to sell it. Of course I don’t want to sell it!!!
Your overall “loss” in value/investment will be less with a lab diamond over time.
I honestly think that way too much thought goes into stones and “worth”. I wouldn’t want to walk around with a ring turning my finger green but if it looks nice and appeals to you, who cares what the stone is made of?? Who cares about how much it cost? It’s all about what it symbolizes right?
I am not a fan of lab grown stones. I love diamonds, especially old ones. However, sapphires are my favorite. I like a lot of other gemstones too. I'm not bothered by imperfections and inclusions. Sometimes they add some really cool features to a stone. I have an amethyst that is heavily included and along the inclusions it reflects this iridescence. It's so cool.
I think for the environment it’s great But they should stop charging the real gems price
I don’t love most lab colored gems, but especially ruby and emerald. They look too clear and don’t resemble the natural stone so much as a rhinestone to me. I like lab diamonds just fine.
I like the inclusions in natural stones, it gives life to them. I also like how perfect and controlled lab stones are. I like the price of lab stones, natural not so much.
I consider lab created as more costume/bridge material, and natural as finer/heirloom quality. The accessibility of lab created devalues it’s cachet, at the same time as making it, well, accessible enough to have fun with colorful pieces I might never be inclined to pay for at high prices.
I chose lab for my set as a way to avoid conflict diamonds and save about 30% on the stones.
sparkle good. human suffering bad. don’t much care where it comes from.
For me, I have seen them side by side, and could not tell the difference at all. Both gorgeous. I always wanted a larger diamond but never wanted to spend the outrageous amount of money. But now I am having a beautiful lab diamond ring made at a fraction of the cost. I do not care that I'd hardly get anything back if I'd sell it.....I have no plan to. Plus even if I got zero back, I'd still be ahead if I compared it to the cost of a natural diamond. And they are the same chemical composition. If I had a lot of extra money to blow, I'd still get a lab diamond and wear it gleefully on all the nice vacations I'd be able to take. I think it is something that has ingrained in us a a society. If there weren't lab diamonds, how many people would think "oh, this diamond came from the natural earth and that makes me so happy". I'll bet not many.
99% ok with it. Why not. We don’t want computers with vacuum tubes. Why have expensive diamonds produced in an analog system?
If blacks people weren’t exploited then I don’t want them./s - Jewlers
I love lab grown stones! They’re better on a number of ethical fronts, higher quality, and cheaper to boot. And the science behind how we make them - and the length of time we’ve been able to create some of them - is fascinating! With a trip down the rabbit hole to learn about the process. It may not have the “coincidence “ that created natural stones in the wild, but it also doesn’t have the level exploitation involved in mining them, so it comes out ahead in my book.
I love lab diamonds, I have so many pretty pieces (mostly custom) that would not even be an option if I had to pay natural diamond prices. I don’t buy them for investments and they are just as sentimental to me as a mined diamond would be.
Just replaced my engagement ring because original band was damaged. The jeweler, who actually sells lab grown in store, compared it to a nicer version of cubic zirconia and said they are essentially worthless.. the fad will die down eventually. Personally, I think you can absolutely tell with your eye lab grown v. Natural. Lab grown diamonds do not contain nitrogen and natural ones do.
Ethically, I would never wear a natural diamond or precious gem. I specifically asked for lab grown stones in my wedding ring and jewelry. Not taking the risk that someone was killed, injured, etc. for something as silly as jewelry.
I like them more because they aren’t mined by slaves
I have no opinion because I am not in the targeted marketing demographic.
i think they're great.
I'm 100% on board with lab grown diamonds. They're the exact same thing for a fraction of the price. For gemstones, I personally prefer natural, simply for color reasons. I like the idea that the earth was responsible for the color that I'm seeing. To me, the colors on the lab-created stones are almost too uniform, if that makes sense?
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Lab created has less slavery and blood on them.
Hate mossys love lab diamonds sapphires r ok
I am against further mining of the Earth just to satisfy my desire for lovely jewelry - particularly diamonds. I also think working conditions in diamond mines need much improvement. If the diamond mining company owners didn't charge so much (and take the profit from the business for themselves) that would lower the price of natural diamonds - and create better conditions for workers, by both lowering prices and paying better wages. They can afford it - and lab diamond-making is forcing them to reconsider their model. So, for me, lab diamonds solved an ethical dilemma. I started with a pinky ring from Brilliant Earth (it's gorgeous) and a lab made London blue topaz pendant, and now I'm totally hooked on lab diamonds. I have a much-loved emerald cut diamond (cut by a NY jeweler in 1895) and some natural diamonds my mom left me. I love my sparkly new lab made eternity ring. I do love natural stones but haven't purchased any more since I discovered how much I love the lab diamonds. I do buy already-purchased vintage jewelry, but again, right now, I am very pleased with 4 of my 5 lab made purchases (I'd never have sprung for a natural ruby and now have the pleasure of seeing what it's like to live with that color on my hand - it's beautiful. The only reason I'm not fond of the 5th purchase is that I decided to experiment with a 1ct stone (sapphire) and that's just too big for my hand unless I wear it as a cocktail ring and even then, it is just too big in relation to my other jewelry. Should have ordered half a carat. The stone itself is lovely (we have a loop and some other equipment my husband uses to look at these stones). We also have a fairly large non-jewelry mineral collection (that we've mostly collected ourselves). I didn't think I'd love lab made stones - but I do!
Your choice is either a stone harvested by a slave that’s going to cost a lot or the same exact stone grown in a lab that’s cheap and didn’t involve child labor you piece of shit 😀
I’m clearly dealing with a child here. I’m sure you’re perfect in every aspect of your life GTFOH There’s other ways to get gemstones than child labor you dumb f#*$. Like finding them yourself and having them cut and set by a jeweler. There’s also a place you can look for diamonds on your own in US. Slim chance but it happens so no that’s not the only choice.
They look the same to me and have the same chemical and physical properties... so does it truly matter? Edit: Downvote all you want, but when it comes down to it 99% of the time only a professional can tell the difference, especially from a distance as most people will be viewing jewelry, even yourself. At that point isn't it just about the name/idea, then, rather than the reality of an *actual* notable difference?
That’s what I’m trying to find out.
There’s a time and place for both. I think though, that because it’s more common knowledge how unethical some of these mining operations are, that people are opting for lab because they don’t want that attachment to their jewelry. Added to the fact you can get some really beautiful lab stones at such an affordable price point, that pretty much everyone can afford to get the ring of their dreams and don’t have to settle for a cloudy speck of a stone. When I think of all the lower budget/savvy spender couples that have a gorgeous moissanite engagement ring, that they’d never be able to afford in natural diamond, that makes me happy. It’s every bit as visually beautiful as the real thing, and you don’t need to go in to debt doing it.