Lab grown vs natural diamonds

[GON]

Wife would like a replacement diamond for her wedding ring.

Shopping on Blue Nile's website, discovered this e-commerce jeweler offers both natural and lab diamonds. I was not aware of lab diamonds, and did a hasty google search. Results came back that implied no difference, and most diamond detectors can't distinguish between the natural and lab diamonds.

The price difference is massive between a natural and lab cut diamond. A natural diamond on Blue Nile averages 10x to 20x more than a lab diamond.

Anyone have insight on lab cut diamonds?

From the GIA website:
Because laboratory-grown diamonds are essentially chemically and optically the same as their natural counterparts, traditional gemological observations and old-style “diamond detectors” are not able to tell them apart. Identification at a professional gemological laboratory or using sophisticated devices developed by GIA and other organizations are the only reliable methods to separate them from natural diamonds.

https://www.gia.edu/gia-news-research/difference-between-natural-laboratory-grown-diamonds

 

[Glenda W.]

Also known as Cubic Zirconia. It’s a flawless man made diamond(that’s how jewelers know it’s fake). Downside is durability as they can get scratched and appear cloudy.

 

[Ed_Flecko]

I think you buy a diamond for the beauty. That's *most* people's driving factor

If you really want to compare "apples to apples", have your jeweler show you 2 diamonds that are both GIA graded and certified to be the same "cut and clarity" and see if you can tell the difference with your naked eye. As long as the diamond facet proportions are close (they will be listed in plain English on the certification report from GIA) I suspect you will not be able to. Then decide if a natural diamond is worth the $$$ difference.

Another thing to consider would be the synthetic diamond's ability to withstand heat. Call or visit a few local independent Master Jewelers (NOT any 'ole jeweler that works for a jewelry store) and ask them if they have worked on any jewelry that contained the new synthetic diamonds. Diamond jewelry that gets repaired is often heated up to 2,000 degrees. You want to be sure if you buy a new diamond that if can handle this type of heat without issues in case the ring ever needs to be resized, etc.

Ed

 

[Ed_Flecko]

Also known as Cubic Zirconia. It’s a flawless man made diamond(that’s how jewelers know it’s fake). Downside is durability as they can get scratched and appear cloudy.

A "CZ" (as it's known in the industry) is not the same thing as a synthetic diamond. It's totally different.

https://www.gemsociety.org/article/cubic-zirconia-vs-diamonds/

Ed

 

[Glenda W.]

A "CZ" (as it's known in the industry) is not the same thing as a synthetic diamond. It's totally different.

https://www.gemsociety.org/article/cubic-zirconia-vs-diamonds/

Ed

Thanks. I didn’t know there was another option for man made diamonds.

 

[Vercingetorix]

Debeers grows them in Gresham Oregon.

 

[Ed_Flecko]

"Synthetic" often has a bad name in the jewelry industry.

Take pearls for example. Stop in any jewelry store and ask them to see their natural pearls and be sure they understand you want natural and not cultured pearls. They will very likely not have any of the natural pearls on hand because they can't sell them because they they are "natural", very rare, and very expensive (just like "natural" diamonds). "Cultured" pearls are manufactured by man "synthetically" introducing the seed(s) of grit in the oyster to jump-start the process of creating the pearl. However, to us laymen...cultured pearls look just like natural pearls to the naked eye, but there is a significant difference in price!

https://www.gia.edu/gia-faq-about-gemstones-difference-natural-cultured-pearl

Ed

 

[JoelB]

In my opinion the only reason you would pay more for a natural diamond is vanity since no individual would be able to tell the difference while its on someone's finger.

 

[GON]

In my opinion the only reason you would pay more for a natural diamond is vanity since no individual would be able to tell the difference while its on someone's finger.

By chance are you married? (asking for a friend)....

 

[alarmguy]

20 years ago, almost unheard of at the time I bought my wife’s diamond on BlueNile. At that time it was cutting edge to do such a thing. Also a very special time in my life. (And brave of me) I bought the diamond separate when I proposed and together we shopped for the ring in which it was mounted at a local jeweler.

Now Blue Nile has been bought and sold twice and owned by a Jewelry chain as of 2022.

It was so cool going through their inventory and searching by my criteria.
They were great, I have all the documentation including diagram like schematics and being it was a VVS 1 diamond it shows where on the diamond that one inclusion is. It needs to be seen with a microscope.

Also unseen to the naked eye is on the very rim of the diamond a laser engraved serial number. If you know where to look you can see it with a good magnifying glass.

I really like diamonds and the above is so cool when we bring her ring in for service and cleaning. Being I trust no one, with the jeweler we look at the one inclusion in the diamond which I have to point out is actually under the prong because they can’t find it at first, then we confirm the serial numbers on the edge when they take it from me. Then again when they bring it back to me we check that inclusion and the serial number to confirm it’s the same diamond.

I do not leave the store while it is serviced. It’s a cool feeling having something unique from nature even if others don’t know the difference.

 

[Hall]

"Synthetic" often has a bad name in the jewelry industry.

A jeweler, at least one that deals with lab-grown diamonds, will never refer to them as "synthetic". If you say it, they'll correct you too.

I got my wife one, she knows it's lab-grown, and it doesn't change anything for her. She loves it.

 

[Ed_Flecko]

20 years ago, almost unheard of at the time I bought my wife’s diamond on BlueNile. At that time it was cutting edge to do such a thing. Also a very special tine in my life. (And brave of me) I bought the diamond separate when I proposed and together we shopped for the ring in which it was mounted at a local jeweler.

Now Blue Nile has been bought and sold twice and owned by a Jewelry chain as of 2022.

It was so cool going through their inventory and searching by my criteria.
They were great, I have all the documentation including diagram like schematics and being it was a VVS 1 diamond it shows where on the diamond that one inclusion is. It needs to be seen with a microscope.

Also unseen to the naked eye is on the very rim of the diamond a laser engraved serial number. If you know where to look you can see it with a good magnifying glass.

I really like diamonds and the above is so cool when we bring her ring in for service and cleaning. Being I trust no one, with the jeweler we look at the one inclusion in the diamond which I have to point out is actually under the prong because they can’t find it at first, then we confirm the serial numbers on the edge when they takeout from me and bring it back to me we check that inclusion again and the serial number.

I do not leave the store while it is serviced. It’s a cool feeling having something unique from nature even if others don’t know the difference.

You're lucky your jeweler will service your ring while you wait.

In my experience in the jewelry industry, most bench jewelers do not have the time to break their workflow and service a single ring. Also, they will typically tell a customer to take the ring somewhere else for service for someone who will not simply drop the ring off and pick it up later. In their eyes, you're insulting them and challenging their honesty by refusing to simply leave it as everyone else does.

Ed

 

[JoelB]

By chance are you married? (asking for a friend)....

I am married, but my wife is VERY understanding of my quirks and convictions.

 

[Ed_Flecko]

A jeweler, at least one that deals with lab-grown diamonds, will never refer to them as "synthetic". If you say it, they'll correct you too.

I got my wife one, she knows it's lab-grown, and it doesn't change anything for her. She loves it.

That's interesting. When they correct you, what do they call it?...after all..."lab-grown" is...synthetic.



Ed

 

[Ed_Flecko]

"Is There a Difference Between Natural and Laboratory-Grown Diamonds?"

https://www.gia.edu/gia-news-research/difference-between-natural-laboratory-grown-diamonds

Ed

 

[alarmguy]

You're lucky your jeweler will service your ring while you wait.

In my experience in the jewelry industry, most bench jewelers do not have the time to break their workflow and service a single ring. Also, they will typically tell a customer to take the ring somewhere else for service for someone who will not simply drop the ring off and pick it up later. In their eyes, you're insulting them and challenging their honesty by refusing to simply leave it as everyone else does.

Ed

As you can tell my experience is completely different here on the east coast. I would be leary and never do business with a place that does not understand and accommodate the customer.
People should be cautious of places that insist otherwise.

Maybe it would enlighten you if you did a search with the terms, “ jewelry store caught switching diamonds “

And that is only the ones that get caught, which is a tiny fraction much like any theft.
Almost doesn’t make any sense to me or the jewelers that I use that somebody would leave a very valuable stone, one of which many people would not know if it was swapped with a stranger.
Or maybe better said confirming what you dropped off you are getting back. This is why the theft continues because people don’t check and the dishonest jewelers know that.

 

[Ed_Flecko]

As you can tell my experience is completely different here on the east coast. I would be leary and never do business with a place that does not understand and accommodate the customer.
People should be cautious of places that insist otherwise.

Maybe it would enlighten you if you did a search with the terms, “ jewelry store caught switching diamonds “

And that is only the ones that get caught, which is a tiny fraction much like any theft.
Almost doesn’t make any sense to me or the jewelers that I use that somebody would leave a very valuable stone, one of which many people would not know if it was swapped with a stranger.

Oh, I'm sure there are plenty of dishonest jewelers. When I worked in the jewelry industry, I always had the customer examine the ring under magnification and we would both agree and document some identifying characteristics upon drop-off and pick-up.

You have an advantage most people do not have; you have an engraved serial number which could not be replicated and thereby verifying the authenticity of your diamond.

Ed

 

[alarmguy]

… When I worked in the jewelry industry, I always had the customer examine the ring under magnification and we would both agree and document some identifying characteristics upon drop-off and pick-up.
…

OK, so we do agree, what you post here is certainly reasonable.
I suspect this is one of those Internet things where we’re taking the meaning of posts to each other in different ways.
What you say above is what I am saying. I certainly do not look to insult anybody’s honesty. I just like to be diligent and aware that’s all.

With that said my wife and I prefer to wait so we will call ahead of time and make arrangements for when they can accommodate us rather than leave the ring with the store.

 

[Vercingetorix]

Uh oh is it group III or group IV synthetic diamond? Is group III even really synthetic or is it natural?

 

[SumGuy]

A new report says the collapse in rough diamond prices has prompted the world's largest producer to implement broad price cuts.

Bloomberg reports that De Beers' final sale of rough diamond stones on the secondary market was led by a 10% to 15% price cut amid a slumping market pressured by the proliferation of artificial diamonds and sliding demand across the West and China.

Yet on Monday, the company capitulated on that position at its final sale of the year. De Beers cut prices by 10% to 15% for most of the goods it sells, according to people familiar with the situation. That's the first major price cut since the start of the year and a historically large reduction.-BBG

Price cuts at Anglo American's De Beers come as the Diamond Standard Index, which dates back to early 2022, has plunged to record low levels. Here's more from the report:

De Beers wields considerable power in the rough-diamond market. It holds 10 sales each year in which the buyers — known as sightholders — generally have to accept the price and the quantities offered.

Still, even after the steep cut in prices today, the company's stones are still more expensive than the going rate in the secondary market, the people said, asking not to be identified as the matter is private. The company also removed some of the flexibility it had offered at previous sales.

De Beers typically reserves aggressive price cuts as a last resort. While it keeps pricing secret, the across-the-board cut this month is hefty.

So much for the diamond giant putting a floor under prices...

There's always Russian diamonds as an alternative.

https://www.alibaba.com/showroom/russian-diamonds.html