lab grown diamonds

[sambb]

i have come across lab grown diamonds for 1/5 - 1/10th the cost of natural diamonds. they are chemically indistinguishable (?). thoughts? seems like they are the same product as a mined diamond?

[996marty]

If they are the same product then it’s not reflected in the price

[2001jesper]

Yep! its the same and changing the industry. However, there is a time and place for an lab grown and a natural one.

[enjoythemusic]

Lab grown means less chance for slave labor or environmental situation, with the added benefit of lower price / higher quality for your buck. Win-win

[Jackie Daytona]

Originally Posted by enjoythemusic

Lab grown means less chance for slave labor or environmental situation, with the added benefit of lower price / higher quality for your buck. Win-win

I am of this exact same opinion. A couple years back I got my wife a nice wedding ring that was an upgrade from the original that is lab grown. She loves it it’s beautiful and gets no shortage of comments.

[mannyv11]

I don't mind the lab grown diamonds but all I can say is after talking with a friend of mine who is a jeweler, if you ever want to try to sell one back to a jeweler etc you will get zero dollars for one.

[Maleg]

Originally Posted by mannyv11

I don't mind the lab grown diamonds but all I can say is after talking with a friend of mine who is a jeweler, if you ever want to try to sell one back to a jeweler etc you will get zero dollars for one.

Resale on diamonds is bad enough. But zero is a lot of depreciation.

[Easy E]

Originally Posted by mannyv11

I don't mind the lab grown diamonds but all I can say is after talking with a friend of mine who is a jeweler, if you ever want to try to sell one back to a jeweler etc you will get zero dollars for one.

Forgive my ignorance, if they are chemically the same thing how can you tell the difference? I’m genuinely not trying to be a SA, I really don’t know anything about them. How would a buyer know one from the other?

[77T]

Originally Posted by Easy E

Forgive my ignorance, if they are chemically the same thing how can you tell the difference? I’m genuinely not trying to be a SA, I really don’t know anything about them. How would a buyer know one from the other?

The majority of lab-made diamonds have microscopic inscriptions, less nitrogen, and can only be sussed with microscopes and spectroscopy.

A good resource: https://www.gia.edu/hpht-and-cvd-dia...owth-processes


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[yachty 1]

Originally Posted by Easy E

Forgive my ignorance, if they are chemically the same thing how can you tell the difference? I’m genuinely not trying to be a SA, I really don’t know anything about them. How would a buyer know one from the other?

Lab growns are etched with lg in it. They are worthless as soon as you leave the store. I heard now many places are making people sign a there disclaimer.

[Stud Screw]

Originally Posted by mannyv11

I don't mind the lab grown diamonds but all I can say is after talking with a friend of mine who is a jeweler, if you ever want to try to sell one back to a jeweler etc you will get zero dollars for one.

Most people understand diamonds are sunk costs. If you have to resort to selling them for whatever reason, your issues go beyond the diamond.

[SDGT3]

Originally Posted by Stud Screw

Most people understand diamonds are sunk costs. If you have to resort to selling them for whatever reason, your issues go beyond the diamond.

+1. All these comments about resale value have me LMAO...

[codecow]

Originally Posted by SDGT3

+1. All these comments about resale value have me LMAO...

They’re all terrible, but a high quality graded natural stone will have some value whereas the rest (even natural) are worthless.

[enjoythemusic]

Maybe the real question is, if natural diamonds at ~2 carats or less with flaws have relatively little value, why do people pay far too much for them? For those with friends / in the business in the Diamond District, you know.

PS: Pawn shops....

[Sephiroth]

I thought natural diamonds have inclusions, however small. Are you saying lab diamonds are intentionally designed with these inclusions?

[2000-NJDEVILS]

Lab grown diamonds are now GIA certified - they can even be D-F color, and be flawless and cut superb - all at prices of $500-750 per carat……
Only way to distinguish between Mined and Lab grown is with special chemical spray and lighting. Resale is virtually non existent so Caveat Emptor!

[L_S_SHOE]

A friend of mine recently bought an exceptionally expensive engagement ring for his fiancée. The jeweler threw in a lab grown copy that she could wear when they travel. Seems like a good use for a lab grown diamond.


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[SDGT3]

Originally Posted by L_S_SHOE

A friend of mine recently bought an exceptionally expensive engagement ring for his fiancée. The jeweler threw in a lab grown copy that she could wear when they travel. Seems like a good use for a lab grown diamond.


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As an aside, I've never understood the wearing of a fake diamond, or fake Rolex for that matter, when traveling. It still makes you a target. I wear a $50 Timex and the wife wears a wedding band when traveling abroad to not get a second look.

[subtona]

Originally Posted by SDGT3

As an aside, I've never understood the wearing of a fake diamond, or fake Rolex for that matter, when traveling. It still makes you a target. I wear a $50 Timex and the wife wears a wedding band when traveling abroad to not get a second look.

I agree with you about the fake Rolex or even a fake handbag

Not sure the Rolex is a fair comparison.
The labgrown will have less imperfections.


A fake Rolex will have inferior finishing, use inferior metals and parts. The gear wheels won’t mesh the same way.
reduced longevity and reduced accuracy can be expected

Originally Posted by Farleyv1

There is a youtuber called producer Michael that did a video with a Happy Jewellers in the US, they went into depth on the pros and cons. IIRC the lab that makes the diamonds marks them somehow.

Think the takeaway of it was yes you spend 2000 or whatever on a lab grown 1.5ct diamond, and if you ever sell you basically lose the 2k, but on a 10000 equivalent diamond, you lose 50% or so (so 5k) if you want to sell. So yes you lose on both, but you lose much less overall on the lab.

This!

Curious how cheaply the lab grown can actually be produced? Likely something that could be sold much less and still see huge profits.

Something that holds true for conventional tied mattresses vs. an injection molded foam type mattress. All the labor that once was needed has been eliminated yet the prices still mirror the original.

[sambb]

Who cares if they have no value? It’s not like I’ve ever sold natural diamonds. I’m very impressed that they are actually diamonds and they are so cheap.

[Carguy87]

My wife opted for lab grown diamonds in her upgraded wedding ring set last year and loves them. She likes the idea of them being better for humanity and the environment and her ring is stellar; she gets compliments frequently on it.

No hate on mined diamonds from me, but my $.02 is they can be quite nice!

[rootbeer7]

To the untrained eye they’re indistinguishable. But, as has been said they have virtually no actual value. The labs growing them have grown exponentially and the numbers released is growing daily. A watch tells time, but they’re not all (name your high end). I’d avoid unless you’re looking for flash!

[Speedbird-1]

Won't this, kill the market, if they're indistinguishable from the 'natural' form.
How ARE DeBeers shares doing?

[MILGAUSS88]

Originally Posted by Speedbird-1

Won't this, kill the market, if they're indistinguishable from the 'natural' form.
How ARE DeBeers shares doing?

Diamond prices have fallen substantially, except for the very high end.

[Maleg]

If you are just looking for cheap flash and don’t care about value, why not costume jewelry (cubic zirconia and the like)? I would rather take the twenty dollar hit than a $700 hit if all I need is some flash.

[Farleyv1]

There is a youtuber called producer Michael that did a video with a Happy Jewellers in the US, they went into depth on the pros and cons. IIRC the lab that makes the diamonds marks them somehow.

Think the takeaway of it was yes you spend 2000 or whatever on a lab grown 1.5ct diamond, and if you ever sell you basically lose the 2k, but on a 10000 equivalent diamond, you lose 50% or so (so 5k) if you want to sell. So yes you lose on both, but you lose much less overall on the lab.

[BETRNSX]

Originally Posted by Farleyv1

There is a youtuber called producer Michael that did a video with a Happy Jewellers in the US, they went into depth on the pros and cons. IIRC the lab that makes the diamonds marks them somehow.

Think the takeaway of it was yes you spend 2000 or whatever on a lab grown 1.5ct diamond, and if you ever sell you basically lose the 2k, but on a 10000 equivalent diamond, you lose 50% or so (so 5k) if you want to sell. So yes you lose on both, but you lose much less overall on the lab.

Losing 100% of $2k is still (much) less than losing 50% of $10k...

[trackingtime]

Originally Posted by BETRNSX

Losing 100% of $2k is still (much) less than losing 50% of $10k...

this!

[enjoythemusic]

Originally Posted by BETRNSX

Losing 100% of $2k is still (much) less than losing 50% of $10k...

Plus you get a better stone at $2k too. Let's not forget that.

Remember to check with Pawn shops to see what stones they have.

[EEpro]

Originally Posted by Maleg

If you are just looking for cheap flash and don’t care about value, why not costume jewelry (cubic zirconia and the like)? I would rather take the twenty dollar hit than a $700 hit if all I need is some flash.

I bought my wife some set stone rings similar to hers when she was pregnant and couldn't wear her real ones. She never went back. Similar size and design but no risk to wear and nobody in 4 years has gave two shits.