To all the dealers trashing Lab Diamonds

[Texas Leaguer]

@Rockdiamond and @Texas Leaguer Thanks!

I wish I had taken a photo of it upside down before setting. I don’t recall it being near colorless but maybe its internal color blob is really big? It does have a light area near the edges.







It also has a small clear part way down at the tip.



The report doesn’t say anything about a blob but the diamond is SI2 so there has to be something inside.



It has oodles of graining which IIRC that’s what causes the pink hue. And they seem to be perpendicular. That’s why our hypothesis was that the diamond kind of “polarizes” at certain angles.



And it shifts color all over the place.

The stone has some serious personality! It's almost an alexandrite-like effect. (different from camelion)

Based on those photos, I might be tempted to send back to GIA to have it looked at again in case it falls into the gemological category or "phenomenal".

The grade setting inclusion is the feather, so I don't think a "blob" is causing the color!

 

[oncrutchesrightnow]

The stone has some serious personality! It's almost an alexandrite-like effect. (different from camelion)

Based on those photos, I might be tempted to send back to GIA to have it looked at again in case it falls into the gemological category or "phenomenal".

The grade setting inclusion is the feather, so I don't think a "blob" is causing the color!

Thanks. I think I might do that, but don’t know when. Maybe I will ask the person who set it.

 

[GemView]

My introduction to diamonds began with my engagement ring. My only other diamond at the time was a 0.33 (maybe?) ct pendant that I inherited from my grandmother. If I had gotten engaged at a time when LGD were easily available and cheap, I probably would have gone for lab, and Grandma’s diamond is probably the only colorless earth diamond I would own, for rock collecting purposes. I would probably have one FCD also for rock collecting purposes. The rest of my diamonds would be lab. I would probably have a couple of earth grown gemstones for the same reason… with cool optical properties like sphene, and a color-change gem, for the “isn’t it cool that this came out of the ground” effect. The rest of my colored gem collection would also probably be lab, like it is now.

The fact that I grew up in a time when there were no chemically identical alternatives to earth diamonds definitely affects my preference for earth grown, even though I also have lab diamonds.…

I own lab and mined diamond and love both because for me it just comes down to how the cut "speaks" to me. However, my story is similar in that my natural diamond purchases (engagement ring in my avatar and my first pair of 1/2ctw diamond studs) predate LGD.

I never cared much for lab-grown colored gemstones — I fault them for looking a little too perfect — so I was surprised that I would enjoy LGD as much as I do. Still, I can imagine the rise of the LGD must create a certain amount of ambivalence or those in the trade. On the one hand, a jeweler can sell more LGD to a wider array of clients. On the other hand, the prices LGD command will continue to fall relative to increased availability, with my prediction that LGD will eventually be nearly as ubiquitous as CZ even as mined diamonds become comparatively exclusive.

Rightly or wrongly LGD also has the public perception of being more sustainable. If all factors are equal, I see LGD edging out a greater percentage of the mined diamond market as the years pass. Mined diamonds may very well see their prices slip relative to LGD as a knock-on effect (attempt by industry to remain competitive). But long term, mined diamonds will probably be mined in such low quantity that they will effectively be pushed out of reach of the average consumer, with the possible exception of the secondary market. But even on the secondary market, the sheer number of average cut/clarity mined diamonds may lag behind the popularity of a high-grade LGD, which could mean plummeting resale value for all but the most outstanding mined specimens. Is this sustainable for independent jewelers who may depend on diamond engagement ring sales to keep the doors open? That is the question!

 

[Rockdiamond]

Is this sustainable for independent jewelers who may depend on diamond engagement ring sales to keep the doors open? That is the question!

I'm afraid that horse left the barn a while back. It's gotten exponentially worse over the past few years.
When I started selling diamonds online- way back in 1999....I realized that if this way of selling caught on ( and boy did it) it would squeeze brick-and-mortar retail jewelers- many would go out of business.
In fact, that is exactly what happened.
Now there are oligarchical moves where mammoth companies are swallowing up smaller firms.
I'm not putting a lot of stock into my kids being able to compete in this business.....

 

[Texas Leaguer]

I own lab and mined diamond and love both because for me it just comes down to how the cut "speaks" to me. However, my story is similar in that my natural diamond purchases (engagement ring in my avatar and my first pair of 1/2ctw diamond studs) predate LGD.

I never cared much for lab-grown colored gemstones — I fault them for looking a little too perfect — so I was surprised that I would enjoy LGD as much as I do. Still, I can imagine the rise of the LGD must create a certain amount of ambivalence or those in the trade. On the one hand, a jeweler can sell more LGD to a wider array of clients. On the other hand, the prices LGD command will continue to fall relative to increased availability, with my prediction that LGD will eventually be nearly as ubiquitous as CZ even as mined diamonds become comparatively exclusive.

Rightly or wrongly LGD also has the public perception of being more sustainable. If all factors are equal, I see LGD edging out a greater percentage of the mined diamond market as the years pass. Mined diamonds may very well see their prices slip relative to LGD as a knock-on effect (attempt by industry to remain competitive). But long term, mined diamonds will probably be mined in such low quantity that they will effectively be pushed out of reach of the average consumer, with the possible exception of the secondary market. But even on the secondary market, the sheer number of average cut/clarity mined diamonds may lag behind the popularity of a high-grade LGD, which could mean plummeting resale value for all but the most outstanding mined specimens. Is this sustainable for independent jewelers who may depend on diamond engagement ring sales to keep the doors open? That is the question!

@GemView ,
You make a lot of good points. Not the least of which is what happens to the market for commercial quality diamonds. The natural diamond market is by no means monolithic - there are a variety of quality groupings in different segments of the consumer market based on budget. But consumers primarily like diamonds for their brilliance and fire. Many will may pay more for natural diamonds because they value their natural origins and rarity, but are they willing to sacrifice beauty and light performance?

Lab diamonds are becoming largley monolithic - clean, white, and affordable. Yes, there are seconds and thirds on the market that are deeply discounted but generally the size and quality of the material has improved while prices have come steadily down.

Some consumers will start to think of lab diamonds differently as prices bottom out. But lab diamonds will continue to be a ubiquitous reminder of what diamonds are supposed to look like. Will only high-quality natural diamonds be able to compete for the eye of the consumer going forward? That seems like a logical theory, and a conundrum for the natural diamond industry as a whole.

 

[Karl_K]

But lab diamonds will continue to be a ubiquitous reminder of what diamonds are supposed to look like.

Marketing shoots in the foot.
There is nothing but marketing that convinced generations that as close as you can get to D/Fl is what the ultimate diamonds are supposed to look like.
sssssshhhhhhh dont tell anyone but I like lmnop range yellows and even some light browns and eyeclean with acceptable transparency maybe even more..

 

[Texas Leaguer]

Marketing shoots in the foot.
There is nothing but marketing that convinced generations that as close as you can get to D/Fl is what the ultimate diamonds are supposed to look like.
sssssshhhhhhh dont tell anyone but I like lmnop range yellows and even some light browns and eyeclean with acceptable transparency maybe even more..

Point taken Karl. I was speaking generally of course. Again, natural diamonds are not a monolith and many people have strong preferences outside the mainstream.

Although, I must say that a natural, precision cut D IF is pretty sublime!

 

[Rockdiamond]

I made a very nice living showing folks what diamonds were NOT supposed to look like...hahah.
People love weird things....well, some people anyway...a small percentage of us, but enough for a lively market.
But the changes in the market make it seem like that time has gone.
Large parcels of weird stones that somehow made sense economically.
I'm afraid such rough won't be worth mining anymore.....
To say nothing of the wide variety of wholesale sales channels which are now a fond memory

 

[oncrutchesrightnow]

Thank God this thread did not die. We were all worried there for a second.

Marketing shoots in the foot.
There is nothing but marketing that convinced generations that as close as you can get to D/Fl is what the ultimate diamonds are supposed to look like.
sssssshhhhhhh dont tell anyone but I like lmnop range yellows and even some light browns and eyeclean with acceptable transparency maybe even more..

Yeah, everyone remarks how LGD let people buy bigger rocks but theres also a desire for better quality at lower prices. Better quality being defined as white and clear. So that’s what we see for sale.

I made a very nice living showing folks what diamonds were NOT supposed to look like...hahah.
People love weird things....well, some people anyway...a small percentage of us, but enough for a lively market.
But the changes in the market make it seem like that time has gone.
Large parcels of weird stones that somehow made sense economically.
I'm afraid such rough won't be worth mining anymore.....
To say nothing of the wide variety of wholesale sales channels which are now a fond memory

With LGD it seems like every time a new cut or color comes out, it holds its price level for a while, but as time goes on, competition creeps in. OECs are a good example, then OMC and portrait. Anyway this effect might mean we will see more weird LGD.

 

[freddyboston]

With LGD it seems like every time a new cut or color comes out, it holds its price level for a while, but as time goes on, competition creeps in. OECs are a good example, then OMC and portrait. Anyway this effect might mean we will see more weird LGD.

indeed....

 

[GemView]

Marketing shoots in the foot.
There is nothing but marketing that convinced generations that as close as you can get to D/Fl is what the ultimate diamonds are supposed to look like.
sssssshhhhhhh dont tell anyone but I like lmnop range yellows and even some light browns and eyeclean with acceptable transparency maybe even more..

Diamonds are not particularly "rare" among gemstones, either, but De Beers and the marketing hype made the case that they are. In the future, I suspect mined diamonds in the <2 carat range will become comparatively rare in retail settings as compared to >2 carat LGD, with what remains of the market for mined >3 carat diamonds to buyers where money is no object.

I have to agree; however, taste is relative. A lot of the Old Mines and OECs are K-P, bordering on a fancy yellow color. I just learned the meaning of "Cape Diamond" reading here on PS the other day.

Good insights from the previous comments, also.

 

[DejaWiz]

Diamonds are not particularly "rare" among gemstones, either, but De Beers and the marketing hype made the case that they are. In the future, I suspect mined diamonds in the <2 carat range will become comparatively rare in retail settings as compared to >2 carat LGD, with what remains of the market for mined >3 carat diamonds to buyers where money is no object.

I have to agree; however, taste is relative. A lot of the Old Mines and OECs are K-P, bordering on a fancy yellow color. I just learned the meaning of "Cape Diamond" reading here on PS the other day.

Good insights from the previous comments, also.

According to GIA, gemstone quality natural diamonds are quite rare...only about 30% of all mined diamonds are gemstone quality.
That 30% includes every diamond in the D-Z color scale, all the fancy colors, and the whole host of different clarities that they come in. That's not taking into consideration the rarity factors of diamond rough that can yield higher carat finished diamonds.
Colorless and near colorless with great transparency and higher clarity are just a small portion of that 30% hence the rarity factor, buyer desirability, and heightened pricing.

 

[Texas Leaguer]

indeed....

Please tell me this is an AI generated image!

 

[lovedogs]

Please tell me this is an AI generated image!

Nope, one of the lab dealers posted it

 

[freddyboston]

Cruises and Diamonds

Passenger "Duped" over Lab Grown Ring