To all the dealers trashing Lab Diamonds

[purplesilk]

@Chelsea Palmer: you explained your point of view with multiple posts.
As you stated, you're not understanding the love for natural diamonds: not understanding is a limit, not a validation...you don't hold the truth and you're not smarter, it's just your opinion.
You traded your 1.5 ct natural diamond for a 2 ct lab diamond : it's fine as long as your happy with it, but please stop trashing people who have a different point of view.

I'm sure you're going to buy lab diamonds for your eternity bands, so please ask the moderator to move your thread to the appropriate forum -Lab Diamonds- neither your thread nor you belong to the RockyTalky forum.

C

Thread 'What size eternity band to go with my 2-carat diamond?'

Jan 19, 2025

Hello, and thank you for reading my post. This is my 2-carat solitaire. I’m interested in two matching eternity, bands (or one double-row eternity band) that would be the same width as the shank of my engagement ring. I’m not even sure if “shank” is the right word. I’m referring to the band on my engagement ring. I want two bands because I don’t think one is going to give me the bling effect I want. But I don’t want the eternity bands to be significantly wider than the band on my engagement ring. I hope I was somewhat clear. I appreciate your input.

• Chelsea Palmer
• Replies: 15
• Forum: RockyTalky (Diamond Discussion)

 

[purplesilk]

Exactly. I certainly don’t think I’m smarter than anybody. I’m just trying to understand the logic. I don’t love lab diamonds. I love diamonds, period. So people prefer earth-mined diamonds because after they form, which,from what I understand takes a couple of weeks, it takes billions of years for them to become mineable? And that’s why people prefer a diamond from the Earth? That’s the reason?

Mass produced vs unique.

 

[Roselina]

Exactly. I certainly don’t think I’m smarter than anybody. I’m just trying to understand the logic. I don’t love lab diamonds. I love diamonds, period. So people prefer earth-mined diamonds because after they form, which,from what I understand takes a couple of weeks, it takes billions of years for them to become mineable? And that’s why people prefer a diamond from the Earth? That’s the reason?

For me it is not. It's that fact that our earth is capable of forming something like that. It's not so much the time factor. It's rather the nature factor. Futhermore I am a museums professional. I like things with history. The older the better. So I prefer vintage jewellery compared to new jewellery. I love both but prefer the first.

 

[Chelsea Palmer]

You said lab-grown diamonds are a good alternative. A good alternative to what? Perhaps cubic zirconia could be a good alternative, presumably to diamonds, but what is a lab grown diamond a good alternative for?

I own both EGD and LGD and love them both. I view LGD as the vehicle to try new and more creative things - I just got some kite cut studs for example. The reduced cost of the material makes it easier to take risks with interesting cuts and pieces.

My engagement ring, round studs & eternity band are EGD and the center is a vintage family stone which is fun. I think there is room for both and no reason to be put off by it, at least on the consumer side.

I do think it’s funny when I read comments like “Well, I think LGD are costume jewelry,” and “I don’t think their stones are as good as mine” or “only poor and low class people buy LGD” (paraphrased) by people who then wonder why the targets of their comments find them to be annoying snobs. Saying these sorts of things is just rude, in the same way as saying “Guess you support child slavery, huh?” to someone who buys an EGD is rude. Not everything that is thought needs to be said.

I don’t buy LGD because I can’t afford EGD. I buy them because I have other goals that I want to put my $ toward (and even my Raman laser can’t see them as different).

There is a part of me that wonders if there is some classist resentment happening as one of the signals of wealth has changed. “How will someone know I am upper class and better than them now that everyone has a diamond as big as mine?”

Your last paragraph nailed it perfectly. And the folks who consider lab grown diamonds to be costume jewelry are simply not understanding that a diamond is a diamond. Costume jewelry would be cubic zirconia. Cubic zirconia is not a diamond. Rhinestones are not diamonds. Diamonds are diamonds.

 

[Roselina]

Your last paragraph nailed it perfectly. And the folks who consider lab grown diamonds be costume jewelry are simply ignorant. Being ignorant is not an insult by the way. They just don’t understand that a diamond is a diamond. Costume jewelry would be cubic Sauconia. Cubic zirconia is not a diamond. Rhinestones are not diamonds. Diamonds or diamonds.

It's a sentiment rather

Your last paragraph nailed it perfectly. And the folks who consider lab grown diamonds to be costume jewelry are simply not understanding that a diamond is a diamond. Costume jewelry would be cubic zirconia. Cubic zirconia is not a diamond. Rhinestones are not diamonds. Diamonds are diamonds.

Why do you feel so offended by this? Of course, in chemical terms, lab diamonds are simply diamonds. But it doesn't change the fact that for some people lab diamonds are not so-called ‘mind clean’ and would therefore feel as if they were wearing costume jewellery. It's a personal sentiment, not a judgement. That doesn't change anything for you. For me, I don't want treated stones either, but I equally admire other people's jewellery with treated stones. What applies to me doesn't have to apply to others. I do what I feel is right for me.

 

[MissGotRocks]

Exactly. I certainly don’t think I’m smarter than anybody. I’m just trying to understand the logic. I don’t love lab diamonds. I love diamonds, period. So people prefer earth-mined diamonds because after they form, which,from what I understand takes a couple of weeks, it takes billions of years for them to become mineable? And that’s why people prefer a diamond from the Earth? That’s the reason?

Nature made vs. man made. Billions of years vs. months. If you can't appreciate the difference in that, we can't explain it any further. Natural diamonds have been around for many, many years. Labs just hit a few years back. This is part of the allure of natural diamonds but as I said earlier, no one really has to justify to you or anyone else their preferences. If it doesn't ring true for you, that's fine. Just accept that there are different opinions on the subject and move on.

 

[Chelsea Palmer]

It's a sentiment rather


Why do you feel so offended by this? Of course, in chemical terms, lab diamonds are simply diamonds. But it doesn't change the fact that for some people lab diamonds are not so-called ‘mind clean’ and would therefore feel as if they were wearing costume jewellery. It's a personal sentiment, not a judgement. That doesn't change anything for you. For me, I don't want treated stones either, but I equally admire other people's jewellery with treated stones. What applies to me doesn't have to apply to others. I do what I feel is right for me.

I don’t know what “mind clean” means, but if you’re saying these folks would feel like they’re wearing costume jewelry, that’s exactly the part I don’t understand! How can a diamond be costume Jewelry, regardless of from where it’s sourced?

 

[Chelsea Palmer]

Nature made vs. man made. Billions of years vs. months. If you can't appreciate the difference in that, we can't explain it any further. Natural diamonds have been around for many, many years. Labs just hit a few years back. This is part of the allure of natural diamonds but as I said earlier, no one really has to justify to you or anyone else their preferences. If it doesn't ring true for you, that's fine. Just accept that there are different opinions on the subject and move on.

 

[Chelsea Palmer]

I get it now. Completely understand. It’s the fact that a diamond that’s mined from the Earth is billions of years old. And a diamond that’s created in a lab is not. Even though they are the same thing, people are going to spend tens of thousands of dollars more for a diamond that’s billions of years old, because they want something that’s billions of years old on their finger. Got it!

 

[DejaWiz]

I think all diamonds of a higher pedigree are amazing, whether the earth formed them a billion years ago or they were meticulously grown by humans caring about the quality of the rough being produced, then cut and polished with an extreme level of precision and skill (for both origins).

To my mind, I see it as the following:

Earth grown/natural diamonds: a gift from the earth where gemstone quality is quite rare, and colorless high clarity is extremely rare.

Lab grown/human grown: a testament to human ingenuity, perseverance, and accomplishment.

Each diamond loving person will always have their own viewpoints and feelings about diamond origin and that is just perfectly fine.

 

[Roselina]

I get it now. Completely understand. It’s the fact that a diamond that’s mined from the Earth is billions of years old. And a diamond that’s created in a lab is not. Even though they are the same thing, people are going to spend tens of thousands of dollars more for a diamond that’s billions of years old, because they want something that’s billions of years old on their finger. Got it!

Not necessarily. I would rather go smaller and buy an natural diamond than go bigger for the same price and buy a lab diamond. But again, that is just me. And please read what I wrote. It's not the billions of years (again for me) but the beauty of what our earth can procuce (which I admire and someone else does't care about and it's absolutely fine).

 

[Chelsea Palmer]

Not necessarily. I would rather go smaller and buy an natural diamond than go bigger for the same price and buy a lab diamond. But again, that is just me. And please read what I wrote. It's not the billions of years (again for me) but the beauty of what our earth can procuce (which I admire and someone else does't care about and it's absolutely fine).

Yeah, I guess I just don’t get it. I guess I just can’t understand justifying the huge difference in costs between diamonds. So be it!

 

[MissGotRocks]

I get it now. Completely understand. It’s the fact that a diamond that’s mined from the Earth is billions of years old. And a diamond that’s created in a lab is not. Even though they are the same thing, people are going to spend tens of thousands of dollars more for a diamond that’s billions of years old, because they want something that’s billions of years old on their finger. Got it!

You are oversimplifying in a way that is condescending. You bought a lab diamond in size and specs that you may not have bought in a natural diamond. You are happy with what you bought and that is great. Many of us would not be satisfied with it and that's fine too. Natural diamonds hold an allure for some of us that lab diamonds never will. Once again, time to stop beating a dead horse. Differences in opinion and preferences are what make the world go round. Perception in value varies greatly too and it is clearly not just a matter of what you could buy for much less.

 

[lulu_ma]

It's giving...

 

[Roselina]

Yeah, I guess I just don’t get it. I guess I just can’t understand justifying the huge difference in costs between diamonds. So be it!

Exactly. I for myself can't unterstand why people pay a lot of money for a car. Why? Because a car is nothing I have much interest in. A car enthusiast wouldn't unterstand why I don't really care if my car is old, new, nice or ugly. And so be it.

 

[Roselina]

@Chelsea Palmer : I get the feeling that you are in need of justifying your purchase of a lab diamond vs. a natural diamond. Just don't. Some would have chosen differently but a lot of others would have done as you did. It's perfectly fine. It's your diamond and it needs to be perfect for you and not anyone else. Your diamond is not better nor is it worse.

 

[freddyboston]

Also Luxury Products like Jewelry are usually Veblen goods.. so counter intuitvely as the price/cost falls and anybody can afford one (Lab Diamonds) they become less not more desireable......

 

[maryjane04]

I don’t know what “mind clean” means, but if you’re saying these folks would feel like they’re wearing costume jewelry, that’s exactly the part I don’t understand! How can a diamond be costume Jewelry, regardless of from where it’s sourced?

Mind clean is a thing that you can't see. Why else would you want a colorless and VVS diamond. You can't see the difference between a VVS and a VS.. nor a D colour or G colour? Why do you want a super ideal cut when you can have just a very good cut? These are all decisions that you've weighed up and is mind clean for you. So why did you have to pay more for a DEF VVS ideal cut lab diamond instead of something else?

 

[Mreader]

You are oversimplifying in a way that is condescending. You bought a lab diamond in size and specs that you may not have bought in a natural diamond. You are happy with what you bought and that is great. Many of us would not be satisfied with it and that's fine too. Natural diamonds hold an allure for some of us that lab diamonds never will. Once again, time to stop beating a dead horse. Differences in opinion and preferences are what make the world go round. Perception in value varies greatly too and it is clearly not just a matter of what you could buy for much less.

100% this. It’s annoying and you seem to be demanding that we love labs and dislike naturals @Chelsea Palmer

 

[Roselina]

Mind clean is a thing that you can't see. Why else would you want a colorless and VVS diamond. You can't see the difference between a VVS and a VS.. nor a D colour or G colour? Why do you want a super ideal cut when you can have just a very good cut? These are all decisions that you've weighed up and is mind clean for you. So why did you have to pay more for a DEF VVS ideal cut lab diamond instead of something else?

This also reminded me of the thread about the Graff engagement ring. To be honest I can not understand why someone would pay so much more for a branded ring when one could have an equally good stone for far less money and no one can really see the brand anyways. But for this woman it was important - for whatever reason - that she has a Graff ring. And it is not up to me to decide for her what she wants just because for me a branded ring is of no importance. She decided for herself what is importand for her. And that is exactly how it should be. So you don't really have to understand why someone wants a natural diamond. For you it is not important but for someone else it mighty very well be.

 

[maryjane04]

This also reminded me of the thread about the Graff engagement ring. To be honest I can not understand why someone would pay so much more for a branded ring when one could have an equally good stone for far less money and no one can really see the brand anyways. But for this woman it was important - for whatever reason - that she has a Graff ring. And it is not up to me to decide for her what she wants just because for me a branded ring is of no importance. She decided for herself what is importand for her. And that is exactly how it should be. So you don't really have to understand why someone wants a natural diamond. For you it is not important but for someone else it mighty very well be.

Aww Rosie, you totally get it! This is a perfect example and Chelsea should take note. Buy what you love and wear it for yourself not anybody else. Lol I'm pretty sure most people think my diamonds are fakes but does that stop me from enjoying them? Do I have to justify it to anyone? We all enjoy and are passionate about bling hence why we're on PS. There's enough bling for everyone

 

[freddyboston]

Aww Rosie, you totally get it! This is a perfect example and Chelsea should take note. Buy what you love and wear it for yourself not anybody else. Lol I'm pretty sure most people think my diamonds are fakes but does that stop me from enjoying them? Do I have to justify it to anyone? We all enjoy and are passionate about bling hence why we're on PS. There's enough bling for everyone

I call this effect.... "Reverse Imposter Syndrome".....

 

[maryjane04]

I call this effect.... "Reverse Imposter Syndrome".....

I think I'm hanging out with the wrong crowd lol. I was told that the folks at OMBAS would be able to tell hahaha and of course the PS folks too.

 

[Chelsea Palmer]

100% this. It’s annoying and you seem to be demanding that we love labs and dislike naturals @Chelsea Palmer

Not at all. I’m just really trying to understand the allure of one type of diamond over the other . A diamond is a diamond. I only have a lab diamond because it’s so much more affordable than an earth diamond. Anyway, good luck to everyone.

 

[bee24]

Drama drama drama…kidding lol. @Chelsea Palmer I think you have made your point that you fundamentally do not understand why someone would purchase a natural diamond. That’s okay! You do not have to agree or even understand. But I would encourage you to accept that others have a different opinion than you, which is also okay! PS is a beautiful community filled with people with different opinions, cultures, and backgrounds but everyone here is supportive of each other and that makes it so special. For me personally, I bought natural old mine cut diamonds. I absolutely love thinking about the history of them. I think they are romantic and beautiful, that’s my opinion. It’s so wonderful that we can all have different opinions about diamonds (old cut, modern, warm, colorless, lab, natural, fancy, etc.) or venture into the other sub forums and you’ll see discussions of pearls and other gemstones-all those preferences are celebrated here. It’s okay if you don’t understand natural diamonds, but it goes against the lovely nature of PS to disparage anyone who prefers natural to lab. Enjoy your new stone and your search for two lovely eternities! I am sure the wonderful people of PS will help you in your search if you ask.
Cheers!

 

[Chelsea Palmer]

I think I'm hanging out with the wrong crowd lol. I was told that the folks at OMBAS would be able to tell hahaha and of course the PS folks

Drama drama drama…kidding lol. @Chelsea Palmer I think you have made your point that you fundamentally do not understand why someone would purchase a natural diamond. That’s okay! You do not have to agree or even understand. But I would encourage you to accept that others have a different opinion than you, which is also okay! PS is a beautiful community filled with people with different opinions, cultures, and backgrounds but everyone here is supportive of each other and that makes it so special. For me personally, I bought natural old mine cut diamonds. I absolutely love thinking about the history of them. I think they are romantic and beautiful, that’s my opinion. It’s so wonderful that we can all have different opinions about diamonds (old cut, modern, warm, colorless, lab, natural, fancy, etc.) or venture into the other sub forums and you’ll see discussions of pearls and other gemstones-all those preferences are celebrated here. It’s okay if you don’t understand natural diamonds, but it goes against the lovely nature of PS to disparage anyone who prefers natural to lab. Enjoy your new stone and your search for two lovely eternities! I am sure the wonderful people of PS will help you in your search if you ask.
Cheers!

Never meant to disparage anyone! Quite the opposite. Just trying to get a better understanding. I love pricescope. If it wasn’t for me asking pricescope about a CVD diamond I was going to buy, I never would’ve been guided to the beautiful diamond I ended up with. And I have Freddy Boston to thank for that. Having differing opinions about cut and color is one thing with all due respect. My question was more along the lines of the diamond source itself. Anyway, all the best to everyone.

 

[Texas Leaguer]

Well, then, a lab would determine that the knock-off luxury bag was a knock-off. If what you’re saying is that if it looks identical and only a “lab” would be able to tell the difference, that still wouldn’t make a knock-off the real thing. A diamond is a diamond. That’s what seems to be the part that a lot of folks don’t understand.

It's certainly fair game to question why some people value natural over synthetic diamonds. And the answer is not hard to discover. Lab grown diamonds, while having essentially the same chemical, physical and optical properties, are not identical to natural diamonds, and that's how laboratories can distinguish between the two.

This concept is NOT unique to diamonds. Is a sapphire a sapphire? Corundum (rubies and sapphires) were first synthesized over 100 years ago! Over that time they became better and more difficult to identify without the help of laboratory testing. Today there is still a vibrant market for natural rubies and sapphires, and a place in the market for the synthetics. There are many owners of gorgeous Chatham emeralds that are thrilled to own them!

You can also look to other collectibles that require high level expertise to distinguish between authentic and reproduction, and prices will vary considerably.

 

[Calliecake]

People have always and will continue to spend their money how they want to. It really comes down to that. No one needs to justify their purchases to others the same way others don’t have a right to put people down for their personal preferences on what they like. At the end of the day it’s a piece of jewelry. Purchase the stones that makes you happy. It’s not that complicated. Purchasing a lab diamonds vs an earth grown diamond doesn’t change the person you are. In the whole scheme of life it literally means nothing.

 

[Chelsea Palmer]

It's certainly fair game to question why some people value natural over synthetic diamonds. And the answer is not hard to discover. Lab grown diamonds, while having essentially the same chemical, physical and optical properties, are not identical to natural diamonds, and that's how laboratories can distinguish between the two.

This concept is NOT unique to diamonds. Is a sapphire a sapphire? Corundum (rubies and sapphires) were first synthesized over 100 years ago! Over that time they became better and more difficult to identify without the help of laboratory testing. Today there is still a vibrant market for natural rubies and sapphires, and a place in the market for the synthetics. There are many owners of gorgeous Chatham emeralds that are thrilled to own them!

You can also look to other collectibles that require high level expertise to distinguish between authentic and reproduction, and prices will vary from

Dear Texas Leaguer, I think your last paragraph pretty much summed up what I’m trying to say. It’s my understanding that lab diamonds are not reproductions. In the case of a forged piece of art then, yes, one would be the original and anything else would be a reproduction. There can only be one Vincent van Gogh Starry Night masterpiece. Anything else is a reproduction. I just don’t think that analogy works for diamonds. And I don’t think I disparaged anyone. I was simply trying to understand the willingness to pay such a steep cost difference! Put it this way: if diamonds mined from the Earth were less expensive than diamonds created in a lab, I would have upgraded my earth-mined diamond for another earth-mined diamond! None of this has anything to do with ethics, or the environment, by the way. That’s a whole different subject, and I’m not educated enough to speak on it. I was simply referring to finances. And the wonderful Freddy Boston, after directing me to my 2-carat LGD, sent me a photo of a comparable mined diamond that was 50 times as much money. FIFTY TIMES the cost.

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

Dear Texas Leaguer, I think your last paragraph pretty much summed up what I’m trying to say. It’s my understanding that lab diamonds are not reproductions. In the case of a forged piece of art then, yes, one would be the original and anything else would be a reproduction. There can only be one Vincent van Gogh Starry Night masterpiece. Anything else is a reproduction. I just don’t think that analogy works for diamonds. And I don’t think I disparaged anyone. I was simply trying to understand the willingness to pay such a steep cost difference! Put it this way: if diamonds mined from the Earth were less expensive than diamonds created in a lab, I would have upgraded my earth-mined diamond for another earth-mined diamond! None of this has anything to do with ethics, or the environment, by the way. That’s a whole different subject, and I’m not educated enough to speak on it. I was simply referring to finances. And the wonderful Freddy Boston, after directing me to my 2-carat LGD, sent me a photo of a comparable mined diamond that was 50 times as much money. FIFTY TIMES the cost.

Well, the difference here is, if natural diamonds were 50 times cheaper than lab diamonds; I’d still buy naturals; and if they’re 50 times more expensive, I’d still buy naturals. My reasoning is as follows - the creation of that specific natural stone under the earth happened essentially by “happy accident”, with the specific inclusions and colour determined by the specific trace elements in the area, in conditions that had to persist over millions of years. There is something special to me in something that isn’t created by mechanical precision. It’s totally fine if that’s something you don’t care about, but also, if I want to pay a huge amount of money for it compared to what you paid, that’s my prerogative. And it doesn’t make my decision wrong.

Let me put it this way - I am a collector of Indian textiles (I love traditional fabrics). Traditionally, these are woven and/or embroidered by hand. There is something that is so so beautiful to me about how they are a labour of love, that many people have put their time and heart and soul into creating this piece of clothing. Occasionally they can even have tiny almost imperceptible imperfections which actually make them more beautiful to my eyes.

You can also get machine made fabric, at a fraction of the cost. They may be made of similar raw materials, it’s just a machine that wove or embroidered it, at a fraction of the price. It might also be beautiful in its own right, to many people it would be indistinguishable. I don’t begrudge anyone for buying it. But I don’t really care to own it. The history, the romance of it, its kind of lost for me.

On the flip side there’s some things I don’t care about. I don’t care about cars. They’re just a method of transportation for me. I just want it to have comfortable seats and airbags in case I get into an accident. I don’t fully understand why people pay huge amounts of money, sometimes for pretty much the same spec, because of which car company made it. Or why they want to optimise a spec they’re never going to use (who cares how fast it can theoretically go when you live in a place with speed limits?) but they are enthusiastic about cars. Perhaps the heritage of the brand that made the car matters to them. Perhaps the bragging rights. It’s fine - it’s their life.

Someone else not making the choice you would about labs doesn’t devalue your choice or theirs.