It Started With C; So Have We…
As rare and riveting as it may be,lab grown diamonds unearthed natural diamonds, have undergone a phase of serious disruptions. With the darker side of the brilliance no longer in the dark, the preference of the jewelry industry is showing a clear shift towards cleaner, rather, guilt-free options.
3 ‘E’s Challenging the 4 ‘C’s
The current landscape of natural diamond industry is grossly limited by 3 primary concerns, that are –
- Ethics – Challenges associated with human rights violations and the exploitation of workers in the mining areas
- Economics – Complex supply-chain constructs, that inflates market prices
- Environment – Forest clearing, destruction of habitats, soil erosion, water pollution and more
The hefty cost for cut, clarity, color and carat, is not just borne by the luxe lovers of bling but, our planet as a whole which is inching day by day to a dystopian era.
Did you know that between April 2023 and October 2023 , India exported 4.04 million carats of lab-diamonds? This is a 42% YOY increase!
Thanks to economical, ethical and environmentally accountable processes like CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) and HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature), laboratories can grow diamonds that mimic the laboratories can grow diamonds that mimic the same conditions same conditions that occur 100 miles below the surface.
The only difference is that lab grown diamonds grow in 6 to 10 weeks, compared to the millions it takes a natural diamond to form in the earth.
Given the history of Earth-mined diamonds and the fact that they are finite, its rarity cannot be matched by their lab created counterparts. Lab Grown Diamonds match the Clarity, Cut, Color and Carat of natural mined diamonds. Yes. Lab grown and natural diamonds share Iidentica chemical, physical, and opticall properties. Lab Grown Diamonds are pure carbon, and just as sturdy as natural diamonds, scoring them a perfect 10 on MOH scale.
A few other benefits that make lab grown diamonds as a leading disruptor to the natural diamond market, include –
- Cost: They are priced 30% to 85% below that of natural diamonds.
- Sustainability: Increased demand for lab grown diamonds will lessen natural diamond mining.
- Ethics:Lab Grown Diamonds are created without with zero worker exploitation.
- Quality:Benefit of quality, Lab Grown Diamonds range from D to E on the color scale (Completely colorless).
- Choice has not limitations: Lab Grown Diamond production has no limit on the cuts and creativity that can be produced.
Fascinating Facts The first proven lab grown diamond was made in 1954 by GE under a project codenamed ‘Projet Superpressure’.
Behind Every Desire Is The Desire To Feel Good… (Ask and It’s Given, The Teachings of Abraham, Esther and Jerry Hicks
How good will you feel adorning a stone which illuminates nothing but blood, violence, conflicts, human right violations, environmental destruction, and depletion of precious ecological treasures?. Herein starts the war of values.
The War of Values – Celebrities’ Drive For The Lab Grown, And The Modern Women’s Perspective
Red Carpet: Celebrities : Spotted Wearing Lab Grown Diamonds
Emma Watson, Megan Markle, Lady Gaga, Penelope Cruz, Leonardo de Caprio and Rihanna are some of the top celebs that have taken lab grown bling to the red carpet with flair. This has, in fact, ushered a paradigm shift reflecting that the value of a gemstone should be more about respect and preservation than vanity, price tags and destruction.
Affordable Luxury May Not Be A Thing; But Sustainable Luxury Certainly Is…
It is not just the celebrities., Women everywhere have embraced the cause for sustainability and prioritizing lab grown diamond jewelry over conventional options.
This applies even to pieces as momentous as wedding or engagement rings. In their perspective, wearing the history of the earth’s evolution on one’s skin is an exhilarating experience, only until you realize the price the world has to pay, and the outcomes that it has to endure for momentary exuberance. Is it Worth it? We don’t think so.
In a nutshell, the preferences of the modern women are very clear. They need their jewelry to be
- Clean and sustainable
- Free of human right violations
- Environmentally responsible
- Uncompromised in quality
- Versatile
- Economically approachable
The changing trends have impacted the jewelry industry which currently echoes heightened demand for lab grown diamonds over their natural counterparts.
The CVD lab grown diamond market is growing at 7.1% CAGR and is expected to touch $15.9 billion by 2027.
While Cause has been a key determinant in shifting the preference of the modern women towards lab grown diamonds, there’s more reasons to why consumers are expanding their jewelry collections with lab-grown as compared to natural diamonds.
- Symbol of Sophistication – Top celebrities have already taken lab grown diamond jewelry to the red carpet. Owing to its source of production, it is a symbol of virtue over vanity. As modern women unanimously agree, ‘it looks just as pure as it feels’.
- Superior Cuts – Asscher, Emerald, Princess, Cushion, Radiant, Heart, Pear-cut, Round, Oval, Marquise; lab grown diamond jewelry have spelt perfection in all cuts that diamonds can possibly be availed in. It’s in fact, impossible to tell the difference holding the natural and the lab grown twins side by side, primarily because none exists.
- Styles – Necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings, nose pins, bangles, tiaras, charms, anklets, watches; there’s no end to lab grown diamond jewelry styles that a modern jewelry lover women can spoil themselves with.
- Versatility – You can get creative with lab grown diamond jewelry. Given that it is more approachable,; jewelers are more flexible in offering personalization options at affordable costs. To many, it’s more desirable to own a one-of-a-kind piece of sophisticated jewelry which no one else can possibly possess. This pulls up the level of lab grown diamond jewelry to its natural counterpart on the scale of rarity, making it more relevant to the modern woman.
- Cost – Lab Grown Diamonds cost 30% to 85%% lesser than earth mined diamonds. Considering that the cost of technology are decreasing, it is predicted that lab grown diamonds may cost even lesser in the future.
Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend… Every Girl Should Have it, Love it, be Proud of it and Wear it Guilt Free… Anonymous
Busting prevailing myths, lab grown diamonds are 100% diamonds. Here’s why –
- Appearance – Identical
- Chemical Composition – Carbon (C)
- Refractive Index – 2.42
- Hardness on MOH Scale – 10
- Density – 3.52
- Crystal Structure – Cubic
Like natural diamonds, lab grown diamonds also go through equally rigorous tests, grading and certification procedures with agencies like GIA and IGI, before they are showcased in the jewelry market. So, are lab grown diamonds a worthy investment for the modern woman or man? Yes! Certainly!
Quick Guide to Priceless Purchase –
Already on the way to a jeweler. On the way to the jewelers’ already? Take a quick glance through this quick guide to get ahold of pieces that you can pass down through generations as heirlooms –
- Look for Certifications – Lab grown diamonds, being 100% real diamonds, are always certified. It is imperative for brands / sellers to provide proper IGI / GIA certifications with your jewelry. Certifications prove the authenticity of your lab grown diamond jewelry and can determine its resale value in the future.
- Homework on Brands – Besides James Allen, Blue Nile, Vrai and Ritani, there are boutique online brands like Diamondnexus.com that offer premium certified lab grown diamond jewelry at affordable prices.
- Define your Cuts – Whether it’s earth mined or lab grown, dazzle always depends on cuts. For example, Round Brilliant and Princess cuts are very high in sparkle intensity while Emerald and Asscher score moderately.
- Personalize to make Statement Pieces – It is easier to custom create statement jewelry with lab grown diamonds, whether necklace, bracelets, earrings, nose pins, charms, anklets or tiaras. So, do not hesitate to request customization to make your piece as rare as it deserves to be.
- Market Fluctuation – Cost advantage is perhaps the best thing about lab grown diamond jewelry. For example, a 1 carat earth mined diamond with excellent cut, VS2 clarity and ranging D at color scale can cost around $10,000 USD to $12,000 USD. An identical lab grown on the other hand, would cost only $1000 to $2000USD. So, feel free to indulge in bigger rocks, absolutely guilt-free!
- Look for Hearts and Arrows – The clarity of 8 symmetrical hearts and arrows in the sparkle of the diamonds determines its premium. Take a look at instructional videos on identifying hearts and arrows in your chosen diamonds before proceeding with the purchase.
Looking Through The Crystal Ball – What The Future Holds
Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance – Coco Chanel
It’s not the sparkle that defines a modern woman; it’s her story condensed in carbon that makes her dazzle so unique.’
Lab grown diamonds are not a passing drift. Its impact can heal the earth and restore faith in humanity, thus, keeping the trend on its track to sweep the jewelry industry off its feet. Being the perfect embodiment of sustainability, innovation and elegance for the modern woman, it has already generated explosive demand in the market which is expected to continue rising into the future.
Further, the benefits of ethical sourcing, environmental friendliness, and affordability, align seamlessly with the values and priorities of not just the modern women, but all conscientious consumers as a whole.
Reference :
https://straitsresearch.com/report/diamond-market/
https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/cvd-lab-grown-diamonds-market-11040749.html
https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/cvd-lab-grown-diamonds-market-11040749.html