Buying a diamond for your engagement or wedding ring is overwhelming! It’s forever, a big deal. There is a dizzying amount of information to consider- (4c's, color, cut, clarity, carat to ethical sourcing and sustainability.) And now enter the world of lab grown diamonds...

Opinions are out there about anything and everything and I personally hesitate to get too opinionated in general but I do have a strong and honest opinion on the topic of lab grown gemstones.  Sorry, Not sorry? I wish to share for your consideration, as most information hitting the top of your search engine will be market driven.  The jewelry industry can be confusing with tempation to jump on trends and I see lab grown as one of them. By mass producing synthetic gemstones, the lab grown industry is categorically comparable to fast fashion, creating man-made gemstones that retain little to no value, and long term undesirable waste. After doing your own research you may still decide lab grown is right for you. There is no right or wrong answer, but as your friend I'm going to encourage natural. 

Natural vs. synthetic or lab grown diamonds. 

Physically a lab grown diamond and a natural diamond can look identical. Natural diamonds have a tiny amount of nitrogen in them however, invisible to the naked eye, but a chemical trait that is used to distinguish them apart. 

Formation -

Natural diamonds were formed slowly under the pressure of the earth’s crust over millions of years, making them a highly coveted, limited resource,  more rare, valuable, and thus more expensive. However, they also hold their legacy and long term value alluring us with their extraordinary history. Naturals often have inclusions that give the diamond their unique character and color. 

Synthetic, or lab grown diamonds are created in a laboratory over the course of several weeks. Although they may be identical in appearance to a natural diamond, they are much more affordable and have a significantly lower market value with little to no resell value. Lab grown diamonds are mass produced often to perfection and lack the unique inclusions that give a natural diamond its character.

Sustainability factor - 

Side by side we can debate about whether lab grown or natural diamonds are better in terms of water usage, fair wages, responsible mining vs ethical laboratory standards. Of course anything we extract from the earth has rippling effects, but consider how we value what is rare, expensive, takes time. Anytime something is mass produced, it inherently loses its value, becomes mundane, excessive and less desirable, in other words- wasteful.  Our desire for more of a good thing is a beautiful thing we should leave at that.  When we get greedy, make too much and take too much, we lose interest. At the end of the day, or say 50 years from now, these lab grown stones will be worth nothing - contributing to more fast fashion waste in the form of time, energy and value.  A natural diamond or any natural gemstone is more expensive for a reason, it can’t be controlled, it’s desirable and rare. It holds value and meaning. It’s kept close and gets passed down through generations.

Quality over quantity- 

We value slowing down and taking the time to source each unique and natural stone with care.  Ensuring traceability - the birth place of each stone, as close as possible, conflict free standards, and responsible mining and cutting practices. Our diamonds are conflict free, and vintage and antique. We often meet with gemstone miners and artisan cutters, dealing directly with the source. It's a slow and methodical approach inherent in all that we aim for. And we are here to help you source a unique diamond as rare as that special person in your life.