A few years ago, jewelry store owners didn’t want to sell lab-grown diamonds. However, they realized the demand for these products and began offering the lab-created stones to their customers. Sales quickly took off, and these diamonds now outsell those that are mined. America continues to be the leader in accepting lab-grown diamonds, which is why more retailers are now entering the market. However, not everyone in the industry is convinced these stones are here to stay.
Skepticism Remains
Some independent retailers shy away from lab grown diamonds. They prefer the tradition and romance of stones mined from the ground. Many times, a customer enters a jeweler looking for a diamond grown in a lab and leaves with one that was mined. They know it will last forever, and the mined diamond serves as a sign of their commitment. In addition, consumers love the symbolism of mined diamonds. However, lab-grown diamonds have a place in the world today.
The Future Looks Bright
Regardless of how a person feels about diamonds grown in a lab, everyone can agree this revolution has changed the industry for the better. People love this new trend and are willing to adapt to it. This forces jewelers to be creative, and those who wish to sell natural diamonds must develop innovative ways to market them. This has re-energized the industry.
All Are Diamonds
The Federal Trade Commission ruled that any diamond is a diamond regardless of where it comes from. Every diamond, irrespective of its origins, is graded by certified laboratories. De Beers, an industry leader, now creates lab-grown diamonds and sells them for a fraction of the price of mined gems. This will lead to more people being able to afford large diamonds and individuals who would otherwise be forced to look at other stones to access affordable diamond pieces.
Size Matters
When shoppers choose between a lab-grown diamond and a mined one, many will go with the lab-grown version. They want a bigger diamond and feel lab-grown varieties are just as acceptable as their mined siblings. This is going to lead to larger engagement rings and other jewelry pieces. In addition, fancy shapes will become more popular as a diamond gets larger, and the search for lab-grown varieties increases. People of all ages are embracing this trend.
An Increase in Value
As diamonds grown in a lab are easily reproduced, many jewelers expected the value of these products to decrease over time. The opposite has happened. Increased demand has led to the value of these diamonds remaining stable or increasing.
Sourcing Concerns
Many people turn to lab-grown diamonds because they know workers haven’t been exploited when making these gems. That remains a concern with mined diamonds today. However, a person should request third-party certification of responsible business practices when purchasing either type of stone. Consumers want stones that are produced with minimal social and environmental impact. Those companies that provide these stones will be the ones that succeed.
Every person should look into both mined and lab-grown diamonds. By comparing the two, diamond shoppers can determine which best meets their needs. However, a person should always buy gemstones responsibly.
The impact of their buying decision goes far beyond how the piece looks on the wearer. This is one reason lab-grown diamonds continue to increase in popularity. They have less impact on the environment and society as a whole. This alone is enough to have many people choosing this option over the mined one.
