Should Lab-Grown Diamonds be Embraced?

For a number of reasons, there has been an increase in the number of questions and notions put forward concerning lab-grown diamonds, also called man-made diamonds or synthetic diamonds. Since some diamond-based sectors have begun to embrace man-made diamonds for environmental and ethical reasons, some strict miners have countered the development, claiming that lab-grown diamonds are no way more sustainable than mined diamonds. Their strongest footing for this has been that the process of creating synthetic diamonds is highly carbon-intensive.

What is the Public Saying?

In terms of the looks and the sparkle, man-made diamonds and moissanite are in no way different from mined ones. And except there is a proper scrutinization by an expert, the difference is really hard to tell. It’s the same looks, the same facets, the same chemical composition, and the same stunning effects. So when strictly considering the aesthetics, both man-made and natural diamonds gives similar appeal. However, just because man-made things are as their name implies, made by man and are nowhere close to the original, lesser value is placed on synthetic diamonds. They are sold at cheaper prices and are fast becoming an option for those who would not have been able to afford the price for natural diamonds.

Nevertheless, there has been a fair division in the general public’s stand on natural and synthetic. Those who embrace lab-grown diamonds do so because the gems are affordable and just as physically appealing as their natural counterparts; while those who turn their backs on synthetic gems do so because of their pure sentiment and attraction to the intrinsic value of naturally occurring substances, which is fairly reasonable enough.

Coming back to the expert world of jewelers, miners, and scientists, the arguments are even more heated. Since the inception of lab-grown diamonds, their popularity and demand have improved steadily, drastically affecting the revenue gotten from naturally mined ones. This has not gone down well with folks from the natural diamond industry and the stimulus reaction has been fighting back with lots of analysis defending why synthetic production of diamonds should be thrown in the bin. They claim mining requires much less carbon than industrial production and is, therefore, more sustainable.

In a counter argument, synthetic producers of diamonds postulated myriads of claims on the sustainability of their gems. At some point, the US Federal TradeCommission had to give series of warnings on lab-grown diamond makers and optimists making yet to be verified claims about their products. We are not sure what effects these warnings have yielded as there are still a lot of myths surrounding man-made diamonds and their sustainability in the long term.

The Compromise

While diamond miners have given carbon consumption as a claim for lab-grown diamonds being unsustainable compared to natural ones, it is worth considering also that their analysis may not have been inclusive enough. They have noted the impact on the world’s energy reserves but they have also failed to talk about how positively man-made diamonds will reduce the gross amount of mineral waste created for every single carat of diamond mined; or how many injuries and risks involved in the dangerous mining processes will be mitigated.

Asides from that also, some energy scientists and experts have scrutinized miners’ claims about the amount of carbon being consumed in producing lab-grown diamonds, saying the results are way far from being reasonable and that man made diamonds cannot possibly consume more energy than the process of mining and purifying naturally occurring ones. Some have even openly expressed that it should not be surprising if research meant to favor diamond mining and was carried out by diamond miners give such ridiculous results.

Obviously, for a long time to come, numerous claims and analyses will be continually dragged back and forth. And until a stable agreement has been reached, our only way forward will be to not look into the economic impact of mining or manufacturing diamonds alone but to also factor in the very obvious impact of both processeson the immediate environment and the long term effects they could have on our world. That being said, will you consider buying a lab-grown diamond over a naturally mined one? If so, what would be your reason(s)?

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Tags: Diamonds, lab grown diamonds

About the Author

Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.