Anonymous wrote:I asked my boyfriend to propose with a chunky gold band with some other small gemstones set in it. Didn't want to deal with any of the the diamond center stone drama.

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Anonymous wrote:Where are the best places to buy lab diamonds?

I spent a lot of time looking and Ritani was the best deal for me. Pricescope has the best information and has an excellent diamond finder. You can buy your stones there and have them set locally. I like Quest for that kind of work.

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Anonymous wrote:"Can you imagine? Kathy's ring wasn't mined with slave labor! The scandal!"

Please. Most mined diamonds aren’t mined by slave labor anymore. Labs have all kinds of chemical and environmental issues and they’re made in china and India. Let’s not get too pompous.

I actually can tell a bit. I didn’t want a totally perfect stone it looks fake. I like a flaw and I like an old stone.

lol “mined” diamonds are ten times the cost. And sorry the labor issues with diamonds have not been resolved and the environmental impact of mining will always dwarf a synthetic process. And labs will drag down the “value” of ALL diamonds. Enjoy your “flaws.”

I actually read an article in the WSJ that said the exact opposite. Because so many people are buying lab grown diamonds now, it's a bigger deal and more of a status symbol to have a real diamond.

Except that nobody will know. Anyone can pass off a lab diamond as a real diamond.

Exactly. It’s not a status symbol because people cannot tell, assuming it’s a quality setting. Also more and more people who can afford real are either going with no stone or lab diamonds because there are clear ethical concerns at every level with diamonds—environmental, labor, human rights and conflicts, supporting corrupt regimes, etc.

DP but when DH and I got engaged, we chose a ring that was my birthstone, not a diamond. We spent more on the setting than on the stone and it's GORGEOUS. I get so many compliments on it despite the fact that it is obviously not a diamond.

Anonymous wrote:Mined diamonds also have value because of the labor and people value authenticity and things natural from the earth. Artificial lab created have less value.

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Anonymous wrote:"Can you imagine? Kathy's ring wasn't mined with slave labor! The scandal!"

Please. Most mined diamonds aren’t mined by slave labor anymore. Labs have all kinds of chemical and environmental issues and they’re made in china and India. Let’s not get too pompous.

I actually can tell a bit. I didn’t want a totally perfect stone it looks fake. I like a flaw and I like an old stone.

lol “mined” diamonds are ten times the cost. And sorry the labor issues with diamonds have not been resolved and the environmental impact of mining will always dwarf a synthetic process. And labs will drag down the “value” of ALL diamonds. Enjoy your “flaws.”

I actually read an article in the WSJ that said the exact opposite. Because so many people are buying lab grown diamonds now, it's a bigger deal and more of a status symbol to have a real diamond.

Except that nobody will know. Anyone can pass off a lab diamond as a real diamond.

Exactly. It’s not a status symbol because people cannot tell, assuming it’s a quality setting. Also more and more people who can afford real are either going with no stone or lab diamonds because there are clear ethical concerns at every level with diamonds—environmental, labor, human rights and conflicts, supporting corrupt regimes, etc.

DP but when DH and I got engaged, we chose a ring that was my birthstone, not a diamond. We spent more on the setting than on the stone and it's GORGEOUS. I get so many compliments on it despite the fact that it is obviously not a diamond.

Sounds beautiful. I think it’s cool that diamonds may no longer be considered the go to stone for an engagement rings as they are no longer perceived as uniquely valuable. Also, people can focus more attention on interesting custom settings.

Diana chose a sapphire all those decades ago.

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Anonymous wrote:"Can you imagine? Kathy's ring wasn't mined with slave labor! The scandal!"

Please. Most mined diamonds aren’t mined by slave labor anymore. Labs have all kinds of chemical and environmental issues and they’re made in china and India. Let’s not get too pompous.

I actually can tell a bit. I didn’t want a totally perfect stone it looks fake. I like a flaw and I like an old stone.

lol “mined” diamonds are ten times the cost. And sorry the labor issues with diamonds have not been resolved and the environmental impact of mining will always dwarf a synthetic process. And labs will drag down the “value” of ALL diamonds. Enjoy your “flaws.”

I actually read an article in the WSJ that said the exact opposite. Because so many people are buying lab grown diamonds now, it's a bigger deal and more of a status symbol to have a real diamond.

Except that nobody will know. Anyone can pass off a lab diamond as a real diamond.

Exactly. It’s not a status symbol because people cannot tell, assuming it’s a quality setting. Also more and more people who can afford real are either going with no stone or lab diamonds because there are clear ethical concerns at every level with diamonds—environmental, labor, human rights and conflicts, supporting corrupt regimes, etc.

DP but when DH and I got engaged, we chose a ring that was my birthstone, not a diamond. We spent more on the setting than on the stone and it's GORGEOUS. I get so many compliments on it despite the fact that it is obviously not a diamond.

Sounds beautiful. I think it’s cool that diamonds may no longer be considered the go to stone for an engagement rings as they are no longer perceived as uniquely valuable. Also, people can focus more attention on interesting custom settings.

Anonymous wrote:You can’t tell the difference if it’s in a well made setting. If you can tell, it’s not because of the stone but because it was put in a bad setting.

I’d spend some money on a really nice setting made by a reputable jeweler and then get a lab diamond.

Anonymous wrote:It will be interested to see what happens re trends and status symbols now that lab diamonds are so cheap.

Here's a couple predictions:

1) the price of gold is still $$$. I predict chunkier gold will become a flex/preference
2) people will place a higher value on the designs and metal work of the jewelry. For years 'dainty' settings dominated the market, but i think there will be a shift away to show that you have the $$ and taste to create something interesting
3) as far as the stones go, I think we will see gravitation towards other gemstones, like rubies and emeralds
4) on the diamond note, I wonder if diamonds will go the way of emeralds and people will start to prefer inclusions and slight imperfections as signs that the diamond is "natural". When lab grown emeralds became widely available in the 20th century, natural emeralds with visible inclusions became the preferred emeralds because all of the lab grown stones were flawless and almost all natural emeralds are not.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Can you imagine? Kathy's ring wasn't mined with slave labor! The scandal!"

Please. Most mined diamonds aren’t mined by slave labor anymore. Labs have all kinds of chemical and environmental issues and they’re made in china and India. Let’s not get too pompous.

I actually can tell a bit. I didn’t want a totally perfect stone it looks fake. I like a flaw and I like an old stone.

lol “mined” diamonds are ten times the cost. And sorry the labor issues with diamonds have not been resolved and the environmental impact of mining will always dwarf a synthetic process. And labs will drag down the “value” of ALL diamonds. Enjoy your “flaws.”

I actually read an article in the WSJ that said the exact opposite. Because so many people are buying lab grown diamonds now, it's a bigger deal and more of a status symbol to have a real diamond.

Doesn't make a lot of sense. In order for something to be a status symbol, you need to be able to look at it and know what it is.

Anonymous wrote:It will be interested to see what happens re trends and status symbols now that lab diamonds are so cheap.

Here's a couple predictions:

1) the price of gold is still $$$. I predict chunkier gold will become a flex/preference
2) people will place a higher value on the designs and metal work of the jewelry. For years 'dainty' settings dominated the market, but i think there will be a shift away to show that you have the $$ and taste to create something interesting
3) as far as the stones go, I think we will see gravitation towards other gemstones, like rubies and emeralds
4) on the diamond note, I wonder if diamonds will go the way of emeralds and people will start to prefer inclusions and slight imperfections as signs that the diamond is "natural". When lab grown emeralds became widely available in the 20th century, natural emeralds with visible inclusions became the preferred emeralds because all of the lab grown stones were flawless and almost all natural emeralds are not.