So is having a real diamond vs a lab diamond a flex?

I think it's a combination of new diamond options in the market (ie, lab grown, etc) and that there's just more wealth and money in this country than ever before. So where 1 carat was the former standard of the upper middle class, it's now 2-3...at least that's my observation from where I sit.

Anonymous wrote:engagement rings bigger than 3-4ct are so cheugy. i wish we could end this trend.

We can. By not participating in it.

Anonymous wrote:I’ve noticed that a lot of the large center stones aren’t actually a single stone, but multiple small stones set close together to resemble a large stone. It’s how so many young brides are getting huge rings.

If I were getting engaged now, I think I would choose a gorgeous, rare colored stone vs a diamond - something unique and special.

Right, I love emeralds but they're not ideal for daily wear. I guess fancy diamonds are the best of both worlds.

Anonymous wrote:

If I were getting engaged now, I think I would choose a gorgeous, rare colored stone vs a diamond - something unique and special.

Me too

Larger because they are lab grown, and in the process becoming less of a status symbol.

I’m sure it depends on your social circle. Mine is increasingly going for other gems/more unique band design (which I’m in favor of!). But I also know those who just want a massive rock.

They're getting bigger and they are not a status symbol anymore. Having multiple homes is a much bigger flex.

engagement rings bigger than 3-4ct are so cheugy. i wish we could end this trend.

Pp, here. Sorry for repeating- didn’t see.
Even with lab grown diamonds there’s a difference as far as cut and angles, etc. SIL spend a lot of time and research to pick the right stone and custom setting.
DD didn’t want a mined diamond because even supposedly ethical diamonds can be sketchy.

Anonymous wrote:I’m amazed at how real they look - but totally makes sense!

Well, they are real

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. First it was moissanite, and now it's the lab diamonds. So the carat weight is much higher, but the prices are much, much lower.

We are seeing that diamonds and gemstones are disappearing as the marker of expensive jewelry due to the wide availability of affordable lab stones. What makes a piece of jewelry expensive will shift to craftsmanship and weight of precious metal. A big diamond ring will be cheap, a big thick gold one will not. A thick gold ring with elaborate milgrain? Expensive.

NO Moissante and Lab are not even close to the same thing. No one was rushing out to buy moissanite for an engagement ring.

Lab = Natural diamond.

And Milgrain yuck... Not expensive means lower end jewelry. Ie can not afford the jewels.

What? Why are you all-caps yelling? Your reading comprehension is poor -- I didn't say they were the same thing. I know what a lab diamond is. I grew up in a family of geologists. What moissanite and lab diamonds share is responsibility for the push toward larger stones. First, it was moissanite -- people who desperately wanted a big rock and could not afford a big diamond opted for moissanite, hoping to pass it off (which, for the most part, they did, even though you can tell the difference pretty easily if you know what to look for). And the popularity of moissanite started pushing engagement ring center stone size up -- even for people purchasing mined diamonds. Larla across the hall had a ring that looked to be about 2 1/2 carats, so Larlo bought his girlfriend one of the same size -- not realizing Larla's was a simulant. The normalization of lab diamonds happened on the tails of this, partly due to marketing but also due to better production techniques; but the increased demand for larger stones brought on buy moissanites flooding the engagement ring market helped push it along quite a bit.

And regarding your view on expensive jewelry = larger "jewels"? Well, that's my whole point. That view is about to get dated fast with the market being what it is -- saturated with lab gems. Gemstones are no longer rare, and never will be again. (Diamonds weren't rare to begin with, really, but that would be an even longer post/rant about Debeers). My comment about milgrain is that with cheap access to large lab grown gems, the value of any given piece of jewelry will likely shift away from stones and over to craftsmanship. At any rate, stop ranting about things you don't understand. You clearly know nothing of the (fast-shifting) jewelry market.

Married 10 years. If I were getting engaged now, I’d get a lab created diamond.

I’ve noticed that a lot of the large center stones aren’t actually a single stone, but multiple small stones set close together to resemble a large stone. It’s how so many young brides are getting huge rings.

If I were getting engaged now, I think I would choose a gorgeous, rare colored stone vs a diamond - something unique and special.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m amazed at how real they look - but totally makes sense!

Lab diamonds are real diamonds. You can tell a stone is a moissanite b/c it sparkles too much, it has rainbow sparkles. I actually love the moissanite eternity band that I have far more than the diamond band I lost.

I have both. My moissanite is a high quality one. When they’re both perfectly clean I can tell a difference. But after a few days of wear and washing hands, they’re identical.