Earth Mined Natural Diamonds vs Lab Grown Diamonds

At Whiteflash we have always been known for providing the finest in natural diamonds from Mother Earth. And while that will continue to be our focus, we are dedicated to providing our customers the diamonds they desire.

Lab grown diamonds have been making headlines and garnering interest in the past few years as more producers and more production has come onto the market. Prices for synthetic diamonds are predictably falling as supply increases, providing new options for shoppers on a budget. And this trend can be expected to pick up speed as time goes on, making lab grown diamonds accessible for just about any budget.

Whereas natural mined diamonds are found in only a few places on Earth and are difficult and expensive to recover and bring to market, synthetic diamonds are now being produced in dozens of laboratories with rapidly advancing technology making it easier and less expensive to produce more and bigger synthetic diamonds all the time. By contrast, larger gem diamond crystals are found in extremely limited quantities in nature compared to total production. Meanwhile, technology drives synthetics in the opposite direction. While the price of Earth mined diamonds will continue to be predicated on natural scarcity, the price of lab grown diamonds will drop as the cost to produce them at scale continues to fall.

Initially, lab grown diamonds were marketed against the same criteria as natural mined diamonds- the 4 C’s – Carat, Color, Clarity, and Cut. The idea of the marketers was to try to equate in the consumer’s mind that lab grown diamonds are the same as natural diamonds, only more affordable. This marketing makes some sense when the price of lab grown is still relatively close to the price of natural, say within 30-40 percent, but as prices continue to drop this approach will begin to lose its logic.

Yes, a lab grown diamond is a synthetic diamond - crystallized carbon with the same basic chemical, physical, and optical properties as natural diamond. As such, it has many applications for industry as well as for jewelry. The abrasives industry was one of the first where synthetic diamond made an impact, but there are many unique applications in electronics and other high technology as well.

Diamonds have traditionally been valued for not only their beauty, but for the amazing and rare natural process of diamond formation deep in the bosom of Mother Earth. These precious treasures, created over billions of years and made available only by rare geological events, convey a deep sense of the infinite beauty and mystery of nature. As perfect symbols of everlasting love and beauty a natural diamond is a different entity than carbon assembled in a laboratory, even if the chemical and physical properties are the same. For these reasons, Whiteflash will remain dedicated to bringing the finest and rarest Earth mined natural diamonds to the consumer. Our flagship A CUT ABOVE® super ideal diamond is the pinnacle of truly rare natural beauty.

As more consumers become familiar with lab grown diamonds, the demand has grown. If cut well, they are equally beautiful to their natural counterparts. And having the same physical properties, they are equally durable and ideal for everyday wear. For purely decorative purposes, a well-cut synthetic diamond certainly has a place in the jewelry industry. It is major improvement over diamond simulants such as cubic zirconias which are now ubiquitous in costume jewelry. Lab grown diamonds will fill a role in higher-end fashion jewelry, and are a welcome addition to the jewelry industry in general.

While most buyers continue to prefer natural diamonds for emotional and sentimental reasons, some see a compelling value proposition in lab grown. The affordability means they can get a bigger diamond for less money. In some cases, a lab grown diamond may be used as a temporary “place holder” until such a time as a young couple has the financial wherewithal to acquire a natural diamond. They also may believe that lab grown diamonds are better for the environment or for society as a whole, although that premise is debatable. In any case, it is the Whiteflash view to provide products that our customers seek. It is therefore our policy to provide lab grown diamonds on request.

It is estimated that the natural diamond industry provides a livelihood for more than 8 million people around the globe, and have a beneficial impact on some of the poorest communities in the world. The diamond industry provides their only access to income, sanitation and education. While the natural diamond industry is highly labor intensive and requires the efforts of millions of people, lab grown diamonds are produced in factories staffed with a handful of highly educated and highly paid technicians monitoring sophisticated growing equipment. The financial fruits of their efforts flow to a relatively small number of people. The contrast of the social impacts of each industry could not be more dramatic.

It is therefore unfortunate that the lab grown diamond marketers often promote the product as more “socially responsible”. Considering the fact that only 0.1% of natural diamonds have any connection to conflict today, and considering how many millions of people, including the neediest among us, are benefited by the natural diamond industry, it is not entirely fair to consider lab grown diamonds as an “ethical alternative” to natural diamonds. Both have their proper place.

Synthetic diamonds certainly have a place in commerce, both in technology and in the jewelry industry. For fashion jewelry that is purely decorative, lab grown diamonds are ideal for many shoppers. They get the look they want for a price that they can afford.

Whiteflash has always been committed to offering natural mined diamonds of the finest quality and with the highest possible light performance direct to the consumer with full transparency and accountability and the most comprehensive assurance package in the industry. We also remain committed to supporting organizations like Diamond Development Initiative and United Nations Global Compact to do our part to ensure that the natural diamond industry is equitable and sustainable. But we understand that many shoppers who love diamonds consider the new lab grown diamonds to be a great option today, and we are committed to accommodating those clients as well.

For more on the Whiteflash commitment to ethical practices, please see our social responsibility page.

To accommodate customers looking for lab grown diamonds, Whiteflash is currently stocking a small, carefully vetted inventory of the finest lab created diamonds in our Precision Lab category. With our expertise in cut quality, the lab diamonds we stock have proven light performance. They are certified Hearts and Arrows Ideal Cut, and at the top of the scale in terms of color and clarity (DEFG color VVS1 -VS1).

Each lab created diamond we offer comes with a grading report from IGI Laboratories verifying that they are Hearts and Arrows and that they are “As Grown” with no post-growth treatments having been applied. Each lab created diamond is inscribed LG with the report number. If you are looking for something other than you find on our site, please inquire. We are able to provide a wide range of lab created diamonds on request.