Lab created diamonds

[almostthere]

I was dreaming of my wedding ring I would like to have some day and looking at other rings online when I came accross a site for lab created diamonds. When I started reading it things started to make sense. hen I found out that it only takes about $6 per carat to mine and cut it that $5000 1 1/2 carat (of medium quality ring) just made my dream ring seem less wonderful to me. I can get the same ring in 2 carats for $700.

 

My bf has let me pick out my ring asking me to keep around 1 to 2 carats. I always wanted a 2 carat ring. But i am a saver and cannot bare the thought of $5000 - $7000 credit card balance. And he wants to get me something realy special since this is the only time we would be spending this amount on jewelry.

 

I have been seriously considering a lab created diamond. I mean I own two lab created emeralds and I perfer the color and clearity of them better.

 

I have been reading articles and it says that 52% of women now want real diamonds and women of our generation are opting for lab created or even substituting an emerald or sapphire in the diamonds place with diamonds around it (my cousin had that and the ring is beautiful).

 

My bf said it would be ok if two things happen...

 

1. we keep it a secret

2. when we get a head in life (when I finish schooling and child care and child support arent issues anymore) we replace it with a real diamond.

 

How do you feel about real and lab created diamonds?

 

I mean I just see so much more me and him can do with $5000 instead of a diamond but we both want the look of a diamond. Is this weird? oh...and hes not being cheap this was my idea. he doesnt particularly like it that much but says its not for him its for me.

[Buttaflyy]

You like it so you should get it. It sounds like it's right up your alley. You stated lots of reasons why you should and have no problem with it so do it.

[blind_otter]

I think it's cool. Personally I have a lot of other things in my life that I would rather spend $7000 on. Call me crazy.

[Touche]

I've written about this before.. I should look for the post but anyway, bottom line is I was faced with the same choice. I chose the lab created. I still have my ring, have worn it proudly for 12 years now. NO ONE knows. I took it to a jeweler once and he had to use his loop thing (forget exactly what it's called) to see if it was real or not.

 

With the money we saved we took a European honeymoon. I've never regretted it since. Who wants to start a marriage off with debt. The ring is REAL to me. It has been for a long time now. No difference. And like I said no one knows.

 

It's gorgeous too. It's a marquis cut with a baguette on either side set in yellow gold.

 

If you're like me, and it sounds like you are (a saver) you WON'T regret it. Don't tell anyone and no one, I mean NO ONE will know. And you will have exactly what you want...even better I believe.

 

So go for it!

[allina]

I think Touche's post a while ago really brought this issue to my attention, and I decided that a synthetic diamond is what I would want. To me there are certain times when spending a lot on something is worth it, a ring (especially when an EQUAL substiture is available) is not one of those situations.

 

I don't understand why your bf says that you would have to beep this a secret, I find that a little strange.

[a4a]

men want other people to know that they got their woman the biggest and the best ...... tiz a man thing.....

 

look at the bling I plunked on my woman....... yeah I am all that.... I can afford it.....

 

not all but some do think like this.

[allina]

men want other people to know that they got their woman the biggest and the best ...... tiz a man thing.....

 

look at the bling I plunked on my woman....... yeah I am all that.... I can afford it.....

 

not all but some do think like this.

 

I dislike men like that a ton, lame

 

I prefer one that finds more pride in being a wonderful/loving man that keeps his woman happy

[HokeyReligions]

Different strokes for different folks. I have several pieces of synthetic and lab created jewelry. I can't really tell the difference, but I know which are real and which are not. I had to pawn my ring once many years ago and wore a very nice cubic zirconia ring and to look at it you can't tell, but I felt deceitful when telling anyone that it was real. However, I was just as proud of it as a natural diamond and wasn't afraid to tell anyone what it was. I think it cost around $250 itself! Not a cheap piece of jewelry and I still wear it often. I have a lovely Zircon necklace that I wear and it's darker than a white diamond (its supposed to be) and I have had a couple of people ask me why I wear fake jewelry when I also have a diamond necklace. I tell them it's not fake - it's Zircon. Zircon is a naturally occuring gemstone too. It's funny the perceptions and emotions tied up in jewelry!

 

The home shopping channels always say their stones are better looking than diamonds, yada yada yada, then they go on to talk about size and setting and say they look 'believable'. That in a way seems like a cheat. A Saturn may look like a Lexus and drive like a Lexus, but it's still a Saturn. If you're not proud of it or feel peer pressure to the point you have to lie about your wedding ring, then don't get one until you can afford what you really want - or get a less expensive ring to wear now and on your 10th anniversary (or whenever) get the ring of your dreams. You'll have a goal to shoot for and can save for it.

 

I wear my synthetics with my naturally occuring gem stones and no one knows any different. "they" might think everything I have is paste!

[Touche]

I think Touche's post a while ago really brought this issue to my attention, and I decided that a synthetic diamond is what I would want. To me there are certain times when spending a lot on something is worth it, a ring (especially when an EQUAL substiture is available) is not one of those situations.

 

I don't understand why your bf says that you would have to beep this a secret, I find that a little strange.

 

 

Wow, thanks Allina. It means so much to me that you remembered my post on this. Are you engaged? Are you holding out on us? You better spill girl!

 

And as for you, Hokey there's NO way in hell you can tell that mine isn't real. I had a friend who said the same thing and guessed that mine was real! Ha! Plus I've already mentioned that the jeweler I took it too one time couldn't tell without pulling out his jeweler's loupe (sp?).

 

The funny thing about your post was that after all that, you concluded by saying that you wear your "real" stones along with your synthetic stones and no one can even tell the difference.

 

For me, the ring is a symbol. It's not a matter of "real" versus "fake." It represents that period of time when my husband and I made a commitment to each other for life. It's not about the stone. The ring is merely a symbol of that commitment and of our love. Nothing more and nothing less. Again, it's not about the stone itself.

 

And a4a, you're right about your views. My H and I actually had an argument about this. He did NOT want me to go the synthetic route but later THANKED me for being such a sensible woman. Of course, he didn't thank me until AFTER we came back from our 2 week European honeymoon that we couldn't have taken had I gotten a comparable engagement ring that WASN'T lab created!

[allina]

Wow, thanks Allina. It means so much to me that you remembered my post on this. Are you engaged? Are you holding out on us? You better spill girl!

 

 

Hah, nope I'm not engaged, not even close and nowhere near even thinking about it The post about rings just cought my attention because one, I have many friends starting to get engaged so I hear a lot of ring talk, and two I've always had sort of a problem with having to blow several thousand $ to start a life together. I would much prefer an awesome vacation, or something we can both USE for that amount.

 

And I could never hold out such juicy info from LS!

[insomnie]

I havne't really made up my mind on the matter, so please don't attack what I'm about to write.

 

On the one hand, I think it's silly to blow that much money on a piece of jewelry that can be replicated for 1/20th the price, especially when an engagement should really be abotu the commitment, not the bling.

 

On the other...the ring is a symbol largely because it (allegedly) retains value well over time. It's the idea that it is everlasting, that you can give it to your kids and it will be just as pretty (and valuable) as when you got it. Of course, the other part of what makes it a symbol is just symbolism, but why bother with a cheap imitation at all, if you are boycotting the ridiculous prices of the diamond industry? I can understand the need to have an imitation ring to appease family, friends, and other people that will know you are getting engaged, but getting an imitation just for the symbolism...why not get something else?

 

Why does it need to look like the real thing to be symbolic of your love?

[norajane]

Why does it need to look like the real thing to be symbolic of your love?

 

Cuz it's pretty and sparkly and stuff.

 

I've been thinking about getting synthetic diamond earrings because I like the sparkly diamond look against my dark hair, but don't really want to spend the cash on ones big enough to see, and would be afraid of losing them.

[Touche]

Hey, Allina you BETTER not hold out on us! You're a cutie.

 

Insomnie, I respect your view. I would never attack anyone's choice. I just have my own view on the matter. I didn't really get your last question on your post though. I think, NJ answered it best. Bottom line is because I like it. It reflects my taste and wasn't a ridiculous price for something that will last longer than I will last!

 

Let's not even get into the diamond industry and the atrocities associated with it. I don't want any part in that. Look that up. It's pretty disgusting really. It's inhumane.

 

So what should I get something else? I didn't do it to appease ANYONE...not my family, not friend, not anyone. I did it because I loved the look of it, it pleased ME and it made sense all the way around. I liked my ring AS MUCH as I liked the REAL THING. So if I liked them equally, and couldn't tell the difference, and knew they'd both last as long, why the heck NOT? Did you know that the lab diamonds are just about as "hard" as the real ones on the harness scale? There's a scale for hardness for stones. I don't have all that info but diamonds are the hardest and the lab ones are close behind.

 

I'm hard on my jewelry and I've never chipped or broken my "diamond"...I did however knock the marquis stone out of the setting once and that's when I took it to the jeweler's. I asked him to please re-set it in my setting...but before he did that I asked him if he could tell me if the stone was "real" or not. That's when he looked at it with his naked eye for a few minutes. He said he really couldn't tell and would need the loupe. It was only THEN that he could tell.

 

I'm looking at it right now. It's gorgeous next to my wedding band that my husband placed on my finger 11 years ago this past June. It means everything to me. I can't imagine that a "real" stone would mean more to me.

 

This is "real" enough for me.

 

So, although I won't judge you, Insomnie, please don't judge me for choosng a stone that maybe to you isn't real but to me represents the REAL love my husband and I have had for each other for almost 12 years now.

 

And to me THAT'S what really counts.

[allina]

Hey, Allina you BETTER not hold out on us! You're a cutie.

 

 

 

 

Let's not even get into the diamond industry and the atrocities associated with it. I don't want any part in that. Look that up. It's pretty disgusting really. It's inhumane.

 

 

Thanks Touche

 

I also have a huge problem with the diamond industry, but I tend to get all crazy political on here sometimes so I was gonna give it a rest.

[johan]

When I meet the girl of my dreams, and I'm ready to ask her to marry me, I'm going to put together a romantic evening. When the moment comes, I'm going to give her a gold ring with an empty setting.

 

Then I'm going to pull out a piece of charcoal and crush it in my hand until it becomes a diamond, and put it in the ring right in front of her. What could be more romantic?

 

I saw a guy do that with a piece of charcoal in a movie. Looked like a piece of cake.

[insomnie]

I'm not judging anyone, honestly! And I've read all about the inhumanity that goes on in the diamond industry, and I agree that it's ridiculous to pay 20 times for a rock that is NOT AS GOOD as one produced in a lab, especially given all the atrocity surrounding diamonds.

 

I guess my main question was, why do most women pick a diamond-like ring as love symbol as opposed to another kind of ring or another object altogether. And you and Norajane answered that - because you like it. Which in my opinion is an awesome reason - much better than the one for getting a real diamond seems to be. (My fiance just symbolically flushed 3 grand down the toilet by buying something he could have gotten for 20 dollars - he must love me.)

 

I guess personally I wouldn't do either. Real diamonds seem silly, given the availability of perfectly formed inexpensive lab diamonds. Lab diamonds - I would feel the same way I do about imitation designer handbags: I would never spend that much money on the "real thing" because it's stupid, but I don't want a fake, either, even if it is a perfect fake, because then I'd feel like I bought into the psyche of the industry anyway.

 

Except, I can see how this is different, because, as Norajane pointed out, they are shiny and pretty. And someone you love gave it to you, and you LIKE it. That I can undersand.

 

And I'm going to stop talking now, there's no way to question either side without being offensive, and I'm questioning both. People love their rings (and I can see why - I'd love ANY kind of ring my bf were to give to me). I think everyone should get what they like and what makes them happy.

 

I'd get a goat. They're really cute, and bf and I have always wanted to make our own cheeses.

 

Touche, I think it's great that you and your hubby are so happy after all these years!

[Touche]

Thank you Insomnie. You're a dear! You were so cute about the goat!

 

As far as the "fake" thing and buying into the "psyche" of the industry..BULL!

 

Who cares, Insomnie! I could tell you that by buying a natural diamond versus a lab created one, you are buying into the "psyche" of the natural diamond industry.

 

You've just made up your mind that one is better than the other one. And I've decided that this isn't the case.

 

It's up to you now to decide which is the "better" choice. Don't you let the industry, on either side, decide for you.

 

It's YOUR choice.

 

And thank you for saying that it's great that we're happy after all these years. We were JUST talking about this tonight. We're VERY lucky.

 

But my thoughts on that are for another thread. We don't "work" on our relationship and marriage that much. Perhaps I should start a thread on that sometime.

[hooghie]

I respect the wishes of others and won't get into my issues with the diamond industry but I DO have to make 1 comment..

 

The reason that diamonds symbolize love and have to be a certain price, etc. can be summed up in two words : EXCELLENT MARKETING.

 

Have you guys seen the 'diamond for your right hand' advertisments? I wonder how soon everyone will feel like they need one there too.

I personally choose not to buy into the b.s.

[Touche]

Hooghie...completely in agreement with you.

 

I won't let the diamond market decide what will symbolize our love. We will decide what symbol we choose to represent our love..not the diamond market.

 

And we made that decision 12 years ago.

 

Like I've said I don't have ANY regrets.

[kulyok]

I really don't know about diamond prices much, but two years I bought myself the cheapest *real*diamond ring(not zircon) for about $150, legal. I enjoyed wearing it. Then I looked at it and asked myself: okay, if it was bigger and better and cost $15000, would I be 100 times happier? Nah. So expensive diamond rings are out.

 

When I get married, I will wear a plain gold wedding ring, and I guess my husband will. Wearing them is important to me.

 

But diamonds... real or fake... hmm. If I see a beautiful ring, diamond, emerald or whatnot, I'll buy it, if I can afford it. Or my husband will, if he can afford it. Otherwise, again, nah.

[littlekitty]

I think Touche's post a while ago really brought this issue to my attention, and I decided that a synthetic diamond is what I would want. To me there are certain times when spending a lot on something is worth it, a ring (especially when an EQUAL substiture is available) is not one of those situations.

 

I don't understand why your bf says that you would have to beep this a secret, I find that a little strange.

 

Same thing goes for me. And in fact it's something I'm trying to work out in my own head right now. My SO and I planned to go to Goa to buy a diamond for my engagement ring. Now while we'd get a bargin, it will put us in debt to do it.

 

Touche's post a while ago really made me think about what is more important, the marriage, or the ring.... I'm thinking it really ought to be the marriage! Unfortunately I want the holiday too! So I'm still a little torn right now on what to do.

 

But I'm pleased that it's made me think enough about what is actually important.

[a4a]

I have heard and read some hellish stories about diamond miners and such... this is probably a good way to go so one does not contribute to the problem?

[adnCat]

I just found this forum and this thread was really of interest to me because I recently started doing lots of research on synthetic diamonds and diamond substitutes (simulants). After reading about simulants, or "sims," I have decided that I would much rather have a sim (I prefer CZ) than a diamond. (When the time comes, of course!) For the record, I am a consumer, not a marketer/jeweler/resaler plugging a certain brand of simulant.

 

I wanted to point out a couple things l have learned.

 

1) Synthetic (or man made, or lab created) genuine diamonds are only manufactured by a handful (I think 3) companies. These include Takara, Apollo Diamonds, and Gemesis. Gemesis and Takara currently produce colored diamonds, and Apollo hopes to enter the market with colorless diamonds late this year or early next year. Synthetic diamonds are 100% carbon, as are natural mined diamonds. Synthetic diamonds are physically, optically, and chemically identical to natural mined diamonds. They are still very expensive. Apollo is not yet selling to the public, but I had a chance to purchase through a private sale by invite only. The gems

 

2) Simulated diamonds are things that look like diamonds but are not. They are completely different minerals or gemstones. Examples include cubic zirconia, zircon, white sapphires, moissanite.

 

Sorry to be the one to tell you this, but Diamond Nexus Labs sells regular old CZ. They have a bad reputation for being deceitful. They use the word "synthetic" on their website, which is incorrect. You have to really search the website for it, but if you look at the chemical composition of a DNL gemstone, you will see that it is clearly not 100% carbon. If you call them and press them about it, they will tell you the truth, that is is CZ.

 

I've also heard that the photographs on their website are of actual diamonds, and not their product. They do have a good return policy, so if you have already ordered from them and choose not to keep the items, they'll probably take it back without question.

 

CZ is a really great simulant when it is hand cut to ideal proportions and put in a high quality setting. The problem with most CZ is that it is hastily stamped out by machines, not properly polished, and put in crappy settings. CZ hit the market a little hard in the 70s and kind of has a bad rep as cheap and ugly.

 

The truth is, DNL's CZ is okay looking, but for that price, there are much better CZ simulants, like Asha CZ. There is one guy at simstalk.com that bought a DNL engagement ring, and he is happy with it.

 

Sorry, I don't really mean to rain on anyone's parade. It's fine to buy from DNL, I just hate to see people think they are getting something they are not (like a synthetic diamond). I personally think DNL and Asha are a little expensive and prefer interlap.

[adnCat]

Like many others here, I do not want a "real" diamond. Besides, CZ is real. It's not like its an imaginary ring or something!

[norajane]

So, DNL does sell CZ...not necessarily a problem, but yes, you can find it for less than their price at other places and should be aware of what you're buying. They don't come out and say they sell CZ, like most other sites do.