Jewelry

[bargainsgirl]

There should be SOME way a jeweler can tell the difference.  Suppose you wanted to sell or insure your real mined diamonds.  How would they base a price?  This seems so wrong to me.  Mined are much pricier than mined so how do you know if your are getting cheated or a deal? I wiill never buy a lab made stone of anykind.  Some CZ look the same especially for ear studs!!  IMO!!

[SilleeMee]

There is a way to test for lab vs natural and it involves using a very expensive piece of equipment. I discussed this in another thread here.

Lab and natural diamonds are indistinguishable from one another unless they are specially tested, which most jewelers don't do because of cost. Lab diamonds are graded and some will cost more than natural diamonds depending on their grade.

As I mentioned earlier, lab diamonds offer conflict-free choices. For some people, ethical decisions are important.

When De Beers created their lab diamonds they went all out to invent a testing machine just so that they would have a way to separate the two.

[Alison Wonderland]

Most jewelers and appraisers won't be able to tell the difference, but many diamonds, lab created and mined, now come with a microlaser ID number that can be looked up in records, like the VIN on a car.

[2blonde]

Yes, and then as a customer, how could you ever be sure of what you were buying?  There could be deception in stores, on ebay.......good grief!

[Alison Wonderland]

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@2blonde wrote:

Yes, and then as a customer, how could you ever be sure of what you were buying?  There could be deception in stores, on ebay.......good grief!

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Then you can, as a consumer, always assume it's mined and only pay for diamonds within the lab grown price ranges.

If a professional can't tell the difference, it's probably not worth paying more.

[SilleeMee]

In the past lab diamonds were used mostly in the industrial landscape, for example as dust for grinding and polishing tools. But more recently when it was cut into a gem for jewelry, that changed how diamonds are being tested now. What I foresee happening is there will be some kind of certification put in place to assure customers of what they are buying. 

[millieshops]

When even getting your money back from mined diamonds or pretty gold pieces can be a challenge, I'd buy lab-created  only to have pretty jewelry to wear, not to expect a good return on what I spent for it.

The huge run up in the cost of gold in the early part of this cwntury and with diamonds more recently has made jewelry seem like a good investment, but most of the time a careful analysis of all its costs doesn't hold up that thinking.

[Kevinsmom]

Lab grown diamonds have zero value!  You would be better off buying the real thing and at least get your money's worth.

[FancyPhillyshopper]

There is a reason QVC always says they are affiliated with the GIA.

For me, a pricey diamond MUST have a GIA certificate.

Anything else  (natural or created) is just something sparkly to wear that has no real  lasting value.

[crawford5153]

I would never want a lab mined diamond at any cost!  I love the original earth mined diamond and that is all that I own in my pendants, earrings, and rings.  I have them in 14k yellow and white gold and also in platinum.  I even have one white gold diamond watch and another diamond watch in platinum.  Have a gorgeous 2 carat diamonds by the yard necklace and those diamonds are F-G and VVS. I own lots of art deco period diamond jewelry.