[USER]

What’s everyone’s take on natural vs. lab diamonds?
We’re ring-shopping. (Doing it together… long-term relationship, we are a bit older than most people are when planning a wedding, and I’m very picky.)

Initially I figured we would get a lab diamond because they are considerably cheaper, but my boyfriend hates that idea and wants to ensure it holds value.

He views them as fake even though chemically they are the same.

For reference, the diamonds we have looked at are around $7,200 whereas a comparable lab diamond is $2,500. I will be hand-selecting a diamond in store.

A wealthy friend told him he buys lab diamonds for his wife’s jewelry, but they have a million-dollar home.

We’re not wealthy but are financially stable and this definitely won’t ruin his/our savings or anything like that. We’re pretty frugal when it comes to most things, but will spend more on things we value.

I’m the saver in the relationship, and my saver tendencies have influenced him in recent years.

I know people will have strong, varying opinions. I’m more wondering if the “retained value” thing is even THAT important.

[Brandi]

Lab diamond all the way. It’s a waste of money to not. But to each their own.

I personally got my ring on Amazon.

[Dani]

Look into moissanite! Almost the same hardness as a diamond and look practically identical.

Only difference is they have a bit more ‘fire’ to them in that it’s more of a rainbow sparkle when you move the stone under light.

Cheaper than diamonds but just as durable and pretty!

[Kate]

No diamonds hold value. If you want a real diamond, I would go lab every time – it’s real, it’s cheaper, and it’s more ethical- wins all around.

If it’s not that important to you that it be a diamond, moissanite is gorgeous and sparkly, and a sapphire can be similar to a diamond.

[Eling]

I originally got a lab Diamond, but didn’t feel right about it. Had the same thoughts as your sig other regarding its value.

Lab diamonds don’t retain their value.

If you’re lucky, the company you buy from has a trade in value if you so desire to upgrade, but for me I wanted a real Diamond to pass on to my daughter when she got older and I was gone.

[Savannah]

We decided to go with morganite and it is so unique and way cheaper. I absolutely love it and get so many comments on it!

My cousin got a stunning moissanite that looks just like a diamond.

No one cares if it’s “real.”

[Kristen]

Moissanite. I haven’t seen anyone suggesting it yet. I specifically asked my now husband to propose with moissanite, a naturally occurring stone with properties almost identical to a natural diamond’s, except they are harder according to the Mohs scale, they sparkle more, and they’re more affordable… a win in my book.

The average person can’t tell it isn’t a diamond, and I get compliments on mine all the time (the Ivy from Olive Ave).

I can tell cubic zirconia apart from diamonds and moissanite, but moissanite is durable and retains its sparkle, unlike cz.

As others have said, diamonds don’t retain their monetary value. Besides, you don’t plan to sell it, right?

[Emily]

There is no value in a diamond. Is he planning on selling it in the future?
Lab diamonds all day.

Big name retailers mark-up the prices like crazy. I’m saying that as someone who got my dream ring from James Allen.

I love my ring, but knowing what I know now, I would do it different.

I recommend buying a stone from a website called “The Art of Jewels”, or an auction site (like EBTH).

You can get a FAT lab grown diamond from there and then design your own ring with a local jeweler at a FRACTION of the big retailers’ cost.

[Linda]

I have a diamond and it has a ridiculously high appraisal value which I know I could never get for it. I love it. My husband found a diamond broker and got a good deal.

Here’s what I’ve learned, diamonds that are 2 carats or more in size will often generate comments.

Is it going to make you self-conscious that is a lab diamond?

I love the ladies who say, ” Thanks, it’s Moissanite!!!”

[Noa]

My understanding was that diamonds don’t hold value very well, but I’m no expert.

I wanted lab diamond bc I didn’t want the pressure of not losing something so expensive.

[Patrick]

“ensures it holds value ”
He lost his argument right there. That $7,200 diamond you’re looking at, look at what it would resale for as a pre-owned item.

Probably $2500 or less.

Unless you’re buying rare, collector-worthy diamonds (based on color, size, provenance), diamonds are a poor investment and the real value falls faster than when you drive a new car off the lot.

Buy what you like but don’t mistakenly think diamonds (mined or lab) hold their value.

[Megan]

I specifically did not want a mined diamond. I’ve been married 18 years this year and wearing my ring for almost 20 years.

Moissanite was the only option available to me at the time, but apparently there are alternatives now.

I’m more than happy with mine in both knowing it’s not mined and in the cost.

Diamonds only hold sentimental value.

[Amber]

Retained value only matters if you plan on selling it
I want a lab diamond because they are chemically the same and the human eye can’t detect the difference.

Plus, the human rights component of lab vs mined makes them preferable in my book

[Shannon]

Buy lab grown or second hand. My ring was made by my husband’s jeweler uncle. After we got engaged I took it over to a regular jewelry store to see how much they would give me for it.

Because he gave us such a huge discount, the store was willing to pay me exactly what we paid for it.

You’re overpaying when you buy retail

[Angela]

It sounds like you do not want a lab grown diamond. In that case, I would absolutely get something off of marketplace/secondhand/pawnshop.

Pay a jeweler 50 to 100 bucks to verify before you buy it and buy it at the store/or police station.

Most people have their appraisals/receipts when originally purchased, so that is good to have also.

[Angi]

I had a 1ct natural diamond and then 2 wedding bands totaling 1ct of natural diamonds, and men’s ring with .5ct natural diamonds as well as a tiffany setting

All 14kt white gold. I sold them to a jewelry store that took in jewelry. I got $1500.

We had spent about $5k on it all
The jewelry store said they were paying for the gold and not really the diamonds because they don’t hold value.

And mind you, my appraisal to replace my wedding set was about $10k

So, long story short, do you plan on selling or upgrading down the road?

My next ring will be lab diamond….same chemical properties as natural, just way more affordable.

You can get a bigger diamond and better cut/color/clarity with lab because they cost less.

[Audrey]

Most jewelry quality diamonds don’t have much retained value. I would go lab over mined because I prefer high color and clarity.

They only look fake when they are really hufe..

like 5 carats or more only because a .iced diamond that size is not financially realistic for most people.

[Robin]

I had a beautiful diamond for my first marriage. I didn’t want one for my second and opted for a wedding band.

As years passed I don’t wear it or really any jewelry.

Do what you want.

It’s your finger lol

[Jennifer]

Diamonds have never been rare, is the scarcity model that retailers and culture have infused that have given value. Labs are chemically the same.

Keep in mind that you were already poised to lose money when selling an earth mined and now with the influx of labs, it’s even more so.

One way to look at it is buy a $10K earth mined stone and expect to sell it down it road for less than $5K. Buy a $2K lab and expect to sell it for $500.

You lose less with the latter option. Extremely large, unique, and some antique stones may hold value. Branded stones and jewelry may hold value. But, generic earth mined diamonds do not.

If you’re picky, sounds like you can do your research on cut, which is the most important part to me.

I should add, this is coming from a jewelry lovely and amateur collector. I have natural, antique, branded, and modern lab pieces.

I love them all for different reasons.

If you’re looking at something $7K earth mined, you can do a lot better than $2500 in a lab as well.

[Kate]

My father worked in Africa when I was growing up and the Americans that worked out there were often conned by the locals with diamonds.

The locals would mine diamonds and sell them to the Americans promising them mega returns.

The Americans would get home only to find they are worth very little.
Sure a diamond can appraise for xyz but getting someone to pay that is totally different!

Fwiw my husband proposed to me in 2001 with a $99 dollar CZ ring and we got married in 2003 with basic white gold bands that cost about the same and we are going to celebrate 22 years of marriage this May.

So, imho buy a CZ and call it a day!

[Author]

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