Opinions on Synthetic Diamonds for an engagement ring

[JohnGalt]

Originally Posted by djblisk

Instead of talking about synthetic diamonds you guys are just throwing in your 2 cents about a diamond should mean.

DeBeers has spent a lot of money over a long period of time to ensure this.

 

[Gibonius]

Originally Posted by MasterOfReality

If the price is comparable, i'd rather get the natural diamond.

At least you know some effort has gone into mining and cutting it.

You still have to cut a man-made gemstone, they don't use grow faceted

I can't find prices for colorless man-made diamonds (no one sells them), but the colored ones are WAY cheaper than natural stones, like 1/10th the price or better. Yellow and blue diamonds are horrendously expensive, I've seen some for $100k+ that are equivalent to $5k man-made stones. I'm probably going to get a man-made yellow for my wife sometime in the next few years.

 

[djblisk]

Originally Posted by Gibonius

The common terminology is "lab-grown," to avoid the synthetic tag. "Synthetic diamond" is usually marketing speak and means cubic zirconia, etc and not actually a diamond. These lab-grown diamonds are 100% the real deal, just created in a lab instead of naturally. They're really nice, about the only way colored diamonds will ever be affordable.

The emotional issue is still there, of course, but you'd have to know your woman to decide if that's an issue. Most will not like it, and it's probably best not to test those waters on an e-ring.

Yup. My gf doesn't mind a lab grown diamond and would love it regardless. She wants us to save money on the ring so we can guy a home.

 

[djblisk]

Originally Posted by MasterOfReality

If the price is comparable, i'd rather get the natural diamond.

At least you know some effort has gone into mining and cutting it.

There are some people out there who would like to not contribute to the mined diamond industry because of its practices. This post is ridiculous.

 

[djblisk]

Originally Posted by Matt

small real > large fake.

Small real = small lab grown.

reading and researching is your best friend.

 

[djblisk]

Originally Posted by MasterOfReality

True, at least my fiance returned the favour by purchasing a Tag Grand Carrera Calibre 8 as a gift. So at least thats something in return

She reckons she had it all planned as soon as I proposed to her. I had no idea about it until she handed me the wrapped box.

My mate got sweet **** all from his missus - she is as wide as a house and goddamn useless as well.

That is awesome!

 

[djblisk]

Originally Posted by JohnGalt

DeBeers has spent a lot of money over a long period of time to ensure this.

True. It is now so ingrained in everyone, that the rest of the posts still talk about the same issue that I have been trying to avoid. What a diamond means should mean.

 

[unjung]

Originally Posted by djblisk

True. It is now so ingrained in everyone, that the rest of the posts still talk about the same issue that I have been trying to avoid. What a diamond means should mean.

What was the point of your original question? If the girl is okay with it, then there is no difference, other than cost.

 

[djblisk]

Cost. But does anyone have experience with buying one? etc. etc.

 

[spb_lady]

Originally Posted by djblisk

There are some people out there who would like to not contribute to the mined diamond industry because of its practices.

what's wrong with the industry? did i miss something?

(hope they don't kill whales for diamonds)

 

[djblisk]

Originally Posted by spb_lady

what's wrong with the industry? did i miss something?

(hope they don't kill whales for diamonds)

Nah. just children.

 

[otc]

I would be hesitant to marry a chick that wouldn't be cool with (or really, prefer) a lab grown diamond to a debeers stone.

If she can't see the value of man-made it means either:
-She can't figure out that diamond is a structure of carbon and that a diamond is a diamond whether it was grown in a lab or in the ground--I don't want to marry no dumb chick!
-She can't see through the advertising campaigns--I don't want to marry no sheep!


Of course...by the time I get married, I hope more people have gotten this through their thick skulls. Also, lab grown diamonds should be even better (and really...if you are going to go diamond for your lady, wouldn't you want the most perfect stone possible?).

 

[spb_lady]

Originally Posted by djblisk

Nah. just children.

I really was never interested in this theme... just googled about the industry and found out that they call diamonds "blood diamonds" because the money for selling them are used for buying weapons for african mafia... which means more and more people will be killed in fights.

Is it what you meant?

 

[Gibonius]

Originally Posted by spb_lady

what's wrong with the industry? did i miss something?

Horrific damage to the environment, destabilizing influence on various Third World hellholes, hording/price manipulation/monopolistic tendencies/intimidation against competitors, other various evil by De Beers, etc, etc. I bought a natural diamond and don't feel bad about it, but I'd buy a lab-grown in a heartbeat if they were available at a competitive price. I'm a chemist, my wife is a chemist. I talked to her about lab-grown stones, she didn't care as long as it was pretty. She didn't want a CZ though. I looked around and ended up getting a natural simply because you can't find lab-grown colorless stones. Alas.

 

[MasterOfReality]

Originally Posted by djblisk

There are some people out there who would like to not contribute to the mined diamond industry because of its practices. This post is ridiculous.

Why is the post rediculous?

As someone who designs underground and open pit mines for a living, I appreciate what goes into producing diamonds, from the initial mining right through to the finished product.

True, different countries have different work standards, but that applies to nearly every industry, not just mining.