Let’s Talk Lab Grown VS. Natural….
I love lab-grown diamonds (and other lab grown stones) because to the naked eye they are physically and optically identical to natural diamonds, but at a much lower price and without the ethical uncertainty that sometimes accompanies mining. HOWEVER, when I do use natural diamonds, they are from an amazing, family-owned, U.S.-based supplier that only works with mines certified by the Kimberley Process (certified conflict-free) and I use the highest quality. The choice is completely yours, the simple pros of lab grown are the lower price and ethics (even when natural diamonds are mined conflict-free, that process has a larger carbon footprint than lab-grown diamonds). The pros of a natural diamond are of course the magic and emotion of them being formed in the earth, over thousands of years. Both are excellent choices, it just depends what is right for you.
Misinformation about Lab Grown Stones:
“They are Fake.” This is not true at all. Let’s take diamonds for example. Unlike diamond replacements, Like moissanite or cubic zirconia which are made of an entirely different material and won’t hold up as well, lab-grown diamonds are the exact same material (100% carbon) that natural diamonds are, and physically and optically identical. The only difference is the process by which they are formed.
“People will be able to tell the difference.” Also not true. You would have to be a specially-trained gemologist to be able to tell the difference between a lab grown and natural stone, and even then, the difference is only visible under specialized equipment, never to the naked eye.
Diamonds + Gemstones
Metal Sourcing
Ethically sourced metals are much less talked about but just as important as ethically sourced gemstones. I recycle gold myself as much as I can, it is an amazing way to give life to scraps from other pieces as well as unworn jewelry and it is also the smallest carbon footprint possible when it comes to metals. However, even the newly-milled gold stock that I use is entirely recycled gold, but recycled by my supplier instead of by me personally. It comes from the same supplier as my diamonds, and they use the same ethics and principles when sourcing their gold as they do with diamonds.