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Education, Benefits, Selling Tips, and the Newest Styles.

Lab-grown diamonds vs. natural diamonds. They both look fabulous and can last forever. What’s the difference between them? One is grown by scientists in a laboratory for 2-8 weeks, while the other was created 1.0 to 3.5 billion years ago in the earth’s crust by nature. Growth time is the major difference, and the maker – Man or Mother Nature.

Another main difference is the price. Lab-grown diamonds (LGDs) can cost 30%-50% less than their natural counterparts, giving your customers the ability to purchase jewelry with higher carat total weights at an accessible price point. The affordable luxury appeal of lab-grown diamonds crosses all generations from Gen Z to Baby Boomers.

Lab-grown diamonds are not simulants; they are diamonds that are optically, chemically, and physically similar to natural diamonds. Scientists create them in a lab by starting with diamond seeds (either natural or LGD) that are grown using either HPHT (High-Pressure High-Temperature) or CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition).

Lab-Grown Diamonds vs. Natural Diamonds: A Comparison Chart

Lab-Grown Diamonds
Natural Diamonds
Growth Time
2-8 Weeks
Billions of years
Chemical Composition
Carbon
Carbon
Refractive Index
2.42
2.42
Hardness
10
10
Durability
Excellent
Excellent
Inclusions/Blemishes
Yes
Yes

Benefits and Selling Tips

The primary benefit of offering lab-grown diamond jewelry to your customers can be defined with one word: choice. Your best bet is to offer both natural and lab-grown diamonds, explain each to the end consumer, and allow the consumer to decide. With the advent of lab-grown diamonds in the market, many jewelers chose a position of “either/or” when they should have positioned the product as “and.” 

“A jeweler’s most valuable asset is their reputation and trust built up over many years,” states Harold Dupuy, FGA, Stuller’s Vice President of Strategic Analysis. “Being educated about lab-grown diamonds, having proper screening protocols in place, and proper disclosure to the end consumer protects this valuable asset.”

Dupuy shares the following insights for jewelers regarding buying and selling lab-grown diamonds:

  • “First, jewelers must educate themselves on lab-grown diamonds as there is so much misinformation in the market today. This material is not a CZ or a Moissanite, but it is diamond, only the growth method varies.
  • Second, it’s imperative that the jeweler research and acquire some type of screening device to separate natural diamonds from lab-grown diamonds. Their reputation depends on proper disclosure of goods they are selling (FTC Guidelines). Even jewelers who say they are not in the lab-grown diamond business are fooling themselves as they may not carry LGDs but if you’re in the jewelry business today, then you’re in the LGD business. A good resource that evaluated the performance of over 31 screening devices is the Natural Diamond Council’s ASSURE project.
  • Third and most importantly, proper disclosure is essential to the end consumer. Jewelers should be able to explain LGDs and natural diamonds in an objective manner without personal bias and present the goods as a consumer choice. They should refrain from any ‘eco-friendly’ justification (not proven) and avoid comparing LGD future value to the natural counterpart as they are two separate and distinct products and markets.”

As we have seen for the past six years, continued double-digit growth is expected throughout 2022 for lab-grown diamonds. “Several surveys suggest only about half of retail jewelers are carrying LGDs in their inventory, so there is a strong upside,” says Dupuy. A significant portion of the retailers who don’t regularly carry LGDs do accommodate customer inquiries to help close the sale.

“A jeweler’s most valuable asset is their reputation and trust built up over many years. Being educated about lab-grown diamonds, having proper screening protocols in place, and proper disclosure to the end consumer protects this valuable asset.” – Harold Dupuy, FGA

New Lab-Grown Diamond Jewelry Looks

For brilliant looks at an affordable price check out our launch of new styles of bridal and fine jewelry set with lab-grown diamonds. This exclusive assortment by Stuller consists of finished fine jewelry styles, including earrings, necklaces, rings and bracelets, as well as finished or semi-set bridal rings, including anniversary and eternity bands, contour bands, guards, and engagement rings.

Alisse Gregson, Stuller Fine Jewelry Senior Product Manager says, “The goal for each launch is to expand upon our essential and best-selling diamond styles, while also offering statement pieces for a bigger look for only part of the price.”  302® Fine Jewelry Lab-Grown Diamond Collection offers even more on-trend styles. Shop our complete collection here.

All items are stamped with “LG” on the metal. This collection is not a selling system and there is no minimum required to purchase jewelry from this collection.

Lab-grown diamonds are created much faster than natural diamonds to look just as fabulous and last forever. To learn more about lab-grown diamonds visit:

Diamond Education: How are Lab-Grown Diamonds Created?

Lab-Grown Diamonds: Knowing What You’re Getting

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cheryl Robichaux

Staff Writer

Cheryl holds a bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Her extensive experience in the radio and print magazine industries along with her love for custom jewelry and people paved the way for her to become a Stuller storyteller.