• Identical Carbon Structure

Laboratory-grown diamonds have the same carbon structure as natural diamonds. They are grown from a natural diamond seed in a laboratory using equipment that replicates the harsh conditions of nature that led to the formation of natural diamonds billions of years ago (heat and pressure). While laboratory-grown diamonds can be duplicated to have the exact same characteristics as natural ones, it's important to inform customers that with natural diamonds, no two diamonds are the same. Even when color, clarity, and carat weight are identical, the type of inclusion acts like a fingerprint and distinguishes one diamond from another. In contrast, growing two diamonds simultaneously in a laboratory results in identical diamonds with identical fingerprints.

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• Price and value

Rarity and scarcity mean a lack of supply compared to demand. Usually, supply in such cases cannot increase to meet demand due to limitations like nature, hence the value increases, and the item becomes precious. There are limited resources that can produce natural diamonds formed billions of years ago. The relative scarcity of natural diamonds explains their value based on rarity. This is particularly true for higher-quality diamonds (higher color and clarity and fewer defects). Since synthetic diamonds are mass-produced and there is no shortage of supply, they lack the rarity factor that determines the price of natural diamonds, resulting in much lower prices (which are becoming increasingly lower compared to natural diamonds). This is a crucial difference between natural and synthetic diamonds and should be communicated to customers.

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• Carat size

In the short term, purchasing a synthetic diamond can have a certain type of value for consumers, and this is linked to the carat size of the diamond. Buying a larger stone for a fraction of the price can be a profitable option for many, but again, it's important to emphasize that in the long term, the price and value (if any) will only decrease.​

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• Ethical and Eco Friendly Option

​Many buyers, especially Generation Z consumers, are increasingly interested in purchasing "ethical" and "eco-friendly" products. Many synthetic diamonds are produced in countries with a strong dependence on fossil fuels. Using fossil fuels to grow diamonds in a laboratory has a harmful impact on the environment. However, other synthetic diamond producers use renewable energy sources, thus reducing the negative impact on the environment. Additionally, similar to any other factory (especially in the fast fashion industry), there are often poor working conditions in developing countries that produce synthetic diamonds on a mass scale.

A factor often overlooked by consumers is the mining towns and communities that survive and thrive around natural diamond mines. Natural diamonds are often extracted in some of the poorest countries in the world. There are initiatives and corporate policies implemented by diamond mines to protect and preserve wildlife, restore land, and contribute to communities and countries with such rich natural resources. Building schools, hospitals, and farms is just a small part of their contribution to the community. Creating jobs, employing local people in the mines, and supporting artisanal miners to become independent and operate on a small scale are part of sustainable community empowerment. Consumers should be aware that purchasing a natural diamond would support investments in communities surrounding natural diamond mines and the conservation of natural resources.

In conclusion, it is advisable to present the facts to your customers and avoid "greenwashing" synthetic diamonds as a more socially responsible choice. Given the differences in value and value retention, as well as the competing claims of social responsibility between natural and synthetic diamonds, it's important that you disclose all information to your customers. Educating and informing your customers will protect your business from future claims and earn their trust and loyalty, regardless of their decision to purchase natural or synthetic diamonds.

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