There has been a surge in popularity in lab-grown diamonds and moissanite stones within the jewellery industry in recent years.
Now To Love spoke with the owner and founder of Cullen Jewellery, Jordan Cullen, to find out just exactly why lab-grown diamonds and moissanite have become a leading jewellery trend.
So, what exactly are lab-grown diamonds? As the name suggests, they are created in a lab by “replicating natural conditions in a controlled environment using predominantly the CVD (chemical vapour deposition) method which starts with a diamond seed, a combination of pressure, temperature and the right mix of gas to replicate how a diamond grows in nature,” according to Jordan.
While similar to lab-grown diamonds, moissanite does vary slightly. Moissanite is a gemstone that is also created in a lab but it features an extra amount of sparkle and fire that diamonds don’t. For some people, the increased level of sparkle makes moissanite an even more desirable choice than a diamond.
One key reason for the rise in popularity of lab-grown diamonds is because they “have the same physical, chemical and optical properties as mined diamonds which makes them indistinguishable with the naked eye.”
This means that lab grown diamonds are in fact real diamonds – the only difference being where they were sourced from.
There are also a number of ethical, environmental and economic benefits to purchasing lab grown diamonds and moissanite over traditional mined diamonds, which has certainly influenced their rise in popularity.
Not only does the process of mining diamonds cause damage to the environment, but many mined diamonds in circulation are also blood diamonds that have been sourced unethically and their origins are unable to be traced.
Additionally, as Jordan confirmed, lab-grown diamonds are significantly more affordable than their mined counterparts which means that “consumers can go for a larger stone of far higher quality and still pay a lower price.”
As lab-grown diamonds and moissanite have become increasingly popular in recent years, many customers now go to jewellers, such as Cullen Jewellery, specifically seeking out lab-grown stones.
Cullen Jewellery has become a leading retailer in the space and for many they are a preferred jeweller as they “have refused to sell mined diamonds at all and have committed to only selling diamonds of an ethical origin.”
In terms of trends, there has been a steady increase in demand for lab-grown stones and moissanite compared to natural gemstones.
“As more and more jewellers have begun embracing lab-grown diamonds, consumers have benefitted from the education and readily available stock where they can see labs with their own eyes. Culture is shifting and consumers are more aware than ever of the importance of looking after our environment and this has really helped to expedite the shift in demand,” Jordan shared.
Due to the popularity of lab-grown diamonds, Cullen Jewellery has also revealed a collection of coloured lab grown stones, featuring shades of pink, yellow and blue.
According to the brand, there has been a significant demand from clients seeking custom, colourful stones and designs.
Lab-grown diamonds and stones are a perfect option for jewellery, especially engagement rings, as they are durable, affordable and have the exact same properties as mined diamonds – so no one would know the difference!
Jordan believes the future of lab grown stones is bright, and he sees the industry continuing to grow.
“Lab-grown diamonds have proven themselves with consumers now, they have embraced them with open arms and will continue to do so. As consumer education improves we expect more and more consumers to make the change to lab-grown.”
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