| NATURAL DIAMOND | LABORATORY-GROWN DIAMOND A.K.A. LAB GROWN or LAB CREATED |
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ORIGIN
| THE O.G. LONG GAME | THE DUPE SHORT GAME |
| A natural diamond is one of the most precious gems comprising nearly pure carbon arranged in a cubic crystal structure. The Earth’s original masterpiece, natural diamonds are formed through mother nature’s perfect alignment of heat, pressure, placement and timing. Natural diamonds were formed deep within the Earth’s core up to 3.5 billion, yes billion, years ago. They were brought close to the surface of the earth through ancient volcanic activity pre-dating dinosaurs! | A man-made synthetic material that seeks to dupe a natural diamond’s hardness and optical properties. It is nearly pure carbon arranged in a cubic crystal structure, but it is not identical to a natural diamond and can be distinguished with professional diamond verification equipment There are two processes of manufacturing: Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) and High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT). These processes are used mostly for creating industrial diamonds but an opportunity to leverage the technology for jewelry occurred over a decade ago. |
RARITY & UNIQUENESS
| RIZZ SWIPE RIGHT | FIZZ SWIPE LEFT |
| A natural diamond is a finite gem, and its value is based on how rare it is to find in nature. They are likely the most ancient precious object you will ever touch, let alone own. They have fascinated mankind for centuries and their allure and value will continue to stand the test of time. This is why they are the ultimate heirloom. | A laboratory-grown diamond can be made in unlimited quantities. Its value is based on production costs which have dramatically declined due to the scalability of the technology. Since these diamonds are mass-produced at technically infinite quantities, they are not precious nor one-of-a-kind. |
PRICE & VALUE
| SLAY FOR BETTER | CRAY FOR WORSE |
| Natural diamonds are finite and rare, which drives their value. They have been a store of wealth (and the center of Hollywood heist plots!) for many generations. Over the last 35 years, natural diamond prices have appreciated by approximately 3% each year—no wonder they are the most popular heirloom. | A laboratory-grown diamond is now made in a few days. They are mass-produced and in less than a decade the price of laboratory-grown diamonds has decreased over 80% and continues to rapidly decline. Yup, if you bought one a few years ago or even last year, you over spent and you cannot trade it in. Ouch! |
IMPACT ON PEOPLE & PLANET
| GREEN WORK NO CAP | GREEN WASH CAP |
| The modern diamond industry is among the most regulated in the world, answering to governing bodies such as the United Nations and the World Trade Organization. Natural diamonds are not blood diamonds. They are ethically sourced through a global supply chain that supports the livelihood of 10 million people across 80 + countries. Up to 80% of rough diamond value stays with local and indigenous communities at the origin of natural diamonds, places like Botswana or the Northwest Territories of Canada. Positive impact is felt through jobs, investment in infrastructure such as schools and hospitals, and free education and healthcare. But wait, there’s more. Major diamond mining companies are working hard towards carbon neutrality by 2030 and target net zero emissions by 2050. In the meantime, they are already conserving biodiversity in the origin countries, protecting land 4x the size of NYC. And did you know, diamond mines can only open with closure and rehabilitation plans in place to ensure the local ecosystem can thrive beyond the mine’s life. As for the mines that source the minerals in your cell phone? You don’t even want to know… | A laboratory-grown diamond is mostly made in factories in China and India by machines that try to replicate the conditions that formed natural diamonds. That means they use heat (i.e. energy) hotter than the surface of the sun and use immeasurable amounts of water to cool down operations. So, eco-claims, unless substantiated with verifiable data, are eco-empty and misleading. There is no publicly available data on the working conditions and social benefits these factories offer their employees. Even if you wanted answers to these questions, you probably won’t be able to find them. Pretty sus… |