7 Reasons Not to Buy a Natural Diamond

Natural Diamonds are a Marketing Ploy

Seriously tho, did you know that prior to DeBeers’ “A Diamond is Forever” (written in 1947 by the late, great female copywriter Frances Gerety, btw) marketing campaign, diamond engagement rings weren’t even really a thing? I mean, sure there were diamond rings, but they weren’t on the ring fingers of everyone in town. So where did this campaign come from and why did it change the course of history? 

Well, DeBeers has long been the most major of major diamond mining companies and they had a lot of supply during the early 20th century, but not enough demand. So, like any good capitalist company, they hired an ad agency. And thus, the words that would, in 1999, be named the slogan of the century, were birthed into the world, thereby convincing the masses that they didn’t just want a diamond ring, but needed one. And that they should spend two months’ salary on it as well. 

The question we’re still asking, though, is whether a natural, mined diamond really is forever? Are they the hardest substance we know of? Yes. But they’re not unbreakable, and certainly no guarantee of a happy or lasting marriage. And lab grown diamonds are physically, chemically, and optically the exact same material, so they’ll last just as long. They just didn’t get a fancy slogan. So don’t let a catchy turn of phrase, created to sell you something, be the reason you’re dropping dollars on that diamond engagement ring. Buy what you love, for who you love, and call it good.

Natural Diamonds are Bad for the Planet

Something that’s becoming increasingly top of mind for many is whether or not natural diamonds are sustainable. Because climate change, darling. Did you know that for every carat of diamonds mined, nearly 100 square feet of earth is disrupted, and thousands of pounds of mineral waste, well, wasted? No joke. Diamond mining takes a major toll on our natural resources.

And it’s not just land! Mined diamonds produce more than 125 pounds of carbon for every single carat, whereas lab created diamonds produce just under 10 pounds. Mined diamonds consume more than 126 gallons of water per carat, whereas lab-created diamonds consume just under 20. And while the natural diamond industry loves to critique lab grown diamonds for energy consumption (all those lasers and whatnot), the reality is that mined diamonds use a whopping 500 million joules per carat, whereas lab created diamonds use about half that. Some growers are taking this one step further by using entirely renewable forms of energy such as solar or hydropower. If you’d like a diamond grown using renewable energy – just ask! 

Natural Diamonds are Unethical

Whether you’re talking about the big, blowing things up kind of diamond mining or the more artisanal, hands in the dirt method, there are actual humans involved in this work. And living in the societies where diamond mining takes place. Diamonds are, after all, a natural resource commodity. Someone has to own the land, work the land, and care for the land. Not only does this bring up questions of who’s actually getting paid (and how much?) for the diamonds, but how they’re treated. 

And this is where that whole blood diamond thing comes into play. What exactly is a blood diamond aka conflict diamond? Well, it’s a diamond that’s sold to finance wars and civil unrest. Which basically means some bad guys get ahold of diamonds (probably not by the most fair means) and sell it off to the highest bidder. While also probably not giving much to the person who actually dug it out of the ground. Thus, major ethical concerns on all fronts. While the Kimberley Process was put into place in the year 2000 to help reduce the flow of conflict diamonds into the general market…

You Can Never be Sure About a Natural Diamond’s Origin

The thing about diamonds is that they last a long time. And they haven’t always been well traced. And the natural diamond tracing processes in place today still aren’t 100% foolproof. Sure, today most diamonds on the market are subject to the Kimberley Process of tracking and many of them are laser inscribed with a grading report number so they’re easier to track. But diamonds go through a lot of hands between the time they come out of the mine and when you pop the question. The thing about lab grown diamonds? Well, there are usually less steps in the supply chain and a more controlled environment, so a manufacturer might be the person directly selling it to you or to a retailer. Less human impact. Less tracing risk.

Plus, Natural Diamonds are Expensive

It’s true, and if you’ve been shopping already, you’ve probably noticed that natural diamonds command a pretty penny. Why? Well, that whole demand thing we mentioned up top, for one. And their limited quantities for another. Add those two things together and you get big price tags. It’s like any other commodity, though. Diamond prices fluctuate based on the market, based on availability, based on social unrest, the list goes on. Not to mention that much of the market is controlled by a very small group of companies, which means they can kind of command whatever price they want. In order to maintain their appeal as a rare, luxury good, prices tend to stay, well, up. 

If you want to buy a natural diamond but don’t want to pay top dollar, there are ways to get around that. For instance, look at fancy shaped diamonds instead of rounds. Rounds are the most popular size and command a far higher price. Or look at different qualities like clarity and color. Have you considered a champagne diamond? Maybe a salt and pepper? There are plenty of amazing natural diamonds on the market that stand out from the crown and offer serious savings.

And Natural Diamonds Don’t Even Retain Their Value!

This question keeps coming up, so let’s settle it once and for all. Do natural diamonds retain value? And can I resell them? Well, darling, we hate to break it to you, but diamonds lose value similarly to cars. No, you can’t drive them. But unless you’re buying major, museum-worthy diamonds or stones so rare they set auction house prices, you’re never going to get back what you paid for it. Sure, you can resell your diamond to many different companies, but they still need to make money off of reselling to someone else, so just like a used car they’re going to be offering you a lower price. That’s just capitalism for ya.

While there’s even less of a market for re-selling a lab grown diamond, just remember that lab diamonds save you 50-60% in cost to begin with. Either way, we don’t ever suggest buying a diamond as an investment. Buy it for love!

Besides, Everyone Has a Natural Diamond

Really tho. Despite the growth we’re seeing in the market for lab created diamonds, they’re still not as popular or in demand as natural diamonds. So are natural diamonds really that rare if everyone and their mothers, sisters, and cousins are rocking them? Yes and no. New major diamond mine discoveries are down, so they are actually a limited natural resource. But there are also still tons of stores of diamonds in the hands of mining companies and manufacturers. Not to mention the loads of antique, vintage, and recycled natural diamonds that are also totes an option! If you want one of these, just ask. We love sourcing recycled or antique stones for our diamond clients.