7 Reasons Not to Buy a Natural Diamond

1. 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. 

2. 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.

But It’s Not Just Natural Diamonds

‘Well just buy lab grown.’ You might hear some say. And it is true that lab grown diamonds do use less natural resources in their formation. But that doesn’t mean they don’t use any resources. On average, one perfectly polished lab grown diamond will use around 511kg of greenhouse gasses.

But there is hope. Many natural diamond companies have pledged and taken action to be Net Zero by a certain time. Initiatives taken include shifting towards solar or wind to power mining and recycling up to 84% of water used in recovering diamonds.

And many lab diamond growers are taking this one step further by using entirely renewable forms of energy such as solar or hydropower.

3. A Natural Diamonds Is 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. Not to mention those living in the societies where diamond mining takes place. 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? 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.

What About the Kimberley Process?

If you’ve been weighing the pros and cons of natural diamonds for awhile you’re probably heard of the Kimberley Process. Put into place in 2000, this certification scheme was set up to prevent conflict diamonds from entering the market. Essentially, there is a set of minimum requirements that each participant has to meet including strict regulations, transparent principles, elective trading protocols, and export verification. If a country can’t meet these requirements, it’s hit with immediate international trade restrictions, thus halting the flow of conflict diamonds on the market.

YSK: Buying a Natural Diamond Helps Communities Prosper

So we know that diamond mining can greatly impact the local communities it is built around. And yes, there is a record of communities experiencing harm from unethical mining. But thanks to the Kimberley Process, the outlook of many communities is quite bright. Ethical sourcing initiatives now channel revenues into essential infrastructure, funding local schools, healthcare, and clean water projects. These gems generate jobs and educational opportunities that might not otherwise exist.

Ultimately, when you choose to purchase a natural diamond, you are directly supporting the rural community where it was unearthed, fostering sustainable development and a more prosperous future. But here’s the thing…

4. 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. Of course, that doesn’t mean that there’s no way to ensure your diamond is ethical. Today, there are three primary types of diamond tracking methods: The matchmaker, the physical identifier, and the digital compilers.

The Matchmaker

This program creates a “digital twin” of a physical diamond by scanning it at various stages of the supply chain. Because like humans, no diamond is the same.

One way to do this is to scan a diamond’s color, carat weight, shape, and fluorescence, which are noted, creating a 3-D model that can be matched against subsequent scans. Another type of Matchmaker program might utilize its existing network of planning and cutting equipment to track stones. Rough diamonds are scanned at mines to later be matched with their polished result via their unique inclusions and properties.

The Physical Identifiers

Unlike matchmakers that use technology to match diamonds throughout the production process, physical identifiers work by using scientific methods or nanotechnology to physically mark the diamond.

GIA, is the most well-known physical identifier company. Using a scientific approach, they assess a rough diamond in the lab before it is cut. And when the stone comes back for grading, they use proprietary analysis to confirm that it is the same stone.

The Digital Compilers

These trackers are a platform-based solution that aggregates data, declarations, and third-party audits to build a history of the stone. Think of it like a digital passport that can pull data from various tech providers and documents, mark the diamond’s ethical and sustainability credentials, origin, and more.

5. A Natural Diamond Is 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. Diamond prices fluctuate based on the market, based on availability, social unrest, in-demand shapes…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. And to maintain their appeal as a rare, luxury good, prices tend to stay, well, up. Luckily though, if you want to buy a natural diamond but don’t want to pay top dollar, there are ways to get around that

Think Fancy Diamond Shapes When Looking for a Natural Diamond

If you compare the cost of every shape of diamond side by side, with the only difference being their shape, what would you find? Perhaps unsurprisingly, the round brilliant diamond would be the most expensive. This is thanks to the sheer amount of rough crystal the cutter sacrifices. To achieve that perfect symmetry and iconic sparkle, cutters grind away up to 60% of the raw stone. That means you’re footing the bill for a much larger crystal than the one ending up on your finger. It’s the price of perfection, darling. When you combine that waste with the fact that rounds remain the most popular girl in class, you get the highest price per carat. You’re paying for the sparkle, sure, but also for everything left on the cutting room floor.

And because of this, fancy shape natural diamonds can be a major bang for your buck. Since shapes like ovals, pears, Marquise, emeralds, etc, preserve more of the original rough crystal, you aren’t paying for wasted material. You get more carat weight for your budget, letting you go big without breaking the bank.

Find Wiggle Room in the Different Qualities of Your Natural Diamond

Here’s the secret to maximizing your budget: stop paying for perfection you can’t even see without a microscope. You can find serious wiggle room just by playing with color and clarity. Instead of chasing “flawless,” prioritize “eye-clean,” and slide down the color scale to the near-colorless range where the savings are huge but the visual difference is tiny.

Want to really stretch that dollar? Lean into the character. Champagne diamonds offer a dreamy, antique warmth for a fraction of the cost of a white diamond, while salt-and-pepper diamonds turn “flaws” into a galaxy of unique speckled beauty. By trading technical perfection for personality, you free up cash to boost the carat weight and snag a stone that actually looks impressive on your hand.

Think of the Whole Picture – Not Just the Diamond

So you’ve got a dream diamond in mind, but it stretches your budget to the max. There’s still hope. After all, there are other ways to cut costs. Take the platinum setting. If you love the look but not the price opt for white gold. Another way to save? Opt for simpler settings like the humble (but oh-so-mighty) solitaire. This sleek style pairs down your cost without compromising the class.

6. 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!

7. 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. Which, side note, If you want one of these, just ask. We love sourcing recycled or antique stones for our diamond clients.

At the end of the day. The natural diamond may be popular, but how you choose to put your own unique spin on it is one in a million. And don’t be afraid to reach out with your design ideas. We’d love to collab.

What is a natural diamond?

A natural diamond is the ultimate long game—a billion-year-old masterpiece forged by intense heat and pressure deep within the Earth’s mantle. Unlike their lab-grown cousins, these stones are “pre-historic” luxury, pushed to the surface by ancient volcanic eruptions.

Technically speaking, a natural diamond is a solid form of pure carbon with atoms arranged in a specific crystal structure. This unique bonding is what makes it the hardest natural substance on Earth.

For those seeking the “real deal,” the distinction lies in the details:

• Origin: Naturally occurring, mined from the earth.
• Composition: 100% Carbon.
• Rarity: Finite and unique, with no two stones sharing the same “birthmark” inclusions.

It’s nature’s way of saying “forever,” crystallized.

How much is a 2 carat natural diamond?

On average, a 2 carat natural diamond will set you back anywhere from $12,000 to $30,000, though high-spec stones can easily soar past $50,000. At Frank Darling, while our couples often spend around $5,000 for a complete ring (hello, lab grown and high quality settings), a 2 carat natural stone is a significant step up in the rarity department.

Because natural diamonds of this size are finite, the price is dictated by the “levers” of the 4Cs:

• The Sweet Spot: You can snag a gorgeous 2 carat natural stone toward the lower end of the range by opting for “near-colorless” (G-J) and eye-clean clarity (VS2-SI1).
• The Premium: A D-color, Flawless stone is the unicorn of the bunch and commands a top-tier price.
• The Setting: Don’t forget to budget around $1,500+ for a signature Frank Darling setting to hold that masterpiece.

What does a natural diamond look like?

In its rawest form, a natural diamond looks less like a red-carpet sparkler and more like a frosted, oily pebble. But once it meets a master cutter, it becomes the light-bending icon we all know. Because they are forged by the Earth, no two are identical; each carries a unique DNA of inclusions.

Visually, a natural diamond is defined by three things:

• Brilliance: The white light reflecting from the surface and the interior.
• Fire: Those flashes of rainbow color that dance when the stone catches the light.
• Scintillation: The rhythmic play of light and dark (the “sparkle”) as the diamond moves.

Unlike perfectly sterile mass-produced materials, a natural stone often has tiny “birthmarks”—microscopic crystals or clouds trapped during formation billions of years ago. To the naked eye, it’s pure, brilliant fire.

What’s the difference between a lab grown and natural diamond?

To the naked eye, they are identical twins. Chemically, physically, and optically, a lab-grown diamond is a diamond. Even a professional jeweler can’t tell them apart without specialized high-tech machinery. The real difference isn’t what they are, but how they got here. Think of it like ice: one is a glacier formed over millennia, and the other is a cube from your freezer. Both are H2O.

A natural diamond is a “pre-historic” luxury, forged over billions of years deep within the Earth’s mantle under extreme heat and pressure. It’s a finite, earth-mined miracle. In contrast, a lab grown diamond is created in a matter of weeks using advanced technology that replicates those same volcanic conditions in a controlled setting.

This difference in origin creates a massive divide in cost. Because natural diamonds are rare and finite, they command a premium price that reflects their scarcity. Lab grown diamonds, however, are modern and abundant, typically costing 60% to 80% less than a natural stone of the same quality.