As you know, I abhor counterfeit goods. I rejoiced when NYC proposed a law to force fake bag purchasers to pay harsh fines and I’ve written about the issue in the past. I’ll save you the time and forego my soap box speech on fake goods.
I want to focus on the one fake I like, and that’s man-made or lab-made diamonds. If you’re interested, you can read more about the process of making these diamonds as well as a little of the history behind them. Essentially, lab-produced diamonds are just as good as real diamonds, and even more so in hardness, thermal conductivity, and electron mobility. I won’t pretend I’m a scientist because I have no ideas what half the properties mean. What I do know is that they have few impurities and rival the best of naturally grown diamonds.
So why am I so pro-faux? Well, for one, there is the price factor. Lab-grown diamonds are only a small percentage of what the naturally grown diamonds cost. Do a search for 1 ct. diamond studs. You’ll be hard pressed to find an option under $1,000. With a man-made diamond stone, you can find the same sized studs for around $300. That’s huge! Then comes in the blood diamond factor. While there are now conflict-free diamonds, I still don’t like feeling as if my personal taste for natural diamonds could add to any bloodshed or further demand.
What are your thoughts on diamonds that aren’t naturally grown?
