Article 5 – Unveiling lab diamonds: Myths & Facts

August 13, 2024

Unveiling lab diamonds: Myths & Facts

For centuries, natural diamonds have been synonymous with luxury, romance, and prestige. But with innovation in lab-grown diamonds, a new era of sustainable luxury has emerged – challenging outdated myths and redefining modern elegance.

The café was buzzing with energy as four friends settled into their seats. Lila, always stylish, adjusted her ring – its diamonds sparkling under the soft lights.

“Love that ring, Lila! Is it new?” asked Sophie, stirring her oat milk latte.

“Thanks! It’s from Cherituelle. 100% Carbon neutral with Lab-grown diamonds and Recycled gold,” Lila replied.

Max, the group’s self-proclaimed luxury expert, raised an eyebrow. “Wait, lab diamonds? Aren’t those fake?”

“Nope,” Lila smiled. “They’re identical to mined diamonds – chemically, physically, and optically. A diamond is essentially just carbon atoms formed under extreme heat and pressure. Even expert gemologists need specialized equipment to tell them apart. Please add this sentence after apart. : Lab-grown diamonds often have fewer inclusions and higher clarity, but can be identified through subtle differences like the presence of nitrogen in mined diamonds and distinct growth patterns.“

“Huh,” Max mused. “But they don’t hold value like real diamonds.”

Leo, the finance guy, jumped in. “Honestly, neither do most mined diamonds. Unless you have a rare, massive stone, resale values are way below retail prices. Diamonds aren’t great investments.“

Max leaned back. “But real diamonds are rare. That’s why they’re valuable.”

Lila smirked. “Not exactly. The diamond industry tightly controls supply to keep prices high. In reality, normal-sized diamonds are found on pretty much every continent. Gemstones like alexandrite, musgravite, and benitoite are actually much rarer, but because they’re not marketed as aggressively, they’re worth far less than diamonds. Most people have never heard of them…“

“Okay, but natural diamonds are more luxurious, natural and sustainable,” Max countered.

“Define luxury,” Sophie said. “Because I read in the Financial Times recently that the ‘best’ diamond mine in Canada still emits 65kg of CO₂ per carat – and most mines are even worse. Plus, there’s deforestation, water pollution, and human rights concerns. Lab diamonds made with renewable energy emit around 10kg of CO₂ per carat. Lab diamonds are the only real sustainable choice.”

“So, are yours really zero carbon?” Max asked.

Lila nodded. “Cherituelle takes it further – all the diamonds are SCS 007-certified, the industry’s highest benchmark, and Cherituelle removes any remaining CO₂ using Climeworks’ Direct Air Capture. True net zero. Nada. Zilch. Rien.“

Max shook his head, grinning. “Well, damn. Guess I need to rethink everything.”

Lila clinked her coffee cup against his. “Reimagine luxury“

1. Myth: Lab Diamonds Are Fake

Fact: Lab-grown diamonds are chemically, physically, and optically identical to mined diamonds. They are real diamonds, created using advanced technology that mimics the natural formation process in a controlled environment. Even expert gemologists need specialized spectroscopy equipment to differentiate them from mined diamonds—standard diamond testers cannot tell the difference.

2. Myth: Lab Diamonds Don’t Hold Their Value

Fact: The resale market for most mined diamonds is already poor, with “normal-sized” stones (under 2 carats) typically reselling for far below retail prices. Unlike watches, art, or rare vintage jewelry, most mined diamonds are not a solid investment. Lab-grown diamonds offer the same beauty, quality, and certification—without the inflated pricing.

3. Myth: Mined Diamonds Are More Exclusive

Fact: The diamond industry tightly controls supply, artificially keeping prices high. While marketing campaigns promote diamonds as “rare,” the reality is that diamonds are found on every continent and are not actually rare in normal sizes and colors. Lab-grown diamonds remove this artificial scarcity, offering true luxury based on quality, not industry-controlled perception.

4. Myth: Lab Diamonds Are Not as Valuable Because They Cost Less

Fact: Lab-grown diamonds cost 30-50% less than mined diamonds—not due to lower quality, but because they eliminate destructive mining, middlemen, and excessive markups. Even the best-performing diamond mine in Canada emits 64.8kg of CO₂ per carat, while others are significantly worse. Mined diamonds also cause deforestation, soil erosion, and water pollution, making lab diamonds the only truly sustainable alternative.

At Cherituelle, we go even further – using SCS 007-certified diamonds and removing any remaining CO₂ with Climeworks’ Direct Air Capture for a climate-positive impact.

True luxury is about beauty without compromise. With sustainable lab-grown diamonds, you don’t just wear elegance – you wear a future you can be proud of.