Editor’s Note
This article explores the rising prominence of lab-grown diamonds in fine jewelry, highlighting their growing acceptance and the expanding market for these sustainable alternatives.
In the past, the best lab-grown diamonds might not have been your first choice when buying fine jewelry, such as an engagement ring or everyday pieces, from earrings to necklaces and bracelets. But the diamond jewelry industry has changed enormously over the years.
Lab-created diamonds are as coveted as natural diamonds mined from the earth, so there are many options. In fact, when you start researching these brilliant creations, including the best places to buy lab-grown diamonds, you will learn that lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds made of pure carbon. A common mistake is to misinterpret lab-grown diamonds as simulated diamonds, such as cubic zirconia and moissanite, which are made of different chemical compositions and are not.
But as the name suggests, they are created in a laboratory rather than through the earth’s resources. While this makes them less rare, they are undoubtedly valuable and often more accessible than natural diamonds.
Variety is one of the pros when buying lab-grown diamonds, and yes, the four Cs: color, cut, clarity, and carat, still apply. You can choose from all diamond shapes, from round to oval and emerald, set in yellow gold, white gold, and rose gold. Similarly, when deciding where to buy a lab-grown diamond, especially as the focal point of the best engagement rings, you will find all the ring settings you could want, including traditional, modern, and vintage-inspired designs. And since lab-grown diamonds are created in a controlled environment, it is much easier to achieve perfection at an affordable price, as well as a larger stone. To the naked eye, it is practically impossible to distinguish whether a diamond is natural or lab-grown.
From an environmental point of view, each has its pros and cons. Ultimately, it depends on what you value most and how you weigh things: compare the energy and water consumption required for the lab-grown diamond you choose with the energy and labor needed for its extraction. In the end, as with the best vintage jewelry, an existing piece of diamond jewelry is the most sustainable option, although there are many new, consciously made designs. Below, seven of the best jewelry brands with sustainable practices that use lab-grown diamonds.
PAAR is a Mexican jewelry brand with 20 years in the market that has been refining its pieces, both in design and quality over time. They have always been characterized by a sober and timeless aesthetic, in addition to having sustainable practices as one of their fundamental pillars, such as the use of recycled gems and materials, as well as their recent foray into the use of lab-grown diamonds.
The successful career of its founder and creative director, Paulina Villalpanado, an environmentalist passionate about sustainable jewelry, endorses these practices. To graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations, Paulina researched the role of diamonds in the armed conflict of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Hence her motivation to find ways to produce fine jewelry in a socially and environmentally responsible manner. Likewise, during the last decade, in addition to scaling PAAR, Paulina has worked in parallel on the implementation of environmental conservation projects worldwide.
Brilliant Earth is a company of many firsts in the field of lab-grown diamonds, and sustainability is at the forefront of the business. Its online store was one of the first to offer lab-grown diamonds, starting in 2012, and in 2021, it became one of the first authorized retailers to introduce the Sustainability Rated Diamond collection, with independent certification. Each diamond in this collection comes with a certificate guaranteeing its origin, responsible production practices, ethical management, and climate neutrality of each lab-grown diamond. By 2025, Brilliant Earth’s goal is for 50% of lab-grown diamonds to have environmental certification.
In addition, Brilliant Earth is third-party certified as a climate-neutral company (including the company’s footprint from present and past emissions), partnering with Carbonfund.org to offset carbon emissions by contributing to rainforest conservation in Brazil.
Whether you are looking for a custom engagement ring, a loose stone, or a modern piece of fine everyday jewelry, you can trust Brilliant Earth’s ethically sourced lab-grown diamond designs, including fancy color stones, another exclusive offering from the brand.
[Note: The original article likely continued listing more brands, but the provided text ends here. The translation follows the available content.]
