Editor’s Note
This article explores the growing distinction between natural and lab-grown diamonds, a topic of increasing relevance in today’s jewelry market. It contrasts the billion-year geological process with modern laboratory creation, offering insight into the choices now available to consumers.
This announcement, followed by millions, is an opportunity to examine the diamond market.
There are diamonds that the Earth takes over a billion years to form: these are natural diamonds, like Taylor Swift’s.
And then there are those created by machines in laboratories, in assembly lines, in a week: hundreds of reactors run 24/7 to create these cultured diamonds, based on a “seed” of natural diamond, which is heated and placed under pressure with hydrogen and methane. By triggering a chemical reaction, the diamond is grown layer by layer.
Once cut and polished, it is impossible to differentiate, with the naked eye, the resulting stone from a natural diamond.
This synthetic diamond, 90 to 95% cheaper, is ethical in principle since it was not mined by children and did not finance war. However, the energy cost required for its production must still be taken into account.
In the United States, 20% of diamonds sold are now synthetic. And more than half of engagement rings feature a lab-grown stone.
The sector is experiencing exponential growth, estimated at over 21 billion euros in 2025, with projections reaching 75 billion dollars by 2032.
India dominates the sector. India, which has just been hit with record US tariffs of 50%.
This will not help the natural diamond market, which is suffering from competition from lab-grown stones and weakening demand in China, the second-largest consumer of diamonds after the United States.
So, could Taylor Swift reverse the curve of this trend in the artificial diamond market? This question needs to be nuanced, even though her influence is enormous.
Obvious economic and musical influence, the singer also displays her political convictions against Donald Trump. In short, in 15 years, the country star in the United States has become one of the most influential global pop stars.
How could the fact that Taylor Swift has an engagement ring adorned with a natural diamond shift the lines? Because the demand for synthetic diamonds is not about to stop. The fact that a global icon chooses a natural diamond could reverse the curve, but it is obviously too early to say.
On the other hand, what will likely happen is that her vintage-inspired jewel will mark the great comeback of antique stones in jewelry.
