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China's Lab-Grown Diamonds Look Good

posted by martyb on Monday November 19 2018, @12:57PM   Printer-friendly
from the all-that-glitters-is-not-natural-diamond dept.

canopic jug writes:

De Beers Fights Fakes With Technology as China's Lab-Grown Diamonds Threaten Viability of the Real Gems.

The South China Morning Post writes that the dominant diamond player De Beers is reacting badly to the arrival of large numbers of good, tiny, lab-grown diamonds. The synthetics challenge the widely-promoted assertion that diamond prices only go up. However, labs are now able to produce chemically identical gem-quality stones, indistinguishable by the naked eye from mined diamonds, in quantities pushing 200k carats of diamonds per month. Synthetic diamonds still only account for %1 of rough diamond sales globally, but that is expected to expand to between 7.5% to 15% by 2020.

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  • (Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 19 2018, @03:26PM (4 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 19 2018, @03:26PM (#763887)

    Why are lab-grown diamonds not considered "real gems"? They are absolutely diamonds in a chemical sense. They are more pure than natural diamonds.

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  • (Score: 5, Interesting) by Thexalon on Monday November 19 2018, @04:09PM

    by Thexalon (636) on Monday November 19 2018, @04:09PM (#763898)

    As far as I can tell, the reason they aren't considered "real gems" is that it's possible to create them without slave labor.

    Seriously, the amount of misery that has come from people liking shiny rocks is absolutely horrifying.

    --
    "Think of how stupid the average person is. Then realize half of 'em are stupider than that." - George Carlin

  • (Score: 5, Insightful) by MindEscapes on Monday November 19 2018, @04:30PM

    by MindEscapes (6751) on Monday November 19 2018, @04:30PM (#763906) Homepage

    Because of the one word to rule them all, "Marketing"

    --
    Need a break? mindescapes.net may be for you!

  • (Score: 2) by Beryllium Sphere (r) on Tuesday November 20 2018, @05:50AM (1 child)

    by Beryllium Sphere (r) (5062) on Tuesday November 20 2018, @05:50AM (#764155)

    Anyone who calls them "fake" I will not trust, in fact.

    I find it an overwhelming advantage that they can be ethically sourced. My wife is adamant (pun intended) that any future diamonds from me will be the embodiment of human knowledge and skill, not dug out of a pit by mistreated workers.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 20 2018, @05:54PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 20 2018, @05:54PM (#764314)
      How about those who call them cultured diamonds? ;)