Shining Bright at Makers Mark
Carlie Wacker explores the benefits of lab diamonds and meets the local makers who are championing the cause.
They are real, just born in a different way and there is a lot of talk around laboratory-grown diamonds, or lab diamonds. One Noosa jeweller has a real eye for these gems and, as he explains, they are identical to a natural diamond and are gaining momentum in Australia.
Jaemes Collingwood of Makers Mark Jewellery has been creating, designing and remodelling jewellery for well over 30 years so he knows his diamonds and he knows the market is leaning towards the lab-grown alternative.
“Whilst the jewellery industry initially met lab diamonds with scepticism a few years ago, there’s no doubt that their popularity is soaring,” he said. “There has been a 47% growth in the last year according to our jewellery insurers and they are now starting to dominate the diamond market worldwide.”
This much-loved local family business has started incorporating lab-grown diamonds into its designs for several reasons including being environmentally-friendly and sustainable.
Not only do lab diamonds not involve mining but they use less electricity and water and emit lower carbon emissions compared to mined diamonds
“They’re so much more affordable and they’re identical to mined diamonds in every way,” Jaemes said. “People worry that they’re fake or cubic zirconias but this couldn’t be further from the truth and once they realise all the benefits, our customers rarely choose a mined diamond as they also get much more bling for their buck with labs.”
In 2018, the USA Federal Trade Commission ruled, “A diamond is a diamond no matter whether it is grown in a lab or comes out of the ground.”
To understand a little more about the difference or similarity of earth-grown and lab-grown diamonds I did a little research.
Deep down in our earth diamonds are naturally formed when volcanic eruptions force intense pressure and heat to the surface. For many years humans have tried to replicate this process and until recently it’s been less than successful.
Now, cutting-edge technology has enabled humans to recreate the process and make a diamond in a lab that is anatomically, physically and optically identical to an earth-grown diamond.
Right now, the market value of a lab diamond is up to 60% less than a mined diamond so it’s a good time to jump on board the lab diamond train before the market starts valuing them the same as the natural born beauties.
