Lab-Grown or Mined Diamonds: The Choice for the Future - Carat Bulgaria

Introduction

When it comes to diamonds, tradition has always been associated with mined, million-year-old stones extracted from the depths of the earth's crust. But what happens when modern technology allows diamonds to be created in a laboratory - the same chemical composition, the same brilliance, but at up to 80% lower cost? In this article, we will look at the pros and cons of both types and give real examples.

What are diamonds?

Fossil diamonds:
They are formed over millions of years under extremely high pressure and temperature in the Earth’s crust. As we know, the truth is that market control and mystification by De Beers have led to inflated prices – we often pay for myths, not true rarity. Natural diamonds are not as rare as the myth suggests – they are mined in large quantities, and their high price is mainly due to controlled supply and marketing strategies. How does this happen, for example: Company X has 1,000 diamonds in stock, but there are 500 willing buyers. The company releases 150 pieces on the market, artificially creating a limited supply and very high prices.

Natural diamonds often lead to the destruction of natural ecosystems and social disruption – unethical working conditions and negative impacts on local communities.

Lab-created diamonds:
They are produced through high-tech processes (HPHT and CVD) that mimic natural conditions. The result is a diamond that is identical in physical, chemical and optical properties to mined ones. The main difference? The price. If you pay, say, 10,000 euros for a natural diamond, a lab-grown one can cost up to 80% less – around 2,000 euros. The remaining 8,000 euros can be directed towards an investment in the common future, for example, a down payment on an apartment or a honeymoon when it comes to engagement, or simply to buy a much larger stone with which to impress from afar.

Why pay for history when we can invest in the future?

Comparison: Advantages and disadvantages

Lab-created diamonds:

• Advantages:
  • 100% identical in properties to natural diamonds.
  • Ethical.
  • Significantly more affordable – the money saved from the lower price can be invested in your future.
• Disadvantages:
  • Some traditionalists may perceive them as "artificial" (even though they are identical).
  • The market value may be lower in the high luxury segment.

Natural diamonds:

• Advantages:
  • A long-standing tradition.
  • They are often perceived as more valuable than collective culture due to supply manipulation.
• Disadvantages:
  • The high price is often due to controlled supply, which does not always reflect their real value.
  • Risks of ethical and environmental issues in mining.
    

The differences can be described as the differences between:

• Ice from the mountain and ice from the freezer. We would prefer the cleaner and more affordable ice from the freezer, but what kind of ice do you use?
• "Test tube baby" and a baby conceived naturally. A baby is a baby and always brings happiness.

The resale value thesis:

In case things don't work out with the engagement ring, let's look at a less important case, namely, can we get our money back and which choice is more financially sustainable.

Despite the high price and traditional perception that natural diamonds are a symbol of investment value, the reality is different. When resold, natural diamonds – especially white round diamonds – often retain only about 40% of their original price, resulting in a loss of approximately 60%. For example, if you purchase a natural diamond for 10,000 BGN, upon resale you may receive about 4,000 BGN and report a loss of about 6,000 BGN.

On the other hand, lab-grown diamonds, although affordable and with identical characteristics in terms of brilliance and quality, have virtually no resale value. This means that investing in them does not ensure preservation of monetary value in the long term, practically the loss is 2000 BGN.

Conclusion:
White, round diamond jewelry, whether natural or lab-created, has often not been a good investment if the goal is to preserve or increase the value. The main rule for us is that diamond jewelry is not a good choice for investment, but for beauty, elegance, self-confidence and enjoyment of precious stones. The resale losses on natural diamond jewelry (about 60%) are significantly higher.

This information is for general educational purposes and does not constitute financial advice. Market conditions may vary.

In short: Why lab-grown diamonds are the undisputed choice in our opinion

If you are building a future together, don’t want to risk questionable mining practices, care about the environment, or simply love luxury and precious stones, why pay more for myths? Lab-created diamonds offer the same impeccable brilliance and quality , but at significantly more affordable prices . It’s a choice that combines modern taste, ethical values, and practicality – a choice that speaks for itself.