What do you gals think of lab created diamonds? If someone were to get a lab created diamond for an engagement ring, would you think that person was cheap or something?
I'm undecided.
It's a real diamond, it's just been created though lab heat and pressure instead of the earth's heat and pressure. No one can tell the difference... it's a real diamond. After watching Blood Red Diamond, I realized how currupt the diamond industry is and started looking into it. I wouldn't want to be a part of the slavery, murder and pain associated with this industry.
On the other hand, they are a whole lot less expensive than real diamonds. So you can get a bigger one! And that money can be better spent on the newlywed's home or a honeymoon.
But... on the OTHER hand, it's not a "real" diamond and you'd always know.
But... on the OTHER OTHER hand, the couple could get a real one later on if it really bothered them or once they started making more $$.
I don't like lab created anything because I love gemstones and I love they come from the earth. Of course maybe there is some ecological reason that someone could convince me that gems weren't the way to go and then I probably would just forego gemstones entirely.
It really does depend on your own self, if someone wants a true gemstone but wants something that is the same color of a diamond, then I'd say go for mossonite. If someone wants a lab created diamond, then I say go for a lab created diamond. I would never tell anyone something was a diamond when it wasn't because that is me.
Engagement rings don't have to have diamonds as we are the only country (does canada do it?) that uses diamonds for engagement rings. You can have other gemstones or you could have none and have a nice design. When we were looking into engagement rings, we explored tons of possibilities and the second runner up was an irish type engagement ring which doesn't have diamonds. Honestly, I'm not sure I'd get a diamond again. The only reason I say that is that I wanted something that was 'neutral' as opposed to a colored gemstone. Well 6 months or so after getting married, I lost enough weight that my rings fell off of me and I didn't want to resize them until I get closer to my goal weight. So I wore one ring that had little fake diamonds in it, which I didn't care for, and now I wear a silver ring with a blue topaz stone (cost $30). I really like my blue topaz.
Wouldn't matter to me, it's just a sparkly hunk of rock.
My only rule for my fiancee was that if he chose to get me a diamond engagement ring that he make sure it wasn't a blood diamond.
Things are only worth the value we place upon them. When my fiancee did choose to get me a ring, he decided to have it made from his own design. (He chose Canadian diamonds.) I wouldn't exchange it for the largest diamond in the world. And I'd feel the same way whether it was hand-made, mined outright, or created from post-its, because it is unique and it is from him.
While I love my diamond, if I had it to do over again, I think I would go with a plain band. I've been married 21 years and as you go through life, the rings really get a workout. With living on a mini ranch, camping, fishing, hunting, etc, the diamond takes a beating. I don't like to take it off, so it gets beat up, and I take it in to get it fixed.
However, I think with how closely the fake diamonds look like real diamonds, I wouldn't go to the expense of a real diamond. That isn't the measure of how much the man loves you and the strength of the relationship!!
ON THE OTHER HAND... don't feel guilty either way. Do what makes you happy!
Actually, the ring i picked out and told my fiance that i wanted; whenever he decided it was time (we had discussed that we wanted to get married for a while before he actually popped the question); was a lab created diamond. I get so many compliments on it and it was a fraction of the cost of a "real" diamond. I am the only one that really knows what it is anyway and i picked it out. I am perfectly happy with it and at least if god forbid anything were to ever happen to it i would not be but so upset over the money. Just u[set over the emotional attachment.
I don't like lab created anything because I love gemstones and I love they come from the earth.
Yup. That's how I feel. Also if you're thinking about the investment/heirloom angle, the "real" stone will hold value better.
You can get diamonds that are not blood/conflict diamonds, but I do have a problem with the whole diamond industry in general.
That aside, why not go with a different stone for an engagement ring. Mine was a sapphire (flanked with 2 small diamonds, yeah, but they weren't the main stones). Remember Princess Di's e-ring as well - was a large gorgeous sapphire.
dlphnmomva - Where did you get yours at? Do you tell people it's real or lab created? I want to be honest, but I dont want to have to explain over and over what a lab diamond is. A lot of people dont seem to know. I kinda just want to say "it's real" and be done. But I also want people to be aware of why I'm getting the lab diamond, again, a lot of people dont know about the turmoil of diamond mining.
So I'm torn.
Photochick your ring sounds pretty! I do like sapphires.
I was thinking about getting the lab one replaced with a "real" diamond when/if the diamond mining industry improves. But those canadian ones look good, too.
I want to be honest, but I dont want to have to explain over and over
Ok, see ... I don't get under what circumstances the question would come up. If you show someone your engagement ring, are they really going to ask "is it real"?
IMO, that would be incredibly rude and if anyone were to ask me that, then my response would be something like "why would you even ask that?"
And if they don't ask, why would you begin to volunteer the information? No one needs to know whether it's real or not, how much you paid for it, any of those things. There should be no reason for you to have to explain to anyone over and over.
dlphnmomva - Where did you get yours at? Do you tell people it's real or lab created? I want to be honest, but I dont want to have to explain over and over what a lab diamond is. A lot of people dont seem to know. I kinda just want to say "it's real" and be done. But I also want people to be aware of why I'm getting the lab diamond, again, a lot of people dont know about the turmoil of diamond mining.
So I'm torn.
People would ask you if it's real??? Unbelievably rude!!!
However, if you want people to become aware about blood & lab diamonds, but you don't want to have to explain over and over - that does put you in a bind .
I was the same way. I told people if they asked and i knew them otherwise, normally people just say, "pretty ring" or something to that affect and i just say a polite thanks. I am with you on the explaining, it gets old. they look at you like its a fake, (which honestly would not matter to me either) but you are right. It is not fake, just created differently and half the cost. some places to look at is "Diamond Nexus Labs" and "Better than a Diamond.com" I have mine set in White gold. Hope this helps you.
Diamonds
And that money can be better spent on the newlywed's home or a honeymoon. 
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