Natural Diamonds are Unique. Here’s the Proof.
What you see is what you get, right? Unfortunately, it’s not always that simple.
When it comes to laboratory-created diamonds, most people know that they can look similar to natural diamonds from the earth, but many don’t know these products are significantly different.
Not only do they have different rarity, origins and values, natural diamonds and laboratory-created diamonds have detectable differences that are easily identified with testing equipment. Among these detectable differences, natural diamonds have unique physical growth structures and inclusions. The inclusions in a natural diamond were formed billions of years ago and often contain perfectly preserved elements of great scientific value.
Conversely, the manufacturing process of laboratory-created diamonds leaves marks inside the stone and color defects that require treatment to look similar to natural diamonds.
The detectable differences between natural diamonds and laboratory-created diamonds are one of the most important value-determining factors of these different products. Natural diamonds have a long history — thousands of years — as a high-value luxury product that’s often passed down from generation to generation; they are a significant store of wealth. Laboratory-created diamonds, on the other hand, have a short history as a fashion product and have dramatically declined in price by 60 percent in just the past year.
Recognizing the importance of increasing transparency around the detectable differences between natural diamonds and laboratory-created diamonds, the Diamond Producers Association (DPA) and Signet Jewelers, the world’s largest retailer of diamond jewelry, just released new results from independent performance tests of Diamond Verification Instruments (DVIs) used to detect laboratory-created diamonds.
The testing program, called the ASSURE Program, adds much-needed clarity to the market for laboratory-created diamonds and natural diamonds. Jewelry retailers can now equip themselves with the best tools for detecting laboratory-created diamonds. For consumers, they can purchase natural diamonds with the confidence that the jewelry is tested for authenticity.
Differentiating the two distinct products is also a priority of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which recently issued a warning letter to laboratory-created diamond companies regarding deceptive representations of their products in online advertising. This includes failure to disclose the laboratory-created origin of jewelry and potentially deceiving consumers into believing that their stones were natural.
The ASSURE Program is helping to bring much needed transparency about the differences between natural diamonds and laboratory-created diamonds. It helps consumers make informed purchasing decisions. After all, everyone deserves the diamond they desire.
