A diamond engagement ring. © Nathan Gray / USA TODAY NETWORK
Is that rock lab-grown?
(New York, NY) – Untold numbers of couples will get engaged on New Year’s Eve — always a popular time to pop the question. People are looking ahead to the New Year and planning a new beginning with loved ones. But is the diamond on that engagement ring “real,” or lab grown? Increasingly, love birds are opting for the latter.
For one thing, lab-grown diamonds are cheaper and fit within more couple’s budgets. According to Queensmith, a UK-based jewelry company, lab-grown diamonds can be anywhere between 60% and 85% cheaper than natural diamonds — using identical carat weight and grades.
Some experts say lab-grown diamonds are so good these days you can’t tell the difference — like Tracy French, a wedding planner in Texas. And the broader market has taken notice. Global sales of lab-grown diamonds have reached almost $12 billion. Plus, major retailers like Kay, Walmart, and Zales have all said they plan to embrace the growing trend.
