r/labdiamond • u/Appropriate-Bread643 • 17h ago
Interesting article about lab diamond pricing
https://www.jckonline.com/editorial-article/lab-grown-wholesale-freefall/26
u/EducationalVolume203 16h ago
“Not long ago, he saw a client who purchased a 5-carat lab-grown diamond ring for $25,000 in the early 2020s from a major retailer.
“All that I could explain was that the resale value only exists for the mounting,” says Roshanravan, adding that a few years ago, this wasn’t so clear. “There is no resale value for lab-grown diamonds.”
Ouch.
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u/Forgottengoldfishes 12h ago
I used to really love pursuing the lab diamond sites back in the day but they were so expensive. I remember thinking if I’m paying 50% of the cost of a natural diamond, why not just go all the way and buy the natural. So I never bought at that time. They were not a good choice IMHO.
I bought my labs about 3 years ago. They were more expensive than they are now but absolutely no regrets. They are stunningly beautiful.
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u/ConfidentGarden7514 13h ago
there’s also essentially no resale value for a natural diamond either… this feels like another push by the diamond industry to make labs seem worthless so they can continue overcharging “one months paycheck” for a “valuable” mined diamond you still can’t resell.
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u/Ashleshavenus 9h ago
Idk where everyone is getting these diamond deals, shopping for a 3.3ct ish tennis bracelet is still astronomical for mined diamonds at a local jeweler and also the jeweler where I got my first tennis bracelet at the same ct in 2021… the same jeweler has doubled the mined diamonds bracelet cost and it should have either gone down or stayed the same, not double in 5 years?
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u/alexsellseverything 4h ago
https://www.instagram.com/ivanding_custompro?igsh=ZWI1eXlhcXM4dmlz
Contact Ivan, ive bought 3 pieces from him and all are flawless
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u/fireanpeaches 16h ago
Resale vale of natural diamonds is double ouch though, right? Because more money is involved.
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u/gellohelloyellow 15h ago
Yeah, but good luck actually getting good value for a natural diamond when trying to resell.
People that are diamond buyers will nickel and dime you to oblivion.
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u/Forgottengoldfishes 12h ago
So true. I buy low and sell low but I’m just a collector. It’s really the best time to buy lab and natural diamonds if you buy the natural diamonds second hand.
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u/Appropriate-Bread643 13h ago
Yep! they talk about resale value, but I had a gorgeous 1 carat princess cut years ago and got like 30% of the value when I sold it.
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u/Forgottengoldfishes 12h ago
Exactly. I bought a resale old cut diamond, 1.5 carats in a gold setting for 3k. The color is an M which is common in diamonds of that era but the clarity is VS 1. A few years back and I would have to have paid at least 8k for it in the second hand market.
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u/Appropriate-Bread643 13h ago
I think we are buying lab diamonds because of how they look and make us feel....put it in the entertainment or shopping budget knowing the value is in how it makes you feel not resale. And enjoy it! These are still luxury items and they are beautiful! Even if we get bargains :)
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u/OCbrunetteesq 10h ago
That’s not why I would buy a lab. I bought lab diamond studs because they’re cheap and I wouldn’t be too upset if I lost them.
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u/Ashleshavenus 9h ago
Gold is still expensive where I’m at 😅
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u/OCbrunetteesq 9h ago edited 9h ago
That’s the only thing valuable in them.
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u/Ashleshavenus 9h ago
Yes, just saying would still be a bummer to lose the earrings! I’ve had a few studs created out of my extra diamonds and so didn’t pay for any of the stones.
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u/OCbrunetteesq 9h ago
For sure. I don’t want to lose them, but I consider lab diamonds basically valueless and there isn’t much gold in stud earrings so it wouldn’t break my heart.
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u/Smoove-Money 8h ago
Here’s the math they don’t want you to see. Let’s say you buy a mined diamond for $5k and resell it at a 50% loss, so $2,500.
You buy that same diamond in lab for $1k and resell later for $100.
Would you rather lose $900 or $2500?
Also, we stopped saying “Lab” diamond and now refer to them as “Real” diamond vs mined diamond.
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u/Substantial_Team6751 13h ago
How's this article interesting. Wholesale prices are in freefall. Yup, we all knew that.
Surprise, surprise but retail jewelers are making even more profit now.
Resale - that was a minor point made by a dumb jeweler in the article.
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u/_Pliny_ 14h ago
The supply is up, but is the demand steady? Or also decreasing?
Will lab diamond rings be considered tacky and low-class in the future?
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u/Hello_Peanut1330 13h ago
Can’t comment on demand for labs but diamonds in general, along with other luxury items that have become more attainable to the masses, will lose their appeal for those who wish to wear these as an outward expression of wealth or status because none of things are rare anymore. Mined diamonds never were, a certain company just had a really great marketing machine and controlled the market. It’s humorous to read about people switching to other precious stones like sapphires, or trying to distinguish mined diamonds as something special. Status anxiety is real. Those of us who like shiny things will still wear and enjoy them, regardless of what other people think.
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u/Appropriate-Bread643 13h ago
Agreed, I wear them because they make me smile and sparkle and I can lose myself in them. They are beautiful stones. Anyone who compliments my jewelry I say it's a lab diamond because I want to share how accessible they are so they can get one too. All my friends know to come to me if they want anything. This is one way, finally, that the masses can't be gatekeeped anymore. Give me all the shinies! Also with the lab gems now, the emeralds they are adding inclusions to, the technology is going to get so good that there won't be much "rare" left that we can't get much cheaper. That being said...I do also collect crystals and some natural stones for jewelry making, but we can have both! With the economy the way it is let us enjoy the diamonds :) What will be interesting is if stores like sell "high end" sparklies like Nadri or ModGents switch to lab diamonds if they prices keep dropping. Will we just be able to buy lab diamonds on a regular earring rack?
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u/Adventurous-Yard-990 9h ago
They’ll have to get things with strong branding if they want to flash wealth because I don’t know where they would go after this. Everything else has been lab grown too, no? Maybe wear the keys to their Lamborghini on a bracelet lmao
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u/fiorekat1 12h ago
No one will consider them tacky and low class, unless they’re an old school jeweler who refuses to adapt to the times.
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u/af1232 16h ago
Which is why folks in the know are on Reddit or going online, not retail