“Adrianne Sanogo, a gemologist based in New York, is also certified by the GIA (she became certified in 2019). In an email, Sanogo explains that there has been a clear decrease in the perceived value and cost of synthesized diamonds, mainly over the past five years. She also shares that this has led to a significant decline in their resale worth, but their sales have continued to grow.

“The Gen Z demographic tends to prioritize spending their earnings on experiences rather than luxury goods. LGDs, with the same visual properties as natural diamonds, provide a subtle option that never needs to be disclosed,” Sanogo explains.

One trend she’s seeing firsthand is that seasoned, engaged, or married couples have been commissioning travel jewelry made from lab-grown diamonds that closely resemble their engagement and wedding rings. “Obtaining a larger carat weight at a more affordable price is a significant motivation, allowing couples to use the saved money for wedding costs, a honeymoon, or even towards a down payment for a home.”

The gemologist also makes it clear that she finds nothing wrong with the use of lab-grown diamonds as long as their makeup is disclosed to customers before they are purchased. She further details that lab-grown diamonds are created in manufacturing facilities. Sanogo expresses that its production process consumes substantial amounts of electricity, too. ”