Our Commitment to Natural Diamonds
At Serena Ansell Fine Jewellery, we exclusively use natural diamonds and want to share the reasoning behind this choice to help educate our clients and followers.
Over recent years, the rise of lab-grown diamonds has brought questions about their origin and impact, but transparency and education about how they’re made remain limited.
The Key Differences:
Natural diamonds are formed deep within the Earth over millions of years, created from carbon exposed to immense heat and pressure. Lab-grown diamonds replicate this process in a controlled environment, where a tiny diamond seed is subjected to high heat and pressure, forming a diamond in just 6–10 weeks. Chemically, visually, and structurally, lab-grown diamonds are nearly identical to their natural counterparts.
Why We Choose Natural Diamonds:
Long-Term Value:
While lab-grown diamonds may appear to offer the same product for less, they lack the rarity and finite nature of natural diamonds. This means they do not hold or appreciate in value over time. In fact, the precious metal in a piece of lab-grown diamond jewellery often ends up being worth more than the stone itself. Investing in natural diamonds not only brings joy but also offers financial advantages.
Environmental Impact:
Although diamond mining is not without its challenges, lab-grown diamonds require significant energy to replicate the heat and pressure of Earth’s depths. The production of a single one-carat lab-grown diamond generates an average of 511 kg of greenhouse gases, often sourced from non-renewable fossil fuels. The average UK household emits 6 - 13 metric tonnes of greenhouse gases per year, which means that the amount required to fuel a whole family home for an entire year equates to creating just 11 lab-grown Diamonds.
Ethical Considerations:
The diamond industry has made significant strides in addressing human rights concerns through initiatives like the Kimberley Process and the Clean Diamond Trade Act. These measures continue to improve ethical standards across the industry. Additionally, diamond mining provides critical income for many developing countries, whereas purchasing lab-grown diamonds does not support these communities.
Sentimental Value:
The age, rarity, and natural beauty of natural diamonds carry unmatched charm and sentimentality. Their romantic allure is something that lab-grown diamonds simply cannot replicate.
Insurance Challenges:
Ensuring lab-grown diamonds can be difficult. Many insurers are hesitant to cover them due to their rapidly depreciating value and mass production, which makes replacement at retail cost less appealing.
Our Commitment:
While we choose not to source lab-grown diamonds, we are happy to assist clients who wish to reset existing lab-grown diamonds into new designs. Our priority is to provide jewellery that holds its value and meaning for generations to come.