In the world of fashion, every trend has its moment. And that’s certainly true for lab-grown diamonds (LGDs). These gems are quick to make, easy to market and offer a fast track to own and wear diamonds. It’s no surprise that shoppers have been quick to snap them up.
Natural diamonds, by contrast, aren’t vulnerable to changing tastes. They have an enduring appeal that effortlessly outlives the latest fads. Rather than being produced in labs or factories, they evolved over billions of years, deep within the Earth. Their supply is not endless, but finite. Their beauty and rarity are why they have played such a pivotal role in love stories, personal milestones, and historic moments for centuries.
While debates around the value of LGDs often hinge on affordability, this misses the point of what makes a gem special. LGDs can give you a burst of brilliance, but what makes owning a natural diamond so meaningful is that it is rare, real and has timeless appeal. When fashion moves on, natural diamonds stay constant as symbols of permanence, beauty, and a deeper emotional connection.
The cultural legacy of natural diamonds
Diamonds have always been more than just beautiful accessories. Whether slipped onto a finger during a proposal, gifted to mark a precious moment or bought to celebrate our own achievements, each gem represents a chapter in your story. It is this emotional connection that gives diamonds their real value, the kind that deepens with time.
A symbol of power
Throughout history, societies have treated diamonds as symbols of power. In the 13th century, Saint Louis IX of France reserved them for royalty, declaring that only the king could wear them thanks to their rarity and value1. From that point, diamonds became the ultimate status symbol, gleaming from the crowns and gowns of Europe’s monarchs.
England’s royal collection alone reads like a gemstone history book, from the Koh-i-Noor to the record-breaking Cullinan Diamond, both now part of the Crown Jewels collection in London that draw millions of visitors each year. Over time diamonds became coveted by those outside royal circles. By the 17th century, diamonds had moved into the salons of Europe’s aristocracy, then on to the vaults of the wealthy merchant class2.
Red-carpet brilliance
Today, what was once the preserve of royalty has become a global symbol of success and effortless style. Celebrities choose natural diamonds for red carpets, album covers, and Instagram grids, translating old-world prestige into contemporary chic. When Beyoncé or Kim Kardashian step out wearing priceless diamonds, it’s more than a fashion statement; it’s a continuation of a legacy that reaches back into history. Because a natural diamond’s magic lies not only in its beauty, but in its origin.
How rarity and permanence make natural diamonds timeless
In an age when almost anything can be replicated, true rarity is elusive. That’s what imbues natural diamonds with their inimitable appeal. They can’t simply be made in a factory; each one is the result of a billion-year-long geological process3. These gems aren’t just beautiful; they’re miracles of nature.
Natural diamonds are one-of-a-kind
And their rarity is only increasing. Global recovery of natural diamonds peaked in 2005, and by 2023, production had fallen by nearly 40%. To put that into perspective, the total number of one-carat-and-above diamonds unearthed each year could fill a single exercise ball4. That’s how rare they’ve become.
Every naturally formed diamond carries a distinct fingerprint, tiny inclusions, irregularities, and growth patterns that make it entirely one-of-a-kind5. These aren’t flaws, but the unique imprint of its billion-year journey. It is this natural individuality that adds emotional gravitas to owning a diamond; a connection to something powerful and elemental.
LGDs are in infinite supply
LGDs, by contrast, are created in controlled chambers designed to mimic nature’s conditions. The results may be visually similar, but their homogeneity means they lack the complexity of a gem formed by natural forces. Made in months, not millennia, they can be replicated endlessly6, removing the very ingredient that underpins diamond value: rarity. When supply is infinite, uniqueness fades.
Why emotional symbolism endures beyond trends
Natural diamonds gain emotional resonance over the years, becoming intertwined with the emotions of both the giver and receiver. They are the solitaire on the band that marks a lifetime commitment; the priceless pendant passed down from mother to daughter; the glittering cufflinks saved for a son’s wedding day. Each one carries a story that links its ancient past to bright hopes for the future.
By contrast, LGDs’ charm often lies in affordability, not ancestry. They offer accessible, contemporary glitter, and they are not the first diamond alternatives to do so. In the 1970s, cubic zirconia promised diamond sparkle for less, and for a moment, it seemed unstoppable. Everyone wanted it until they didn’t. Once the novelty wore off, people realized that while it could mimic the look of a diamond, it could never hold the same meaning or value7.
A natural diamond’s power, meanwhile, grows with every story it becomes a part of. You only have to think of history’s most famous diamonds to understand that their allure lies not in their monetary worth, but in the priceless value of the events they’ve witnessed over the years.
The Hope Diamond is one such icon; surviving the French Revolution, passing through the hands of British monarchs, American socialites and the famous jeweler, Pierre Cartier, and now drawing crowds of visitors at the Smithsonian Institute8.
Market value vs trends in diamond choices
For decades, natural diamonds have been seen as a sound financial investment; a symbol of permanence in a market that’s anything but. Their rarity and deep cultural associations have helped them hold value. While crazes burn bright and then fizzle out, an authentic piece has longevity.
That stability shows up in the numbers, too:
- Over the past 50 years, natural diamond prices have grown by around 3% annually9.
- By contrast, the market for LGDs tells a different story. Since 2015, the price of a 1.5 carat LGD has dropped by more than 83%, a reflection of just how fast production has increased and how quickly novelty wears off10.
The same factors that make these lab-made alternatives affordable also make them unstable; mass production has flooded the market, driving prices down.
The numbers don’t lie
As lab-grown supply grows, resale value has also been affected. If you want to sell, you will usually only receive a fraction of the original price, with consumers paying up to 60% less than the original price . With no natural limits on production, supply keeps growing, which means the market stays crowded and prices stay low11.
Natural diamonds, by contrast, hold their ground. Their rarity gives them built-in scarcity, and that translates into financial stability. Many jewelers don’t buy back lab-grown stones, but they do trade in natural diamonds, reflecting where real trust still lies12.
For consumers, that volatility matters. Natural diamonds are seen not only as beautiful but as something that carries trust, authenticity, and longevity. Trends may shift, but the narrative of lab-grown value always circles back to one truth: in an overcrowded world, rarity still reigns.
How natural diamonds translate long-term value into something that lasts
A natural diamond fast becomes more than its initial sparkle. It’s woven into a family’s story, becoming an irreplaceable heirloom. Provenance adds depth; knowing where a diamond came from and whose hands it passed through gives it a soul that no laboratory can engineer.
You only need to look at Meghan Markle’s engagement ring from Prince Harry to see that symbolism in action. Prince Harry designed the three-stone ring himself, choosing a center cushion-cut diamond from Botswana, a place deeply connected to their relationship, and flanking it with two smaller diamonds from Princess Diana’s personal collection. That kind of emotional heft is impossible to recreate with mass produced gems.
Taylor Swift’s engagement ring designed by fiancé Travis Kelce reflects the same desire for something genuine and meaningful. Kelce worked with designer Kindred Lubeck, to create a one-of-a-kind ring set with a brilliant-cut old mine, to reflect the singer’s passion for storytelling and vintage style. It was only possible to create something so personal and unique by selecting a natural diamond, which brings its own personality to the piece.
Both natural diamonds and LGDs shimmer and sparkle, but only natural diamonds come with a history and story that has been etched into the Earth. It is their unique mix of characteristics honed over billions of years that transforms them from jewelry into treasured pieces that become powerful heirlooms carefully handed down from one generation to the next.
Sustainability isn’t a simple question
There’s another layer of tension: sustainability. LGDs are often pitched as the greener choice, but the reality is far more complicated. Their production is highly energy-intensive, relying on extreme heat and pressure to mimic the Earth’s natural conditions.
More than 60% of lab-grown diamonds are produced in regions where the main energy source is coal, and that leaves a heavy carbon footprint13. A 2019 analysis by Trucost revealed the truth that creating an LGD can generate more than three times the carbon emissions of a natural one14. It’s a sobering reminder that when it comes to eco-credibility, marketing spin hides a much more complex situation.
The shifting narrative of lab-grown desirability
Just a few years ago, LGDs were hailed as the disruptors of the jewelry world. They were touted as a more accessible and eco-friendly way to own a diamond. They certainly caused a buzz in the industry, but as initial excitement settles, the conversation begins to shift.
Consumers are asking tougher questions, not just about price, but about permanence. The early narrative of sustainability and simplicity is being re-examined as people look for proof, not promises.
Where lab-grown once symbolized modern rebellion, it’s increasingly seen as a category defined by affordability rather than aspiration. Their place in everyday, fashion-forward jewelry remains strong, but for milestones that mark a lifetime, buyers are returning to the enduring appeal of natural diamonds.
Why some brilliance lasts forever
Choosing a natural diamond is a statement. It is selecting something precious with beauty, history, and its own individual quirks to perfectly complement the wearer. It is investing in something that will grow in value, both sentimental and financial. Unlike lab-grown value, which is susceptible to shifting trends and tastes, the increasing rarity of a natural diamond means it will always be in demand.
A natural diamond isn’t a fleeting purchase; it’s something with true value that will long outlast that first dopamine hit. Investing in one is inviting that special gem to become a part of your story, creating a treasured heirloom to be passed from mother to daughter, father to son, best friend to best friend.
In a world that moves fast and forgets easily, a natural diamond endures, a symbol of love, meaning, and genuine lasting worth.
Lead image credit: Origin Ring by Rachel Boston
Sources
- www.baunat.com/royal-history-diamonds/ ↩︎
- www.bntdiamonds.com/what-is-the-royal-history-of-diamonds/ ↩︎
- www.capetowndiamondmuseum.org/about-diamonds/formation-of-diamonds/ ↩︎
- www.naturaldiamonds.com/diamond-facts-info/ ↩︎
- www.capetowndiamondmuseum.org/education/natural-inclusions-in-diamonds/ ↩︎
- www.shopidc.com/why-choose-naturally-mined-diamonds-over-lab-grown-alternatives/ ↩︎
- www.fogalandbarnes.com/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-lab-grown-diamond/ ↩︎
- www.si.edu/spotlight/hope-diamond/history/ ↩︎
- www.naturaldiamonds.com/industry-insights/price-trends-lab-grown-and-natural-diamonds/ ↩︎
- www.naturaldiamonds.com/industry-insights/price-trends-lab-grown-and-natural-diamonds/ ↩︎
- www.revediamonds.com/do-lab-grown-diamonds-have-a-resale-value/ ↩︎
- www.revediamonds.com/do-lab-grown-diamonds-have-a-resale-value/ ↩︎
- www.shopidc.com/why-choose-naturally-mined-diamonds-over-lab-grown-alternatives/ ↩︎
- www.shopidc.com/why-choose-naturally-mined-diamonds-over-lab-grown-alternatives/ ↩︎
