[South China Morning Post] Millennials like their diamonds ethically sourced or man-made, and jewellers are responding

As in many aspects of their consumption, young diamond buyers are socially conscious and value quality and integrity. They want natural stones that are conflict-free and will happily choose laboratory-grown diamonds too.

Last year, when Britain’s Prince Harry proposed to Meghan Markle (now the Duchess of Sussex) he chose a conflict-free diamond from Botswana in southern Africa.

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[South China Morning Post] Here’s how scientists grow perfect diamonds in the lab

Synthetic diamonds provide an alternative for those who question the ethical practices and environmental impact from mining naturally forged stones

Real, or natural, in the vernacular of diamonds, isn’t always better.

While the spectre of conflict and “blood” diamonds have largely faded in recent years thanks to ethical mining practices, international monitoring, and improved certification, diamond mines still leave big holes in the ground and pose a threat to the environment.

Synthetic diamonds are marketed as a solution to customers who are turned off by natural diamonds, all while providing pristine product — and typically priced at 15 per cent to 30 per cent less than similar, naturally forged stones.

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