When relocating to Key Biscayne nearly 20 years ago, Diamonds On The Key was the only possible name for my company. The lab-grown versus natural debate has reached a fever pitch, and the distinctions matter. Natural diamonds formed billions of years ago in the Earth’s mantle, while lab-grown diamonds are mass-produced in factories, turned out in unlimited supply. That abundance has sent production costs into freefall. Today, a classic platinum solitaire setting can cost more than the lab-grown stone it holds. GIA, from which I hold my Diamond Diploma, introduced the 4Cs: Cut, Color, Clarity, Carat, to describe overall quality. Recently, it updated reports to better distinguish lab-grown from natural, with “Laboratory-Grown” laser-inscribed on the girdle. Mass-produced is not rare. Rare holds value. When a client traded in his wife’s 2.50 carat natural diamond to celebrate their 25th Anniversary, it retained enough value to reach 4 carats within budget. Every natural diamond carries a story, just as unique as your own; DiamondsOnTheKey.com.
