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Lightbox sells (laboratory) diamonds loose

Published on October 25, 2021

A 2-carat diamond not mounted on a jewel and sold for 1600 dollars. Possible? Yes, if it is a diamond that, instead of being extracted from the earth, was produced by a factory or, in the marketing nomenclature, “grown in a laboratory”, a definition that makes the stone less industrial fruit. Lightbox, a brand of the De Beers group, sells synthetic diamonds in bulk. The large company famous for its (natural) diamonds has for some years decided to compete on its own by selling diamonds made within the walls of an industrial plant.

Diamante di laboratorio del peso di 2 carati, venduto da Lightbox per 1850 euro

A move that surprised many but, in fact, has a rational strategy: to occupy that part of the market before others do it. Lightbox jewels are distributed all over the world also through the website. The novelty is that now, in addition to laboratory diamond jewels, princess or brilliant cut stones (for the moment) are on sale directly, which can be purchased and then used in a jewel to be entrusted to your jeweler. It is no coincidence that at the moment (October 2021) there is only one diamond ring on the Lightbox website, while the rest of the jewels are divided between earrings and necklaces with a light point. The stones are of VVS purity, colorless (color D, E or F) and have an excellent defined cut.

Diamante rosa da laboratorio di 1 carato e mezzo

The ultra-competitive price of laboratory diamonds, which among other things are presented as a standard bearer of sustainability (an aspect on which there is much to be discussed), could be a success: the proposed price is $ 800 per carat. More or less a tenth of what a natural diamond costs. To this we must add that, from a chemical point of view, there is no difference between a laboratory stone and one extracted in a mine. Although natural gems often have imperfections that make them unique. Lightbox loose diamonds come with their own quality guarantee and with a sign code visible with a 10x magnifying glass. In short, fortunately they cannot be resold as natural diamonds.

The price of laboratory diamonds is dropping

Published on September 6, 2021

Campus

Orecchini con diamanti di laboratorio Lightbox di De Beers

Diamonds created in a laboratory, but it would be more accurate to say in a factory, conquer many buyers. They are completely identical, from a chemical point of view, to natural diamonds and, above all, they cost less. Much less. Compared to two or three years ago, the cost (and value) of diamonds manufactured by man with sophisticated machines has decreased by about a third. Will this trend continue? How far will the value of synthetic diamonds drop? Should you buy them now or is it better to wait? These are questions that often arise among those who are about to buy a diamond jewel, especially rings and earrings.

The scenario has changed for two reasons. The first is the entry on the market of De Beers, the colossus that extracts natural diamonds from the earth and which also markets jewelry made with these stones. In 2018, surprisingly, De Beers announced that it would start selling lab-created diamond jewelry. To many it seemed a paradoxical decision, a way to compete at home. But the success of the Lightbox brand, destined for jewelry with artificial diamonds, seems to prove De Beers right. But Lightbox has also stunned the market with much lower prices than the competition: $ 200 for a 0.25-carat diamond jewel, $ 400 for a half-carat, $ 600 for 0.75-carat and 800 for a diamond ring. 1 carat. Prices immediately fell by almost 30%.

La nuova miniera: l'impianto di produzione in Oregon di diamanti artificiali — La nuova miniera: l’impianto di produzione in Oregon di diamanti artificiali

The second factor that has contributed to lower prices is the evolution of technology, which today allows for the creation of diamonds at an ever lower cost. While until a few years ago it was very difficult to obtain artificial diamonds of over 3 carats, now the production process seems much easier and for small stones the price is now very low.

Collana in oro e diamanti di laboratorio

To these reasons is added the success decreed by consumers. Thus, the market price of lab-created diamonds has dropped considerably on average, with some ups and downs in 2019. According to some analysts, one of the reasons for the success is related to the covid pandemic. Meetings via Zoom, for example, could be behind the great demand for laboratory diamond earrings: no one will go to verify the origin of those stones worn on a computer screen. Sales, in fact, continue to increase and prices, according to Virtual Diamond Boutique, only dropped by 3% this year.

Obviously, the descent cannot continue indefinitely, but the climate of competition between producers seems to bring the diamonds created in the laboratory ever closer to the so-called fine jewelry, to get closer to the world of fashion. Simple diamonds, to buy and to change when you want to renew your jewels box. Not diamonds that are forever, in short, but only for a moment.

Il diamante cresciuto in laboratorio — Anello con diamante cresciuto in laboratorio

De Beers synthetic diamonds, right or wrong idea?

Published on November 2, 2019

news/Diamanti

New laboratory diamonds from Lightbox, trademark of De Beers. But what if it’s a strange idea? ♦

Are synthetic diamonds, from a chemical point of view indistinguishable from natural ones, the future of jewelry? Opinions are divided. However, it is possible to reflect on what is happening. As we have already reported on gioiellis.com, the largest diamond trading company, De Beers, has decided to sell laboratory-created diamonds, that is synthetic. Thanks to a very substantial investment he therefore started producing and marketing non-natural stones.

Pendente in argento placcato oro con diamante sintetico da 1 carato

The result is called Lightbox, a brand that in some countries, like Great Britain and the United States, has begun to make its way on the jewelry market. The diamonds are very similar to the natural ones, they are offered with different cuts (the last proposal is of cushion-cut stones) and also in color. And while a natural pink diamond could cost thousands to millions of dollars, Lightbox’s synthetic diamonds are sold for a few hundred euros. A bracelet with a pink diamond, for example, is sold in the US for 600 euros. More generally, these diamonds are sold for $ 800 per carat. An incredibly low price even for artificial diamond standards. Also because the stones are often mounted on silver and not on gold, to keep the price low.

Orecchini con diamanti di laboratorio Lightbox

With the premise that no one will ever be able to distinguish a natural diamond from an artificial one, except with a complicated gemological laboratory test, it is not surprising that Lightbox can succeed.

Catena in argento con diamanti sintetici di Lightbox

But is it a success even for those who sell jewelry? According to an analysis by the USA monthly Forbes, it could be a sensational own-goal. Especially if the artificial diamonds like those of Lightbox will be sold in jewelry and not only on online sites. According to De Beers, Lightboxes at low prices turn to the fashion accessories sector and not to the jewelery world. The data quoted by the American newspaper, however, cast doubt on this statement.

In October, De Beers announced a decline in diamond sales of 39% compared to the quarter, and 44% compared to a year ago. The company has indicated the uncertain global economy and tensions in Hong Kong as a cause. Yet brands like Bulgari have not encountered the same problems. On the contrary, the jewelry of the LVMH group sold more. In short, selling diamonds created in the laboratory may have been an unbrilliant move.

Bracciale con diamante rosa creato in laboratorio