Why Lab – Grown Diamonds Are Taking Over the Runway

Fashion has always mirrored the moment you live in, and right now that moment is all about sustainability in all senses. Scrolling through runway shoots, this is evident in designers’ choice of materials, including the stones shining in the jewellery. Prioritising responsible origin is as important in making a positive impact as the look of the pieces themselves.

What are lab-grown diamonds?

Lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds created in controlled environments like laboratories rather than mined from the earth. Scientists replicate the same conditions that form natural diamonds – high pressure and temperature or chemical vapour deposition – so the result has the same chemical composition and physical properties, but is formed over weeks instead of billions of years… 

Lab diamonds vs natural diamonds

When you hold one, you won’t see or feel any difference. Even experts are hard-pressed to tell them apart when using specialist tools. Jewellers grade lab-grown stones using the same criteria: cut, colour, clarity, and carat, and lab diamond jewellery comes with official certification. 

The practical advantage shows up when you shop. Because the sourcing process is much simpler, lab-grown stones are typically 20-40% lower in price than natural counterparts, so you can buy larger or higher-quality diamonds for the same money. You also have absolutely certainty in the origin of your included gemstones.

Why is sustainability shaping fashion?

For several years, concerns have been raised over the trend for fast fashion and its negative impact on people and planet, ranging from high water usage in cheap denim manufacture to the factory conditions allowed by cheaper brands. With sustainability leading the way in all sectors so far this decade, designers are scrambling to show their commitment to being greener, in the fabrics and processes used in creation and how pieces are transported to shops and delivered to buyers.

Consumers are also operating in a more eco-conscious way, buying fewer, high-quality pieces in timeless designs with a capsule wardrobe in mind, rather than chasing the latest fashions. Platforms promoting second-hand clothing are also proving popular as people try to do their bit to reduce waste by reusing and recycling – with the chance to make a profit at the same time.

The trend for lab-grown wedding jewellery

Weddings have become more personal, and your jewellery choices reflect that change. Couples now look beyond tradition and consider how forever pieces would fit their lifestyle, budget, and values, shaping designs to them rather than the other way around. 

Sitting comfortably within this approach are the various styles of lab diamond engagement rings and wedding bands available, giving couples the chance to afford bigger and better-quality stones with confidence in conscience. Recycled metals are also proving popular, and bespoke designs shaped from sentimental family heirlooms that are beloved but out of style.

Special occasion pieces for less

Lab-grown diamonds mean that this glorious gem, once reserved for romantic gestures, is being used more liberally in occasion jewellery, opening the door to statement pieces that might have felt out of reach before. You can invest in a pair of diamond drop earrings or a bold tennis necklace, beautiful crowning adornments for glamorous event gowns, without stretching your budget to uncomfortable levels.

You can pursue sustainability in other ways when occasion dressing, too. Dress rental is becoming THE thing, an affordable way to access designer pieces without contributing to garment waste. Simply hire your dress for a day and return it in good condition. This is a sustainable way to continue the tradition of never being seen in the same thing twice and gives you a chance to experiment with your personal style. Perhaps this is where modern jewellery is heading too?

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