Lab diamonds: an ethical couple’s best friend

Engagement rings featuring labgrown or flawed gems are rising in popularity among ethically conscious couples looking to tie the knot. Diamonds remain the rock of choice, but ethics and sustainability are top of mind for a growing number of couples when they go shopping for a ring. Supply chains and ethical standards are scrutinised much more than they used to be, and more couples go a step further and choose labgrown diamonds, which are 50-70% cheaper than their mined counterparts but have the same crystal structure, composition and sparkle.

Couples truly committed to sustainability ensure their lab-grown diamonds were made in a factory powered by green energy and that their rings were designed and made by a carbon-neutral jeweller. This contrasts with the impact of a diamond mined across the other side of the world, where about 250 tonnes of ore is dug up per carat of polished diamond.

Can’t quite get your head around a lab-grown diamond? Look for an ethical jeweller selling fair-trade, ecofriendly rings. On a budget? Buy a vintage or pre-loved ring. Or choose a jewellery designer who specialises in using flawed diamonds; imperfect diamonds have ‘inclusions’ that can make a ring all the more beautiful.

If your heart’s still set on a mined diamond, avoid ‘blood diamonds’ at all costs – they’re mined in conflict zones to fund military action with little regard for human rights. Responsible jewellers will be able to share with their customers every step on a diamond’s journey from when and where it was mined to how it landed in their hands.