On the rare occasions we see Nikki Reed, I remember the fact that her husband, Ian Somerhalder, threw away her birth control by surprise when they were first dating. They admitted this happened, it’s not just a rumor, but they apologized and tried to downplay it later. So I worry about her, he seems controlling to me, but I hope I’m wrong about their relationship. Anyway Nikki has a jewelry line which is currently in a physical store in LA. It’s all sustainable, including the diamonds, which are grown a sciencey way with “seeds” of diamonds. The diamonds are gown in the lab and the result is an actual diamond, indistinguishable by the naked eye, even by experts. Lab grown diamonds are 30-40% cheaper than mined diamonds and come without the human cost. Here’s more from Nikki on her line:
All of the diamonds and stones Reed uses are Kimberley approved, which means the way they are acquired is totally “conflict-free.” And when it comes to Reed’s bridal line, every ring is made from cultivated diamonds — which are diamonds produced by a controlled process, as opposed to naturally occurring diamonds that are mined.
“Our cultivated diamonds are grown above ground using solar energy in California, and they’re grown from diamond seeds,” she says. “They are diamonds — there is nothing synthetic about them. But instead of mining for them, we can grow them because we, as human beings, have the technology. The social impacts and environmental impacts are huge.”
The Bayou with Love website explains that the diamonds they use are grown in a highly controlled environment that duplicates the conditions under which diamonds naturally develop when they form in the mantle, beneath the Earth’s crust. They are grown from the tiny carbon seeds of pre-existing diamonds, allowing people to enjoy real diamonds without the human and environmental toll of mining. These cultivated diamonds consist of actual carbon atoms arranged in the characteristic diamond crystal structure, and are made of the same material as mined diamonds.
Nikki also said that her line and the shop she’s in are women-founded businesses and that they strive to work with other women, which is admirable. I haven’t been in the market for a diamond in ages. I feel stupid that I didn’t know that lab grown diamonds were not only being made, but that they getting more sophisticated the past few years. Jewelers can’t tell the difference supposedly, and have to use machines to view the different patterns and luminescence of the diamond. My engagement ring is moissanite and I have nice stud earrings which are moissanite too. Some jewelers can see the difference between a moissanite and a real diamond, but most people can’t tell. Moissanite is less expensive than even a lab grown diamond. I’m not a big jewelry person but if I was I would absolutely want a lab grown diamonds instead of a mined one. Or another moissanite. I would be so happy with a moissanite tennis bracelet. (This isn’t a hint to anyone in my life! I’m just saying it would be pretty now that I’m thinking about jewelry.)
photos credit: Avalon.red, WENN and via Instagram
I’ve been eyeing some rings from Bayou with Love, they are so pretty and delicate
So she can afford to do this but her husband is begging his teen fans to donate $40 million to his/their scam foundation? #Grifters.
Wow, please explain / link! What scam foundation??
I think lab diamonds are a great idea. But I feel that there are a lot of people still opposed to them in theory – because they’re less “meaningful” than real diamonds because the man/woman who purchased them didn’t make the same sacrifice or whatever. I don’t agree and I wish that would change.
Love the jewelry. It’s exactly what I like to wear.
If you want a conflict free diamond, buy Canadian ones. The largest diamond mine in Canada, the Diavik, is half First Nations owned and employs over 1,000 people in the Northwest Territories. There are 3 (I believe) in the Canadian north, one is owned by De Beers, so you could skip that one if you want.
Canadamark diamonds are very easy to find and to confirm. Diamonds mined here are numbered and can be checked online so that you can be sure that it is not a conflict diamond.
Just a note for those who would like a non-lab diamond.
Doesn’t Tiffany get their diamonds from Canada?
Yes, some of them. They have a Canadian Diamond section as well.
Don’t buy a diamond from Tiffany’s!!! The mark up is something like 300-400% with all of those big name jewellery companies. Find a well-recommended small jeweller to make your ring, and if they can’t help you source the stones then there are lots of good places to buy them. Otherwise consider vintage / second-hand. The value of diamonds goes down massively when they are re-sold. You can always get it re-worked to your tastes.
That’s what I was going to say. Not all natural diamonds are blood diamonds. There’s a lot of misinformation about diamonds out there.
My engagement ring diamond is Canadian mined. For some reason I love the fact that I have something millions of years old on my finger. I don’t know why that fascinates me so much.
I thought he threw away her birth control after they were married? Either way it’s a controlling dick move!
I like the idea of any conflict free diamonds, mine isn’t guaranteed and it bothers me that my husband didn’t know at the time to make sure.
The jewelry looks gorgeous, delicate snd minimalistic, just how I like it.
This seems like an excellent post to mention that diamonds are not rare, they are hoarded. DeBeers which used to own 90% of the supply owns 40% of the supply and has warehouses full of them. Lab created, ethically sourced, moissanite, anything is better than DeBeers.
Diamond history is interesting..big diamond engagement rings wouldn’t even be a thing if it weren’t for marketing that started in the 1930s..de beers not only controlled the sources, but they created the demand (a favorite case study in marketing classes).
And not only that, but the diamond engagement ring was the best marketing ploy in history, it came about only 90 years ago when DeBeers realized that they had a glut of diamonds and they were no longer valuable.
With the naked eye it’s virtually impossible to tell the difference between lab grown and natural diamonds, but because of differences in growth patterns and fluorescence, etc jewelers can certainly tell by using tools. Probably one day all gemstones will be lab created and there will be no mining of them anymore, but the fact is that now, lab created gemstones don’t have the same cachet as natural ones.
My wedding ring set is made from rose gold and moissanite, and I wouldn’t have it any other way! The moissanite is brilliant, and I was able to get a HUGE stone for a fraction of the cost of an actual diamond, and the differences are imperceptible to the non-trained eye. I think total we paid about $1,500 for the set for a 2 CT stone and additional smaller stones surrounding it. Plus I am told it’s more brilliant than a diamond (I have a colorless stone in mine), and is nearly as hard of a stone as a diamond as well. I would recommend to anyone buying fine jewelry. It’s also a huge bonus that it’s also ethically sourced and good for the environment overall. Win win in my book! I’m asking for a pair of matching earrings for Christmas too!
Lab grown ones are much cheaper apparently. Why not? Nikki and her husband donate a lot to animal causes (I follow Rancho Relaxo, which they’ve supported, on IG).