De Beers + Lab Gems

[Manks]

Hi All

One of my girlfriend''s friends husband works for De Beers. I have never met him but have asked to. See if I can get some free samples.

What I was not told until yesterday is that he works for the company as a scientist, and that he is working on lab-created gems for them.

Does anyone know the full story here? Sounds to me like De Beers is taking the attitude that if you can''t beat them, join them.

Sort of: "Hello, Sir, here is our basic diamond. Its made in a lab and it will cost you £200. If, however, you''d prefer something more...well Sir, shall we say... timeless, you might want to take a look at our mined collection".

Simplistic, but you get my point.

Manks

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

De beers have had a big business making synthecis for industrial abrasives for decades.
They also have a gem defense service finding how to make synthetic gems so they can stay 1 step ahead in detection.

 

[chialea]

Perhaps I'm in the minority here, but I would proudly wear a lab-created diamond (if it were not from DeBeers, who annoy me). It is an interesting and beautiful application of technology, where very few are, and sidesteps many ethical pitfals.

 

[strmrdr]

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On 5/9/2004 10:12:09 AM chialea wrote:

Perhaps I'm in the minority here, but I would proudly wear a lab-created diamond (if it were not from DeBeers, who annoy me). It is an interesting and beautiful application of technology, where very few are, and sidesteps many ethical pitfals.----------------

I would also and so would my wifey2b.
For an e-ring it would have to be a true lab created diamond and not a simulant in my opinion.
The similants just dont have the long term duribility for a ring that is suposed to last a lifetime.