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Natural Diamonds - New Campaign - Good timing or too little too late?

WillyDiamond said:
Brian
If GIA is calling LGD’s “synthetic”, do you think they are throwing shade to the mined diamond industry? To me the word synthetic has a negative connotation.
When you think about it, the mined diamond industry butters GIA’s bread by sending diamonds to grade, and make money. The fewer the diamonds sent for grading the less GIA makes. Would you happen to know if GIA is taking a hit on this LGD business? I also read that GIA get only about 10% of LGD to grade.
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The natural diamond business has been key to GIA's success all along. And diamond manufacturers and retailers are their key consituencies, as you correctly note. But their not-for-profit mission is education and consumer protection. So there is always a push/pull. GIA has always been careful and conservative (translated: slow moving!) in making sure they achieve the right balance. That balance was certainly complicated by some of their natural diamond constituencies also getting into the LGD business.

Calling LGDs "synthetic" is nothing new for GIA. Calling synthetic "lab grown" is new! And I think that was a move to align with the market as a whole (business and consumers), and not the natural diamond business in particular.

GIA is a research organization doing a lot of advanced science. Scientists tend to use scientific terminology, not marketing terminology. But the new language is a recognition that they do not operate in a vacuum.

Every business, even not-for-profit businesses, has to make judgements and predictions of where markets will go. In times of great change, many of them will turn out wrong. The extent to which GIA is going to gear themselves for grading LGD has been and continues to be one of those issues. Being that their constituencies consisted of many in the natural diamond realm, they were not aggressive in embracing LGD grading to begin with. And they have a higher cost structure than other labs, particularly labs that ARE aggressively embracing LGD and can continue to add value even as the price of the product falls. The amount of business GIA has done in issuing grading reports for LGD is relatively small compared to their overall business, and to compete for market share they would have to lower their fees below what is rational for their bottom line. There is also probably a sense that the trajectory of LGD may eventually migrate out of the traditional grading space for all the major labs.

I don't think GIA is throwing shade on anyone. I think they are doing what they have always done by trying to balance their various roles in the market and make sure that their business is sustainable.

But nobody is immune from making mistakes in judgment or failing to predict the future with pinpoint accuracy in a world with so many rapidly moving parts.
 
I hate the branding of “lab grown” and “earth grown”. The term “grown” gives me the ick, especially for natural diamonds. The term “grown” is scientifically infantilizing and reeks of cheep marketing aimed at wowing people about technology at the expense of accuracy. It makes me think of the same cultural branding that has people genuflecting over new so-called “AI” tech (it is not “intelligent”in any true sense of that word). Oversimplification combined with exaggeration aimed at manipulation. Ick.

I am clearly not the target market for any of this, but I hate this type of pandering manipulation in marketing.
 
Dreamer_D said:
I hate the branding of “lab grown” and “earth grown”. The term “grown” gives me the ick, especially for natural diamonds. The term “grown” is scientifically infantilizing and reeks of cheep marketing aimed at wowing people about technology at the expense of accuracy. It makes me think of the same cultural branding that has people genuflecting over new so-called “AI” tech (it is not “intelligent”in any true sense of that word). Oversimplification combined with exaggeration aimed at manipulation. Ick.

I am clearly not the target market for any of this, but I hate this type of pandering manipulation in marketing.
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I agree with respect to "earth grown". GIA has always identified all diamonds and gemstones as "natural" and mentioned any treatements that may or may not be involved in the details on the report.

"earth grown" strikes me as a step towards false equivalency disguised as transparency. LGD, EGD - same except for a slight change in acronym.
 
Rfisher said:
Random thought.

I wonder if lab grown meat marketing people will have these same discussions.

“ Who cares? It’s still meat? “
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They already are using similar talking points/parallels that both the MD and LGD segments use...the amount of similarity is impressive!

(from a Google AI search):

Here's a more detailed explanation about Lab-grown meat:
The Process:
* Scientists start with a biopsy, a small sample of cells taken from a living animal.
* These cells are then placed in a growth medium, a nutrient-rich broth that provides the cells with the necessary building blocks to grow and multiply.
* The cells are kept at body temperature and allowed to proliferate, forming muscle and fat tissue.
* The resulting tissue can then be formed into familiar meat products like burgers, nuggets, or even steaks.

Key Components:
* Cells: The foundation of lab-grown meat, typically stem cells, which are the building blocks of muscle and other tissues.
* Growth Medium: A nutrient-rich substance that provides the cells with the amino acids, sugars, vitamins, and minerals they need to grow.
* Scaffolding: A structure that helps the cells form into the desired shape and texture of meat.

Potential Benefits:
* Reduced Environmental Impact: Lab-grown meat production is expected to require significantly less land, water, and energy compared to traditional animal agriculture. It can also reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollution.
* Improved Animal Welfare: Lab-grown meat eliminates the need for raising and slaughtering animals, addressing ethical concerns related to animal welfare.
* Reduced Risk of Disease: The controlled environment of a lab can minimize the risk of foodborne illnesses associated with traditional meat production.
* Potential for Nutritional Enhancement: Lab-grown meat can be customized to contain higher levels of beneficial nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids.

Current Status:
* Cultivated meat has received regulatory approval in a few countries, including Singapore, and in the United States, where two companies, UPSIDE Foods and GOOD Meat, have been approved to sell cultivated chicken.
* While still more expensive than traditional meat, prices are expected to decrease as production scales up.

Consumer Acceptance:
* Public perception of lab-grown meat is still evolving.
* Some consumers may be hesitant due to its artificial nature or lack of familiarity.
* Others are drawn to the potential benefits for the environment and animal welfare.
* Education and transparency about the production process will be crucial for building consumer trust and acceptance.


Here's a more detailed breakdown of the arguments against lab-grown meat:
Perceived Unnaturalness and Ethical Concerns:
* Some people find the concept of lab-grown meat unnatural and a departure from traditional food production methods, which can be a significant barrier to acceptance.
* Concerns exist about the potential for the process to involve hormones and additives with unknown long-term effects.
* Some worry about the ethical implications of growing meat in a lab, particularly regarding its impact on traditional farming and the potential displacement of established agricultural practices.

Cost and Scalability:
* Current production costs for lab-grown meat are high, making it less accessible to the general public.
* There are questions about whether production can be scaled up to meet global demand without significant cost reductions.
* Some believe that the energy and resource requirements for large-scale production could negate potential environmental benefits.

Environmental Impact:
* While often promoted as more sustainable, some studies suggest that the environmental impact of lab-grown meat could be comparable to or even worse than traditional beef production, especially under current production methods.
* One study by UC Davis found that the carbon footprint of lab-grown meat could be orders of magnitude higher than retail beef.
* The use of growth media, especially at the pharmaceutical level, is a significant factor contributing to the energy and resource intensity of the process.
* Concerns exist about the energy consumption of bioreactors and the potential strain on energy grids, particularly if renewable energy sources are not widely adopted.

Potential for Disruption and Safety Concerns:
* Some worry about the potential impact on traditional farming and the livelihoods of those involved in the meat industry.
* There are questions about the long-term effects of lab-grown meat on human health and the potential for contamination with heavy metals, microplastics, or other harmful substances.
* The FAO and WHO identified 53 potential hazards in lab-grown meat, including contamination with heavy metals, microplastics, allergens, and chemical contaminants.

Regulatory and Political Opposition:
* Several states have introduced or passed legislation to ban or restrict the production and sale of lab-grown meat.
* Some lawmakers and organizations are concerned about the potential for lab-grown meat to undermine traditional food systems and cultural values.
* There are concerns that bans and restrictions could stifle innovation and limit consumer choice.
 
@DejaWiz ,
Does not apply to faux crab! Which is just processed natural fish.

There may potentially be some ingredients that could cause concern however, such as coloring and flavoring. Which is true of processed foods in general.

Also, I think the lab grown meat industry is experimenting with all kinds of products and some have already come to market beyond just burgers. So making "true lab grown faux crab" may be only a matter of time. :)
 
Texas Leaguer said:
@DejaWiz ,
Does not apply to faux crab! Which is just processed natural fish.

There may potentially be some ingredients that could cause concern however, such as coloring and flavoring. Which is true of processed foods in general.

Also, I think the lab grown meat industry is experimenting with all kinds of products and some have already come to market beyond just burgers. So making "true lab grown faux crab" may be only a matter of time. :)
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The synopsis that I posted contains many buzzwords and catch phrases already being used by the lab grown meat industry has direct parallels to the buzzwords and catch phrases in the diamond industry wasn't directed at you, Bryan - I already knew that "imitation krab" is comprised of fish. I posted it because it shows that there is effective and similar psychological warfare used in advertising across different industries to elicit emotions, either for or against.
 
Texas Leaguer said:
@DejaWiz ,
Does not apply to faux crab! Which is just processed natural fish.

There may potentially be some ingredients that could cause concern however, such as coloring and flavoring. Which is true of processed foods in general.

Also, I think the lab grown meat industry is experimenting with all kinds of products and some have already come to market beyond just burgers. So making "true lab grown faux crab" may be only a matter of time. :)
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If they can replicate crab in a lab, then it won’t be “faux crab”, which is what imitation crab is. It’ll be crab (cultured, crab, synthetic crab, lab, grown crab, etc., but crab nevertheless).
 
Chelsea Palmer said:
If they can replicate crab in a lab, then it won’t be “faux crab”, which is what imitation crab is. It’ll be crab (cultured, crab, synthetic crab, lab, grown crab, etc., but crab nevertheless).
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Not necessarily. It is not clear that they would have to use actual crab cells in the process.

Thought occurred to me that faux crab (pollock) is to crab as natural white zircon is to diamond. A natural simulant. (though processed)

Maybe a more precise analog would be blue topaz as a simulant for aquamarine. (processed with irradiation)
 
DejaWiz said:
The synopsis that I posted contains many buzzwords and catch phrases already being used by the lab grown meat industry has direct parallels to the buzzwords and catch phrases in the diamond industry wasn't directed at you, Bryan - I already knew that "imitation krab" is comprised of fish. I posted it because it shows that there is effective and similar psychological warfare used in advertising across different industries to elicit emotions, either for or against.
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I get it, and your post was very instructive. No offense taken!

I'm not advocating for imitation krab. Personally, I prefer SGC (sea grown crab).
 
Chelsea Palmer said:
I like everything you post, DejaWiz. Makes me even more happy that you were the one that found my beautiful, beautiful beautiful 2-carat LGD. May I ask what SIC stands for?
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What does SIC stand for?
 
Texas Leaguer said:
Not necessarily. It is not clear that they would have to use actual crab cells in the process.

Thought occurred to me that faux crab (pollock) is to crab as natural white zircon is to diamond. A natural simulant. (though processed)

Maybe a more precise analog would be blue topaz as a simulant for aquamarine. (processed with irradiation)
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Yes, that’s the type of analogy I’ve been trying to make all along.
 
elle_chris said:
Regardless of where your ice comes from, it's still water. That's more like comparing diamonds from different mines.

Synthetic and Natural are not the same thing.
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Regardless where your diamond came from, is it not still crystallized carbon? (Not asking this rhetorically.). A better comparison to match your comparison might be ice from different ice floes/bergs in the Antarctic. Still water from Antarctic, still crystallized carbon from a diamond mine.
 
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Chelsea Palmer said:
Regardless where your diamond came from, is it not still crystallized carbon? Not asking this rhetorically.
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Is graphite a diamond? It's also crystallized carbon.

Synthetic and natural are NOT the same. That means man made diamonds are NOT the same as natural.

If you think they're exactly the same, Ok!
 
elle_chris said:
Is graphite a diamond? It's also crystallized carbon.

Synthetic and natural are NOT the same. That means man made diamonds are NOT the same as natural.

If you think they're exactly the same, Ok!
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Again, I did not say they are the same. I did not say they are identical. It’s my understanding both are diamonds. If that is not the case please let me know.
 
Chelsea Palmer said:
Again, I did not say they are the same. I did not say they are identical. It’s my understanding both are diamonds. If that is not the case please let me know.
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Natural: Gemstones that formed entirely through natural geological processes without any human intervention.

Treated: Natural gemstones that have been subjected to human enhancement processes to improve their appearance, durability, or other desirable characteristics.

Synthetic: Gemstones that are created entirely in laboratories using controlled processes that replicate the natural formation conditions. These gems have essentially the same chemical composition, crystal structure, and physical properties as their natural counterparts, but they're made by humans rather than geological processes. Examples include lab-grown diamonds, synthetic rubies, and synthetic emeralds.

Imitation: Materials that look like genuine gemstones but have different chemical compositions and physical properties. These can be natural materials (like quartz dyed to look like emerald), synthetic materials (like cubic zirconia imitating diamond), or even glass or plastic. Imitations simulate the appearance of precious gems but lack their fundamental characteristics.
 
Garry H (Cut Nut) said:
Natural: Gemstones that formed entirely through natural geological processes without any human intervention.

Treated: Natural gemstones that have been subjected to human enhancement processes to improve their appearance, durability, or other desirable characteristics.

Synthetic: Gemstones that are created entirely in laboratories using controlled processes that replicate the natural formation conditions. These gems have essentially the same chemical composition, crystal structure, and physical properties as their natural counterparts, but they're made by humans rather than geological processes. Examples include lab-grown diamonds, synthetic rubies, and synthetic emeralds.

Imitation: Materials that look like genuine gemstones but have different chemical compositions and physical properties. These can be natural materials (like quartz dyed to look like emerald), synthetic materials (like cubic zirconia imitating diamond), or even glass or plastic. Imitations simulate the appearance of precious gems but lack their fundamental characteristics.
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So then both Earth-extracted diamonds and LGDs are diamonds. Again, please correct me if I’m mistaken.
 
Chelsea Palmer said:
So then both Earth-extracted diamonds and LGDs are diamonds. Again, please correct me if I’m mistaken.
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Chelsea, you've posted this across multiple threads ad nauseam, now - and you've been answered ad nauseam: for what reason do you keep posting about it?
 
Chelsea Palmer said:
So then both Earth-extracted diamonds and LGDs are diamonds. Again, please correct me if I’m mistaken.
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Yes, Natural (Earth Grown is a derogatory term invented to indicate mined, natural is the historically and gemmologically correct term).
LGD's are technically Synthetic until the US Government decided there was a new MAGA industry and the FTC decided to effectively outlay "synthetic".
The FTC, 90 years ago, outlawed the term Blue White diamonds. It never stopped Harry Winston though.
 
Garry H (Cut Nut) said:
Yes, Natural (Earth Grown is a derogatory term invented to indicate mined, natural is the historically and gemmologically correct term).
LGD's are technically Synthetic until the US Government decided there was a new MAGA industry and the FTC decided to effectively outlay "synthetic".
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Not surprising given rival Russia is the top Diamond producer in the world......
 
freddyboston said:
Not surprising given rival Russia is the top Diamond producer in the world......
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De Beers is tops by $$$'s FB with one and a half times the value per carat.
Russia is the top by carats.
Botswana alone is close to Russia by value.
 

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DejaWiz said:
Chelsea, you've posted this across multiple threads ad nauseam, now - and you've been answered ad nauseam: for what reason do you keep posting about it?
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Thank you for being so kind with your wording... but yes, I'm really over it. At this point - we all have our thoughts on LGD and natural and I don't think constantly bringing it up will change anyone's feelings.
 
jjca said:
Thank you for being so kind with your wording... but yes, I'm really over it. At this point - we all have our thoughts on LGD and natural and I don't think constantly bringing it up will change anyone's feelings.
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My inquiries are not about thoughts or opinions. I’m asking about facts. If one cannot or will not provide a factual response, then feel free to simply not respond.
 
Chelsea Palmer said:
My inquiries are not about thoughts or opinions. I’m asking about facts. If one cannot or will not provide a factual response, then feel free to simply not respond.
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But you've already been given a factual response numerous times in numerous threads.
Is there a different way that the same answer needs to be worded which will provide you full appeasement?
I'm genuinely confused why you continue this crusade for an answer that has already been given to not only you, but the entire world:


From a different GIA article...the wording that you're looking for is right there: three rough diamonds each from a different origin:

Screenshot_20250614-213347-817.png
 
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