How Do We Want to Live? Lab Diamonds as a Vision for a Brighter Future
Lab diamonds are far more than a scientific miracle—they are a glimpse of how we could live in a world that is safer, fairer, and happier.
Medieval alchemists sought to create gold and diamonds, driven by greed and the promise of immense wealth. Modern alchemists of the 21st century have succeeded in creating gemstones with the exact same chemical and physical properties as diamonds—but the result is not immense personal wealth. Instead, it is a vision of a better world.
Well… almost everyone benefits. The traditional diamond industry is less happy.
For generations, a few corporations controlled the global diamond supply through monopolies and strict agreements over mineral rights. De Beers, for example, limited diamond sales to a select group of companies called Siteholders. These companies had to buy fixed amounts of rough diamonds each year—or lose their status. By controlling supply, De Beers could control prices.
With such power and little competition, abuses occurred. In 2021, after an eight-year legal struggle, Ecojustice, Canada’s largest environmental law charity, forced De Beers to admit that their mining operations had polluted one of the world’s largest wetlands with mercury, endangering wildlife.
Zachary Biech, Ecojustice lawyer, said:
"This private prosecution was necessary because Ontario’s reliance on self-reporting by mining companies does not work. Too often, this gives mining companies the opportunity to pollute with impunity, as was the case with De Beers at its Victor Mine."
The environmental impact of diamond mining goes beyond chemical pollution. Noise from mining operations disrupts ocean life. The Futurium Museum in Berlin highlighted this in an exhibition called Whale Bells by artist Jenny Kendler. The sound pollution disturbs whales and dolphins, preventing them from navigating, finding food, or communicating.
Diamond mining companies are aware of this. Earlier this year, De Beers announced that its Upstream Technology business in South Africa had developed advanced subsea diamond recovery crawlers. These machines sweep the ocean floor to extract diamonds, a process that could seriously harm marine ecosystems.
The traditional diamond industry is failing to evolve. Consumers increasingly turn to lab-grown diamonds because they are beautiful, affordable, and free from the ethical and environmental issues of mining.
How Lab Diamonds Are Made
Lab diamonds are created in two main ways:
High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT): This method replicates the natural conditions deep within the Earth.
Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD): A diamond seed is placed in a chamber, and the stone is built layer by layer. This method is faster than HPHT and uses less energy.
Lab-grown diamonds are produced in controlled environments, meaning:
- No disruption to the earth or ocean floors.
- Safe working conditions for employees.
- No risk of soil or water contamination, protecting local communities and wildlife.
Lab diamonds also democratize the market. Unlike mined diamonds, which are often controlled by a few powerful companies, lab-grown diamonds allow many businesses to compete fairly. Retailers can buy directly from producers or cutters, shortening supply chains and increasing transparency.
More Than a Gem—A Movement
Lab-grown diamonds represent more than beauty—they represent a movement. They show that innovation can break entrenched power, that luxury can be ethical, and that responsibility can coexist with elegance. Choosing a lab-grown diamond is not just a purchase—it’s participation in a fairer, brighter future for the planet and its people.
If you have purchased a lab-grown diamond in the past four years, you have already been part of this important social movement. You’re helping shape a brighter, more responsible world for generations to come.
Join the movement for a fairer, brighter future—shop lab-grown diamonds now.