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Do You Plan to Sell Lab-Grown Diamonds? Here’s What 5 Retailers Had to Say

Published

10 years ago

June 8, 2016

INSTORE Staff

It’s a polarizing topic.

Southern Jewelry News asked five jewelry retailers if they sell or plan to sell lab-grown diamonds in their stores, eliciting a range of answers that collectively spell out the pros and cons of doing so. Depending on who you ask, the question can prompt some impassioned responses – like this one from Everett Osborne, the owner of Osborne’s Jewelers in Huntsville, AL:

“Very few customers have been asking about synthetic diamonds. It’s mostly a price matter, but there’s also the blood diamonds issue. … For those factoring blood diamonds into their buying decision, we offer assurances that the gem and jewelry industry has gone through great efforts and great expense to stop the selling of diamond from designated conflict countries. In those rare instances when people insist on lab-grown colored stones, we’ll order these gems for them. But when it comes to synthetic diamonds, I won’t do it. I don’t want our store to be known for selling those products. I’d rather lose the sale than sell a synthetic diamond.”

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Bob Bonaci spent 35 years building a jewelry business and community presence in Kent, Washington. When he decided it was time to retire, he knew the process would take careful planning — and the right help. Fellow jewelers who’d been through it pointed him to Wilkerson. The results exceeded expectations. Wilkerson’s hands-off approach let Bonaci step back while the team handled every detail, meeting his personal and financial goals throughout. “It is phenomenal, the success that we’ve had.” Watch Bob share his retirement story.