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

Published

7 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.”

Wilkerson Testimonials

Wilkerson: “They Feel Like Family”

Newton’s Jewelers in Fort Smith, Ark., was a true institution. But after being at the helm for most of his life, owner (and descendent of the original founder) Kelly Newton decided it was time to retire. He chose Wilkerson to handle the sale. “I’ve known the owners of Wilkerson for a long, long time. I felt at home with them,” he says. The final retirement sale was just a “blast” and the Wilkerson sales team made it so very simple and straightforward, says Newton. Would he recommend Wilkerson to others? Absolutely. “They’ve done incredible work,” says Newton. “They feel like family.”