Love Them, Hate Them or Hold Your Nose

WE ASKED Brain Squad members to sum up their feelings about lab-grown diamonds in three words. The results? According to our unscientific analysis, a three-way split between love (29 votes), hate (33) and grudging acceptance (30). Some see dollar signs. Others see the end times. And a sizable middle ground has made peace with a product they may not have asked for but are unable to ignore.

Love Them (29)

• “Beautiful, budget, diamond.” — Amy H., Jacksonville, FL
• “Easy to sell.” — Steven R., Houston, TX
• “Inclusive. Transparent. Relationship-building.” — Denise O., La Grange, IL
• “Big, sparkly, and inexpensive.” — Deb L., Appletown, WI
• “Easy to sell.” — Jan C., Muscle Shoals, AL
• “Affordable, convenient, easy.” — Daniela B., Guilford, CT
• “More diamond sales.” — Don U., Wethersfield, CT
• “We are able to provide customers with engagement rings that are affordable.” — Tommy N., Lake Charles, LA
• “Customers saving money.” — Rick L., San Rafael, CA
• “Love. Those. Moneymakers!” — Suzanne N., Pleasant Hills, PA
• “Product that sells.” — Sue P., Escanaba, MI
• “Money, customers, happy.” — Laurie L., Omaha, NE
• “Great.” — Varsenne M., Old Tappan, NJ
• “Good, better, great.” — Tim S., Mobile, AL
• “Value, quality, beauty.” — Bob M., Barrington, IL
• “Changed the game.” — Jim C., Modesto, CA
• “Flash for da cash.” — David K., Grand Rapids, MI
• “Broke the monopoly.” — William G L., Asheville, NC
• “Great prices.” — Doug S., Hartford, WI
• “They sell easily.” — Christine M., Boyertown, PA
• “Lovely, perfect, easy.” — Jo G., Oconomowoc, WI
• “Great for business!” — James S., Lowell, IN
• “Sell, sell, sell.” — Cindy S., Southport, NC
• “I do embrace them and sell them easily.” — Drue S., Albany, NY
• “Beautiful, reliable product.” — Ellie T., Chicago, IL
• “Gives better profits.” — Mark R., Seneca Falls, NY
• “Allows more creativity.” — Casey G., Orleans, MA
• “Here to stay!” — Joe T., Lubbock, TX
• “Excited, welcoming, studs!” — Cliff Y., Lowell, MI

Tolerate Them (30)

• “They are fine.” — Susan M., Dunedin, FL
• “Was once awesome.” — Christopher S., Wexford, PA
• “Don’t like but they sell.” — John P., Winter Park, FL
• “I’ll sell whatever.” — Peter T., Show Low, AZ
• “Serves a purpose.” — Trevor W., Myerstown, PA
• “Margins, the new Pandora, $$$.” — Amanda L., Steinbach, MB
• “Happy; creative; neutral.” — Angela C., Atascadero, CA
• “Frankly, they make sense, especially to young folks starting out in life.” — Steven W., Chatham, MA
• “Whatever customer wants.” — Susan K., Lewisburg, PA
• “Cheap, durable, sells.” — Laura P., St. Robert, MO
• “Complicate reusing diamonds.” — Monica L., Fond du Lac, WI
• “We are selling them at a good profit, but kind of ‘hold my nose’ in doing so.” — Jon W., Virginia Beach, VA
• “For some people.” — Lee K., Montgomery, OH
• “Serve a purpose.” — Christopher S., Plainview, NY
• “Necessary to offer, not our first choice.” — Kate S., New Oxford, PA
• “Just an option.” — Dianna Rae H., Lafayette, LA
• “They sell with little resistance — nobody seems to be very interested in the 4 Cs.” — Ragnar B., Vancouver, BC
• “Here to stay.” — Cheryl K., Lincoln, NE
• “Worried, excited, grateful.” — Paul K., Fort Atkinson, WI
• “Cat’s outta the bag, so embrace them.” — Steve H., Lake Havasu City, AZ
• “Here to stay.” — Bill E., Terre Haute, IN
• “Here to stay.” — Gregory F., Washington, NJ
• “Clients want them.” — Brenda N., El Segundo, CA
• “Options, alternatives, choices.” — Kirk G., Gonzales, TX
• “Here to stay.” — Loann S., Stillwater, MN
• “It is a two-tier market now. Lab for fashion or young buyers.” — Dan N., Saint Augustine, FL
• “Love-hate relationship.” — Edwin M., Brainerd, MN
• “Easy, big, generic.” — Becky B., Peabody, MA
• “No NO YES.” — Mark S., Appleton, WI

Hate Them (33)

• “Low margins suck.” — Mary Beth C., Elmira, NY
• “Cheap, fashion, brittle.” — Beth G., Endwell, NY
• “I hate them.” — Elizabeth S., San Diego, CA
• “I hate them.” — Cathy C., Royersford, PA
• “I hate them.” — J. Dennis P., Johnstown, PA
• “MARGINS RAPIDLY DROPPING — The profit margins are rapidly dropping along with the prices. I just saw a person who bought a 5.79 lab diamond solitaire ring for under $2,500. We have to find our extras that online wholesalers do not offer to compete.” — Julee J., Mankato, MN
• “Dislike, loathe, mistrust.” — James D., Kingston, NH
• “Bleah.” — Holly M., Astoria, OR
• “Resigned. Inevitable. Gaudy.” — Gretchen S., Sherman Oaks, CA
• “Bad for industry.” — Jeff V., Lafayette, IN
• “Sign of the apocalypse.” — Mark & Monika C., Rockford, IL
• “Lacks value, drives the average price point down, loathe them.” — Tom D., Warren, OH
• “Not our choice.” — Betsy B., San Francisco, CA
• “We won’t stock.” — Georgie G., Palo Alto, CA
• “Man-made, grown by man or created by nature, don’t start off your story with a fake.” — Kelly V., Geneva, IL
• “Costume jewelry.” — Steven J., Somers Point, NJ
• “Unfavorable for jewelers.” — Annette K., Stillwater, OK
• “Sorry they exist.” — Nancy & Pierre P., Swansea, MA
• “S_hit sh_t SHI_.” — Mark R., Ottawa, ON
• “For poor people.” — Barry F., Bardonia, NY
• “Not going there.” — Eileen E., Decatur, IN
• “Not for us.” — Eve J. A., Evanston, IL
• “Substitute for cubics.” — David B., Calgary, AB
• “Declining in appeal.” — Jeff M., Knoxville, TN
• “Garbage, trash, and s***.” — Marc M., Midland, TX
• “We don’t sell them.” — Autumn K., Tucson, AZ
• “Don’t like them.” — W J S. III, Franklin, VA
• “Not a fan.” — Joe C., Bristol, RI
• “Can’t get out.” — Stew B., Natick, MA
• “Bad, worthless, criminal.” — John A. Jr., Bala-Cynwyd, PA
• “Not a baller.” — Natasha H., Bend, OR
• “No BS anymore.” — Klaus K., Bristol, RI
• “Sad for industry.” — Stacey G., Edson, AB