Lab grown diamonds are booming as couples look for cheaper versions of mined gems

FAKE diamonds are booming in popularity as newlyweds opt for a more sustainable alternative to mined gems.

Some jewellers say interest has grown by more than 2,000 per cent in five years, as people look for more affordable options.

Physically and chemically identical to their natural counterpart, but costing up to 85 per cent less, lab-grown diamonds are increasingly being seen as the better-value alternative.

And a study of 1,500 would-be husbands and wives found 70 per cent would be willing to opt for a lab-grown alternative.

Value for money (55 per cent) and sustainability (43 per cent) are the main reasons they’d make the switch to a diamond created in a laboratory.

While 69 per cent admitted they wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between the two types of gems.

Following the findings, it was put to the test in a video which shows passers-by left stunned when told about the price difference, and also struggling to tell the diamonds apart.

It comes as London-based diamond retailer , situated in the historic Hatton Garden district, revealed the market for lab-grown diamonds has increased by 2,860 per cent in just five years.

In 2019, its lab-grown sales equated to just one per cent of overall diamond sales, but this year, that figure has swelled to 81 per cent of overall sales, with the jeweller on track to sell 1,900 lab-grown diamonds.

A spokesperson for the brand, which commissioned the research, said: “It’s no surprise to see people willing to move away from mined diamonds.

“Lab-grown diamonds provide a great alternative that is more affordable and less impactful on the environment, which is a big concern for most people.

“The trend of people moving towards lab-grown alternatives isn’t going away.”

The study also found 53 per cent of those who plan to tie the knot would choose a cheaper engagement ring if it meant they could splash out more on their wedding day.

The venue (53 per cent) and the wedding outfit (34 per cent) are the main priorities – with wedding rings (31 per cent) in third place.

The changing tide in attitudes towards gems is further highlighted by 71 per cent feeling lab-grown diamonds will be the new normal in the future.

For some, that future is already here, as 27 per cent already owned jewellery with a lab-grown diamond in it.

While 32 per cent knew of others who had bought lab diamond jewellery.

Away from weddings, the top gifts people would look to buy their partners containing non-mined diamonds include necklaces (52 per cent), earrings (50 per cent) or a bracelet (44 per cent).

There are other options for discovering eco-conscious rings, such as the or the says Sam Mee, owner of The Antique Ring Boutique: “Antique or vintage rings are a great option as they avoid the environmental costs of mining and transporting new diamonds.

“You may not know the exact provenance as – but reuse is always better for the environment than new.”