Lab-grown diamonds come with sparkling price tags, but many have cloudy sustainability claims

(13 Feb 2024)
FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4477966
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Philadelphia - 7 February 2024
1. Close of lab-grown and natural diamond
HEADLINE: Are lab-grown diamonds really more sustainable?
2. Exterior of jewelry shop
3. Closeup of jewelry
ANNOTATION: Sales of lab-grown diamonds have jumped in recent years, but how sustainable they are is questionable.
4. Various of diamonds in cases
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5. SOUNDBITE (English) Page Neal, co-founder of Bario Neal jewelry shop:
“For customers who want to buy a lab grown diamond, with the idea that it's the most sustainable choice, I would suggest that they really research where the lab grown diamonds are coming from.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS
New York - 8 February 2024
6. Various of Ulrika D’Haenens-Johansson performing test that uses ultraviolet light to determine whether diamond is positively natural or “referred” for further testing
ANNOTATION: Lab grown diamonds are chemically the same as diamonds found in the ground but cost a fraction of the price.
7. Closeup of natural and lab-made diamonds side by side
ANNOTATION: The Gemological Institute of America certifies gemstones, using special machines to distinguish between natural and lab grown diamonds.
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8. SOUNDBITE (English) Ulrika D’Haenens-Johansson, Senior Manager of Diamond Research at Gemological Institute of America:
“In the past, poor quality laboratory grown diamonds, you could actually identify by eye. Nowadays, by eye, unfortunately, because they're chemically the same materials as natural stones, they're imperceptible. You can't see.”
9. Various of GIA gemologist inspecting diamond under microscope
10. Closeup of diamond in liquid nitrogen
ANNOTATION: Many consumers buy lab grown diamonds for sustainability and ethical reasons, but big companies often lack transparency about their operations.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Philadelphia - 7 February 2024
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11. SOUNDBITE (English) Paul Zimnisky, a diamond industry expert:
“There are some man-made diamonds that are produced with hydro, energy or solar energy. And then you have some that are produced, you know, with grid power that's being fed by coal. And then you have some, you know, some natural diamond production operations that are, you know, very efficient and, you know, very thoughtfully run, you know, from an environmental impact standpoint. So, there's a lot of variation. So I think to just say that, you know, man-made diamonds are the eco-friendly alternative is too simple of a narrative. It's much more nuanced than that.”
ASSOCIATED PRESS
New York - 8 February 2024
12. Diamond being placed under laser microscope
13. Lab-grown diamond girdle being inscribed
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Philadelphia - 7 February 2024
14. Various of Neal in her jewelry shop
ANNOTATION: Some sellers offer both lab-grown and natural diamonds, and trace all the materials throughout their supply chain.
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15. SOUNDBITE (English) Page Neal, co-founder of Bario Neal jewelry shop:
“When we're using materials that have caused harm to other people and the environment to create a symbol of love and commitment or identity, to me it feels at odds, you know, and we've, we've, take, the privilege of making jewelry for other people very seriously. And we want, to only work with materials that we feel like our clients would be proud to own.”
16. Neal looking at her sustainability report
17. Close up of jewelry on display
STORYLINE:
But that's not the norm for lab-grown diamonds.
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[@SujitChakraborty-n4p]

What is the price of per carat?