When December rolled around, my partner asked me if I had any ideas for a Christmas gift. 

To be honest, I am the sort of person who puts a lot of thought into these things. I would rather wait until there is something I would like, rather than get something for its sake, regardless of whether that means I have the present on the day of the special occasion. So I did have to stop and think for a while, but as luck would have it, it didn’t take me long. 

I like simple, minimalist jewellery. This is particularly true for my work wardrobe. I wear a Natasha Schweitzer letter necklace every day, along with my wedding band and engagement ring. And I tend to favour pearl studs or simple gold hoops for earrings - or sometimes my small Coco Chanel’s. So I thought it would be nice to have a pair of small diamond stud earrings that I could also wear to work or on the weekend when we’re out and about. 

So one weekend, we went into the city, and I tried on some earrings from Tiffany’s and Canturi. Trying on a few different pairs helped me determine which size and shape suited me. My partner and I also decided to opt for 18k gold earrings for quality and longevity rather than 9K. 

Ultimately, because I wanted something I could wear every day and simple small studs, I decided this would be an excellent opportunity to try lab-grown diamonds. 

Lab-grown diamonds are a whole new world for me. However, I knew that they look the same, their makeup is the same, and they are classified the same way naturally grown diamonds are in terms of cut, clarity, carat and colour. 

To the naked eye, a lab-grown diamond and a natural diamond look the same. The main difference is in how they are created and sourced. As lab-grown diamonds are manufactured in an artificial setting, the costs associated with the product are much lower. This then impacts their sales price, allowing them to offer a more affordable product.

In the case of my earrings - I was able to get the size I wanted (0.5carat), and the quality of gold I wanted (18k) for a quarter of the price as natural diamond earrings at Novita Diamonds.

Pros of lab-grown diamonds: 

1. Value for money: for an everyday jewellery item, like diamond stud earrings, this made more sense to me. 

2. Ethical choice: No concerns about how the diamonds were sourced.

Cons of lab-grown diamonds: 

1. The experience felt much more transactional than a traditional jewellery purchase from luxury retailers. If you were after a special piece of jewellery and wanted the experience that accompanies that, including after-sales cleaning, support, etc., there might be better options for you. However, for everyday jewellery like earrings, this wasn’t a deal-breaker.

Ultimately, I’m really happy that I decided to go with lab-grown diamond earrings. They look great and are perfect for everyday wear.