When Sandee Vargo lost one of her diamond earrings two years ago, she turned that sinking feeling into an opportunity to try something new.
Her remaining one-third carat stud earring was a natural diamond, mined from the ground. But Vargo of North Huntingdon became interested in another option for her replacement: lab-created diamonds. They’re physically identical to mined stones, sell for a fraction of the price and are considered by many consumers to be a more ethical and environmentally friendly choice over their traditional counterparts.
“The cost of having a matching real diamond and setting with the remaining earring was ridiculous,” she said. “I saw a beautiful pair of lab-created diamond studs, which were much less. I put my real diamond stud next to the lab-created. That was it.”
“The lab-created was more brilliant, and I purchased the set. If I lose one of these, it will be much less expensive to replace,” Vargo said.
She is among a growing number of consumers opting for lab-grown stones. According to co-owner Jeff DePalma of J & J Jewelers of Jeannette, about 80% of his customers now pass by the displays of naturally mined diamonds and make a beeline for the less-expensive lab-grown ones.