My Deep Dive into Selling Lab Diamonds
So I’ve been staring at that lab diamond ring my ex gave me years ago, thinking maybe I should cash it out for something useful, like new camera gear. Grabbed the certificate and headed downtown to jewelry shops first.
Wandered into three different stores with my diamond. First guy squinted at it through his loupe and went, “Lab grown? Nah we don’t buy those back.” Second place offered me 20% of what I paid, almost laughed in their face. Third guy straight up said it’s like trying to resell a used phone battery – worth almost zero.
Got home feeling mad frustrated. Went online digging through forums and Reddit threads. Found tons of stories like:
- Joe from Texas tried pawning his 1-carat lab diamond, best offer was $150
- Sarah in NYC ended up giving hers to her niece because no buyers
- That Etsy seller explained how new lab diamonds keep getting cheaper every month
Reached out to this diamond wholesaler buddy I know. Had a brutal phone call where he broke it down: “Natural diamonds hold value because mining supplies are controlled. Lab diamonds? Factories can pump out perfect 3-carat stones cheaper than last year’s models.” Felt like I got punched in the gut.
Tried listing it myself on those online marketplaces. Took professional photos with lightbox and everything. Got exactly three messages in two months:
- First guy offered half my asking price
- Second asked if I’d trade for a PS5
- Third ghosted after saying “looks fake”
Wound up keeping the damn ring. Whole experience taught me lab diamonds aren’t investments – they’re like fancy tech gadgets. Buy ’em cheap, enjoy the sparkle, but never expect money back. My advice? Treat ’em like movie tickets, not gold bars.
