I used to be a diamond snob but I’m not anymore. I have an antique ring with three stones – two diamonds and a pearl in the middle. I hate the pearl and plan to replace it at some point with either a synthetic diamond or a synthetic sapphire. It’s just a pretty ring. I don’t care if it’s “real” or not.
I do have a gorgeous engagement ring that I’m quite proud of, so maybe that’s why I don’t feel the need to replace the pearl with something real.
I just used portfolio visualizer for the amount of the Diamond ring, put 100% in VTI since we bought it, I laughed at the amount it is today. Very tiny potato, not worth worry about. All it matters we’re happy getting married.
Diamonds are kinda my thing and I’ve upgraded my ring twice. Even though I have a very good eye for evaluating stones, I would never buy a stone that isn’t GIA certified. Especially when you’re looking in the 2 carat range. I want to know that I’m getting exactly the quality I’m paying for. My advice is to prioritize cut and color over clarity. All the fire and sparkle comes from the cut. No matter how great the color and clarity, a stone without a great cut is going to look flat. Small imperfections that can’t be seen without 10x magnification aren’t going to make any difference in the beauty of the ring.
I have not purchased any lab created stones, but recently had a discussion about them with my jeweler. They are selling a lot of them, but said that they had no interest in buying any of them back unlike a natural stone that they will buy back to help a customer upgrade. It is true that no diamond is going to keep the value so should not be considered an investment. I say buy what you want and wear it proudly all of the time. I used to hold back on wearing really nice pieces thinking it was a “bit much” for routine daytime activites. Not any more - I’m wearing it all whenever I want.
Just to clear some misconceptions. Lab-created diamonds ARE real diamonds. Chemically and physically identical to the material found in the diamond mines. Cubic zirconia is a completely different material.
And GIA also certifies lab created diamonds.
One of the most memorable cases we read at HBS was a marketing case about diamonds. The professor began by asking everyone who was wearing a diamond to raise their hand (many went up) and then opened the discussion by asking how much each person thought their stone was worth. Many explained they knew because they had appraisals, certificates from jewelers, purchased from Tiffany’s, didn’t want to say in public, etc. We later read through the case which explained how diamonds have very little inherent value as they are not rare* and are simply carbon under pressure that can be manufactured “perfectly” from any carbon-based substance, so the supply and market value are artificially controlled via cartels, mostly by DeBeers. Until DeBeers created a market for diamonds as engagements stones, most engagement rings were plain bands or colored stones which were seen as more desirable than colorless stones. He ended by telling us to enjoy our jewelry but understand that any value we thought we had was simply a breathtaking marketing mirage that would hold only as long as the cartels remained strong. The diamonds themselves, regardless of the 4 Cs, were worth about the same as garnets.
At the molecular level, manufactured diamonds are exactly the same as naturally-occurring diamonds, but the manufacturing process can consistently turn out flawless stones of any size and cut. The cost difference for natural diamonds is simply based on the power of the cartels to control supply, set prices, and market a narrative of rarity/desirability. IMO, anyone opting for a natural diamond is foolish when the manufactured version is identical and perfection can be had for a fraction of the cost. The only way a jeweler might guess a stone is manufactured is based on it’s flawlessness, nothing else as the composition is identical.
*There ARE rare naturally-occurring diamonds whose size, color, and history make them unique and thus valuable. They reside in museums and the coffers of monarchs. They are not what you have on your finger.
ETA: Jewelers do everything in their power to oppose these facts as the mirage depends on the marketing. Ask a scientist instead.
+1 
absolutely second what you said. The scientist also took some business classes later in her life. Our marketing prof started the class by playing Diamonds by Sia. And it looks like we read the HBS case. Just at a different school and a few years after you took your class
My jeweler was the one who suggested the synthetic sapphire. At a cost only 10% of a natural sapphire, I’m sorely tempted and will probably go that route.
Buy what you can afford and what you like and enjoy and ignore the noise.
Buy what you can afford and what you like and enjoy and ignore the noise.
I think this is sage advice for anything in life to an extent - except that OP said this:
My fear is that the created stone would be worth much less in the future.
OP is getting WAY more noise than she bargained for. And not about value.
I would have no hesitation buying or wearing a created lab diamond. Cut what gives the sparkle. If I were going to buy jewelry I would go to Distinctive Gem online, he seems to do great work and have a great reputation among online diamond shoppers. Pricescope forums also have a lot of info.
Don’t spend more than you can handle, and don’t worry about resale, don’t plan on having to ever sell it.
A 2 carat, non manufactured GIA diamond might be appraised for something like $25-30k, and might cost you $12-15k to replace at a direct dealer, and MIGHT get you $5-7k from the same direct dealer, maybe, if they want it.
People in our parent’s generation see a lot of value in things that don’t seem to provide resell value. I inherited a diamond that became my updated wedding ring & wear the band 24/7, I only wear the fancy diamond sometimes because I have an active life, gardening, pet stuff, grandkids. But I will admit I like it.