Are Diamonds Even Cool Anymore?

Diamonds, once for the rich and famous - now seem a dime a dozen, or at least the Lab Grown Stones everywhere on my feed. These new stones are marketed as the “ethical choice”, half the price, Flawless, and oh sooo much larger… But when something feels too good to be true, it usually is.

I sat down with second-generation jeweller Arisa Kumar, who’s challenging the myths of lab-grown stones, speaking about the rise of “Fast Diamonds” and her mission to make Natural Diamonds cool again.

I asked Arisa Kumar: Be honest. Natural or lab? Natural, of course! 

What are the cons of lab-grown? The waste. Lab-grown diamonds - whether HPHT or CVD - require enormous amounts of energy and water to replicate natural conditions.

And natural diamonds hold their value. You’ll still find “dated” pieces with natural stones in pawn shops, estate sales, and auctions decades later.

Lab diamonds? No one really knows. “Like a situationship,” she smirks.

So what happens to Lab Diamonds…. Do they hold value? Very little resale value… sometimes none at all.

If you buy a particularly trendy lab grown piece - say a dupe of something worn on a red carpet - and six months later it feels out of style, you could try to trade it in someone might buy it for the metal and toss the lab stone entirely.

Which is a bit shocking when you spent $30k on something that ages like last season’s purse!

Arisa explains her process - and how she uses her access to deadstock: broken diamonds, forgotten stones, the scraps other jewellers overlook.

“Why recycle men when you can recycle diamonds?” she laughs.

She takes the stones no one wants and remakes them into something new - giving them another life. Each collection is named after her heritage - half Indian, half Japanese - weaving her own story back into the stones.

Reclaimed, a little rebellious, and made so anyone can wear them.

Do you think lab diamonds democratise luxury - or dilute it?

I do think it dilutes the luxury of a diamond. It makes the industry feel almost like fast fashion and takes away the yearning and fantasy of owning a true luxury piece, as well as the artistry for jewellers. Diamonds are not like SHEIN.

I understand the argument, but my brand ARIIS Jewelry, and other jewellers, can and should recycle diamonds, rescuing deadstock and creating pieces that are more affordable and sustainable for everyone. People see diamonds and think of Blood Diamond, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

“Mass production risks creating a fast-fashion environment. I instead choose to recycle.”

Who should the Diamond market design for today?

A pair of earrings isn’t for men or for women - it’s 2026, not the 1920s. Everyone should have the opportunity to wear diamonds - at any price point, at any gender expression.

Jewelry, especially diamonds, should be for everyone.

So how do you make diamonds cool again?

Wear them! All the time. That was the best part about lab grown diamonds, it made people be less afraid of wearing diamonds… So do it right. Wear real stones natural real stones. Why fake it why go to shein when you can recycle and wear the real thing?

Diamonds shouldn’t sit in safes waiting for anniversaries. They should be at the bodega, in sweatpants, on a random Tuesday. 

After speaking with Arisa she inspired me. I have some old jewelry left to me by my grandmother. A big ass set of Pearl & Diamond earrings, a little too extra to wear casually? Perhaps - today I’m wearing them with jeans… Who’s the Rich & Famous one now?!