Page 90 - South Mississippi Living - February, 2023

ROMANCE & WEDDING
LAB-GROWN
story by Cherie Ward photos courtesy of Horne Custom Jewelry
A Fresh New Take on an Age-Old Tradition
I t’s the forever-recognized symbol of true love and lasting commitment. An
unbreakable circle adorned with a brilliant, sparkling diamond – the engagement ring.
And of all the latest and greatest engagement ring trends, none has been more popular than the phenomenon of lab-grown diamonds. In recent years, there has been an influx in companies producing and selling innovative gemstones, with many touting lab-created diamonds as a more sustainable and eco-friendly choice over traditionally earth-mined diamonds. If you’ve found yourself wondering if lab-grown diamonds are actually real diamonds or how they might differ from traditional ones, you’re not alone.
Luckily, Cliff Horne, owner of Horne Custom Jewelry on Pass Road in Gulfport, is extremely knowledgeable about what many consider a stunning, long-lasting, and less expensive engagement ring option.
He said a big selling point for lab-created diamonds – which are in fact real diamonds – is they are sold at a fraction of the cost and can have the same conflict-free brilliance as Mother Nature’s diamonds.
He explained, lab-grown diamonds look identical to naturally discovered diamonds to the unaided eye and typically need advanced equipment just to be accurately identified. And just like mined diamonds, lab-created diamonds vary in quality among the four C grading method which is cut, color, clarity, and carat.
The drawbacks include an unstable market when it comes to lab-created diamonds because there are currently very few regulations that can make the resale or trade- in value unpredictably fluctuate.
“They’re both – earth diamonds and lab- grown – real diamonds, and great options
for an engagement ring,” Horne said, adding they have an array of both stones for you and your beloved to make that perfect selection.
After all, diamonds, any diamonds – earth- mined or lab-grown – are forever and Horne Custom Jewelry can help you cultivate a sparkling relationship.
“A diamond is the only thing you can purchase that will be in the same unbreakable, impossible-to-scratch shape long after we are gone,” he said.
1500 Pass Rd., Gulfport • 228.731.3717 • www.hornecustomjewelry.com
90 | February 2023 www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living