Tiffany & Co. is one of the most iconic jewelry brands in the world, known for their signature robin’s egg blue boxes and exceptional diamond craftsmanship. When you think of Tiffany, visions of dazzling diamond rings, necklaces and earrings likely come to mind. But where exactly do the sparkling diamonds found in Tiffany jewelry originate from – are they mined or created in a lab?
This is an important question for consumers to consider when purchasing diamond jewelry. A mined diamond is a natural stone formed in the earth over billions of years, while a lab-grown diamond is manufactured in a laboratory through technological processes. There are pros and cons to both mined and lab-created diamonds that buyers should weigh when deciding which type of stone best fits their needs and preferences.
In this article, we’ll examine if Tiffany uses mined diamonds or lab diamonds, and provide an overview of each diamond origin type. We’ll look at factors like pricing, quality, sustainability and more so you can make an informed decision when investing in Tiffany diamond jewelry.
Does Tiffany use mined diamonds?
Yes, the majority of the diamonds used in Tiffany & Co. jewelry are mined diamonds.
Tiffany sources their mined diamonds ethically and responsibly through trusted suppliers. The diamonds are mined in countries like Botswana, Canada, Namibia, Russia and South Africa.
Tiffany focuses on sourcing high-quality diamonds. They only use diamonds that meet their exceptional standards in color, cut, clarity and carat weight. Their expertise in diamond sourcing means they can hand-select each mined diamond to ensure it is a Tiffany-caliber stone.
When you purchase a Tiffany diamond, you can feel confident knowing it is an earth-mined diamond that has been carefully evaluated by experts. This rigorous selection process has helped build Tiffany’s strong reputation for outstanding diamonds over the past century.
Benefits of Tiffany’s mined diamonds
There are several advantages to the mined diamonds used in Tiffany jewelry:
- High quality – Tiffany sources very high clarity, color and cut diamonds from ethical mines.
- Rare – Only about 1 in 1,000 diamonds mined are of Tiffany quality.
- Responsibly sourced – Tiffany follows the Kimberley Process to avoid conflict diamonds.
- Natural origins – They are billions of years old and formed inside the earth naturally.
- Reputation – Tiffany is renowned for its exceptional mined diamonds.
- Resale value – Mined diamonds are an investment and hold resale value well.
For these reasons, Tiffany primarily uses carefully selected mined diamonds to uphold its heritage of providing clients with the finest diamond jewelry.
Does Tiffany use lab-grown diamonds?
While the majority of the diamonds Tiffany uses are mined, they do also offer some lab-grown diamond options. In 2018, Tiffany announced they would begin incorporating lab-grown diamonds into some of their jewelry.
This move opened diamond jewelry to a wider audience, since lab-grown diamonds come at a lower price point than mined diamonds. However, Tiffany said that even as lab-grown diamond options are introduced, their focus will remain on the elite, rare mined diamonds that have built their reputation.
Tiffany’s lab-grown diamonds meet the same exceptional standards for color, clarity, cut and carat weight as their mined diamonds. They use technology that replicates the natural diamond creation process, forming the lab diamonds under heat and pressure.
Benefits of Tiffany’s lab-grown diamonds
Here are some of the advantages of Tiffany’s lab-created diamonds:
- Lower costs – They can be up to 50% less expensive than mined diamonds.
- Eco-friendly – Lab diamond production has less environmental impact than mining.
- Ethical – The origin and processes can be traced in a lab setting.
- Quality – They have identical chemical composition and appearance to mined diamonds.
- Customizable – Their attributes like color can be controlled in a lab environment.
Lab-grown diamonds allow more consumers to afford Tiffany diamond jewelry. However, availability is still limited since Tiffany focuses on premier mined diamonds.
How Tiffany prices mined vs. lab diamonds
When it comes to cost, there is a significant price difference between Tiffany’s mined diamonds and lab-grown diamonds.
Tiffany mined diamond pricing
Tiffany mined diamond prices reflect the rarity and top-tier quality of the stones. Because only about 1 in 1,000 diamonds meets Tiffany’s high standards, these diamonds command a premium price.
For example, a 1 carat Tiffany diamond solitaire in platinum can cost around $15,000 to $25,000. The price increases rapidly for larger carat weights. A 3 carat Tiffany diamond might cost $75,000 to $125,000 or more depending on its other specifications.
Given the labor-intensive mining and selection process required to yield Tiffany’s finest diamonds, the pricing accurately reflects the effort and expertise involved. When you buy a Tiffany mined diamond, you are paying for the rarest and highest caliber stones.
Tiffany lab-grown diamond pricing
Since they are manufactured in technology-driven laboratories, Tiffany’s lab-grown diamonds come with significantly lower pricing. A 1 carat lab diamond solitaire from Tiffany might cost $4,000 to $8,000, compared to $15,000 or more for a mined diamond of equivalent specifications.
However, that cost difference shrinks as the diamonds get larger. A 3 carat Tiffany lab-grown diamond might be priced from $18,000 to $36,000 – still less than half the cost of a comparable mined stone.
Even with the lower prices, Tiffany’s lab diamonds are calibrated to the same top standards in color, clarity, cut and carat weight. You get the same Tiffany diamond quality without paying for the rarity and labor of mining.
Comparing quality: Mined vs. lab
Diamond quality comes down to assessing the 4Cs: color, cut, clarity and carat weight. Do lab-grown diamonds stack up to mined diamonds when it comes to these quality metrics?
Color
The best quality diamonds are colorless or near colorless, graded D-F on the diamond color scale. Both mined and lab diamonds can achieve perfect colorlessness, so there is no difference in potential color quality.
However, lab diamonds can offer advantages when it comes to controlling color. Their production process allows creators to grow diamonds in specific hues like pink or blue. This level of color customization is not possible with mined diamonds.
Clarity
Diamond clarity refers to the internal flaws present. The best rating is IF for internally flawless. Again, top mined diamonds and lab diamonds can both reach flawless clarity ratings.
With lab diamonds, manufacturers can potentially optimize conditions to grow diamonds with less imperfections. But mined diamonds at the elite levels needed for Tiffany are also flawless or very nearly flawless.
| Diamond Type | Color | Clarity |
|---|---|---|
| Mined | D-F colorless | IF internally flawless |
| Lab | D-F colorless | IF internally flawless |
Cut
Diamond cut quality focuses on the proportions, symmetry and polish of the diamond. The highest cut grade is Excellent. Here again, both mined and lab diamonds can be cut to flawless proportions for maximum brilliance. The difference is that computer modeling can potentially optimize the cutting process for lab diamonds. However, Tiffany’s expertise ensures both their mined and lab diamonds are always cut to excellence.
Carat
Carat measures diamond weight, not size. Mined diamonds can achieve very large sizes in excess of 10 carats. Lab diamonds are more limited in maximum size, with most under 3 carats. However, within the typical size ranges for fine jewelry, both lab and mined diamonds can provide any needed carat weight.
Overall, when comparing the 4Cs, mined and lab diamonds are capable of excellent quality. Tiffany ensures that regardless of origin, all their diamonds exhibit the finest grading across color, clarity, cut and carat weight.
Sustainability and ethics
Diamond mining does have some ethical and environmental considerations. Lab-grown diamond production is presented as an eco-friendly alternative that may appeal to sustainability-minded consumers.
Mining impacts
Diamond mining is resource-intensive and creates environmental disruption. Mines impact local water tables, land use and ecosystems. There are also concerns around mining practices and labor conditions in some regions.
However, Tiffany has strict sourcing policies to ensure its diamonds come from mines focused on limiting their impacts. They follow the ethical Kimberley Process and work closely with suppliers and local communities to lead in sustainability efforts.
Lab diamond processes
Lab diamond creators cite environmental advantages. Producing diamonds in a lab eliminates large-scale mining operations. The manufacturing facilities use clean energy and recycled water. The controlled indoor facility has lower carbon emissions than conventional mining.
However, creating diamonds via advanced technology still requires energy and resources. There are different views on whether the total environmental impacts are definitively less.
Ultimately, consumers need to weigh factors like mining conditions and production emissions based on available data from Tiffany and other unbiased sources.
Resale value over time
One potential advantage of high-quality mined diamonds is they may hold resale value better than lab diamonds. Both types of diamonds do face some depreciation when sold in the secondary market. Resale value depends on factors like market conditions and consumer perceptions.
Mined diamond value retention
If you wished to sell a Tiffany mined diamond ring after several years of wear, you could expect to recoup 50-70% or more of its initial value. Customers know Tiffany’s elite diamonds are genuine, naturally scarce stones that have built value over geological timeframes. Their fine quality retains value.
Top mined diamonds are seen as stable investments due to the consistent high demand and limited supply. Over decades, they may even appreciate in value beyond inflation for holders of very rare diamonds.
Lab diamond value retention
Lab-grown diamonds are a newer category, so there’s less data on long-term resale value. They do not have the same cachet as rare mined diamonds yet. Estimates suggest lab diamonds may retain 30-50% of original value after several years.
Their technology-driven production allows for more supply at lower prices. And since they do not have a “mined” status, lab diamonds are perceived by some as synthetic imitation stones even if the physical and chemical makeup is the same as a mined diamond.
Over time, consumer acceptance of lab-grown diamonds may improve, potentially influencing their resale value. But at present, mined diamonds are seen as a better long-term investment.
Mined vs. lab: Social implications
There are some social signaling factors that also influence the mined versus lab-grown diamond decision.
Mined diamonds and tradition
Mined diamonds are associated with heritage, legacy and tradition. For instance, mined diamonds have been used in engagement rings for over a century, making them synonymous with once-in-a-lifetime romance.
Giving a rare, billion-year-old mined diamond can convey a sense of enduring value. The mining origins add sentimental meaning for some purchasers.
Lab diamonds and innovation
Lab-grown diamond jewelry has a more modern, tech-forward appeal. The manufacturing process using science and innovation aligns with environmentally thoughtful luxury.
For shoppers who prioritize sustainability, lab diamonds offer the opportunity to make an eco-friendly choice without sacrificing diamond’s sparkle. Lab diamonds can appeal to younger, progressive luxury consumers focused on innovation.
Ultimately, personal preferences and priorities will shape whether the tradition of mining or the innovation of laboratory creation resonates more. Both types of diamonds make beautiful jewelry.
Summary: Mined vs. Lab Diamonds for Tiffany Jewelry
| Mined Diamonds | Lab-Grown Diamonds | |
|---|---|---|
| Origins | Formed naturally in the earth over billions of years | Manufactured in a laboratory setting |
| Availability | Rare, only 1 in 1,000 diamonds meets Tiffany’s high standards | More readily available supply |
| Quality | Excellent color, clarity, cut and carat weight | Excellent color, clarity, cut and carat weight |
| Price | Higher, premium pricing reflects rarity | Lower pricing, around 30-50% less than equivalent mined diamond |
| Sustainability | Mining has environmental impacts but Tiffany pursues responsible practices | Lab production has lowerreported carbon footprint |
| Resale Value | Holds value well over decades | Less data on long-term value retention |
| Social Factors | Associated with tradition and enduring sentiment | Aligned with innovation and eco-consciousness |
The Takeaway
Tiffany & Co. built its reputation on expertly sourced mined diamonds. Although they recently began incorporating some lab-grown diamonds, Tiffany remains focused on providing clients with the finest mined diamonds that meet their stringent quality benchmarks.
If you’re considering a special purchase like an engagement ring or anniversary gift, Tiffany’s rare, responsibly sourced mined diamonds deliver exceptional beauty and key investment value. For other fine jewelry purchases, lab-grown diamonds can offer budget-friendliness and an eco-friendly origin story.
Whichever diamond type you choose, with Tiffany you can trust you are getting a dazzling diamond that has been evaluated and approved by the industry’s top experts. Let Tiffany’s 178 years of diamond expertise guide you to the perfect diamond that captures your meaningful moment.