I own a jewelry store (inherited from 1945) and grew up in the industry as a kid, so I'll humour myself with anecdotal feedback: Although I'm engineer, I have

I own a jewelry store (inherited from 1945) and grew up in the industry as a kid, so I'll humour myself with anecdotal feedback: Although I'm engineer, I have a professional background in the diamond industry. A friend of mine, an astrophysicist working on focal points, wanted a high quality diamond. I helped him secure an 'investment grade' gem. At first I proposed a lab grown diamond from Diamond Foundry to see how he responded as he understands and appreciates optics far better than I (technically), although I could argue my position as a gemologist. His response: he quickly turned down the option and wanted a natural stone, not lab grown. I found it slightly strange (from a technical standpoint), but understood his response. We secured a rare IF 1.5ct certified diamond in Tel Aviv. Natural diamonds are valued more on scarcity and irrational conditions. To sell a lab grown diamond, it may help to sell the story of the lab and the diamond cutter.