Why Natural Diamonds Are the Go-To Choice for 2024

Among gemstones, diamonds possess a mystique all their own. For millennia, these scintillating stones have symbolized enduring love, luxury, and monumental moments. Even as lab-grown gems rise in popularity, natural diamonds retain an unparalleled cachet in the world of fine jewelry. Here’s why natural diamonds are the trendy choice for 2024.

The Allure of Natural Diamond History & Heritage

Part of natural diamonds’ irresistible allure traces back to their extensively documented past. As far back as ancient India, natural diamonds demonstrated powerful symbolic meaning in addition to their breathtaking beauty.

Beliefs around diamonds granting strength, protection, and clarity of mind date back over two thousand years. Greek philosophers like Plato wrote of their exceptional hardness, relating it metaphorically to the development of wise and virtuous character.

These long-heralded qualities explain diamonds’ extensive history of adorning crowns, swords, and accessories of kings, queens, and emperors across cultures. Inherently exceptional, they have long denoted wealth, privilege, and love upon their wearers.

This fascinating heritage persists today, making natural diamonds synonymous with celebrating monumental life occasions, including proposals. The tradition of diamond engagement rings first emerged in 1477, when Archduke Maximilian of Austria proposed to Mary of Burgundy with a dazzling diamond ring. The tradition quickly spread across European aristocracy, solidifying the gem’s affiliation with romance and commitment. 

The Appeal of Rarity & Exceptionalism

Beyond their rich history, natural diamonds also captivate through their exceptional rarity and intriguing geology. Forged billions of years ago deep within the earth's crust, most mined diamond formations predate life on the planet.

Powerful volcanic eruptions brought them closer to the surface over eons, where they slowly crystallized under extreme heat and pressure. Of all minerals on Earth, diamonds rank as the hardest and most durable, explaining their metaphorical associations with strength of character.

This singular longevity means diamond jewelry serves as far more than just a beautiful adornment. Each unique stone carries an extensive legacy, having been present during immense geological shifts across millennia.

Natural Diamond Gems vs. Lab Diamonds

In recent decades, technological advances have enabled diamond synthesis in laboratories, introducing more affordable, conflict-free diamond alternatives. With that said, there are some key differences separating lab-grown gems from their natural counterparts.

For collectors who view diamonds as heirlooms, only natural stones possess a billion-year legacy conveying profound and meaningful history. In the view of some, lab diamonds lack comparable heritage due to their vastly accelerated growth process.

Similarly, natural diamonds’ exceptional rarity heightens their preciousness. With large gem-quality crystals taking eons to form, fewer than 20% of rough diamonds are suitable for fine jewelry. This inherent exceptionalism simply cannot be artificially replicated.

Many people covet natural diamonds for their unparalleled history and extreme rarity—which combine to place the stones in a class all their own, making them uniquely meaningful symbols of life’s most significant milestones.

Top Reasons to Buy a Natural Diamond in 2024

These days, it’s possible to create lab-grown diamonds that are physically, chemically, and optically identical to natural diamonds. That said, many people still prefer the beauty, history, and mystique that comes with a natural gemstone. Here are five compelling reasons to buy a natural diamond in 2024.

1) They have history. When you select a natural diamond, you are choosing a piece of history with roots that stretch back countless millennia. 

2) They’re collector’s items. Since there are a limited number of natural diamonds in the world, they will tend to be more valuable.

3) They can be eco-friendly. Fortunately, you can now get eco-friendly natural diamonds if you know where to shop. John Atencio has spent decades cultivating relationships with mining enterprises and gemstone suppliers to ensure that all of his diamonds are responsibly sourced. 

4) They can be conflict-free. Increased attention has cultivated a growing interest in conflict-free diamonds. All of John Atencio's stunning jewelry pieces, for instance, are made while adhering to the important Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), the united, worldwide effort to end the global trade of conflict diamonds.

5) They can help support communities. Suppliers are now making ethical and sustainably mined diamonds of all sizes more readily available to consumers and designers. This means that purchasing natural diamonds can actually help keep local residents and indigenous people employed in well-paid jobs that come with healthcare and other benefits. 

More Facts About Natural Diamonds

In an effort to dispel false beliefs surrounding the diamond trade, the Natural Diamond Council performed studies to better comprehend consumer inquiries about natural diamond gemstones. Here are some facts about natural diamonds to help you better understand their many benefits.

• Ethical Sourcing: Natural diamonds are regulated under the Kimberley Process and other initiatives to ensure conflict-free and responsible sourcing.
• Sustainability Efforts: The natural diamond industry is working towards reducing its carbon footprint and protecting biodiversity, with major companies setting targets for carbon neutrality.
• Economic Benefits: The natural diamond industry supports the livelihoods of 10 million people worldwide and significantly contributes to the economies of the countries of origin through local purchasing, employment, and taxes.
• Rarity and Value: Natural diamonds are rare and have shown a consistent appreciation in value over the years. 
• Labor Standards: The natural diamond industry adheres to high global standards for working conditions, with a significant portion of the workforce being locally hired and including a substantial number of women.
• Traceability and Transparency: Advancements in traceability and technology like blockchain are being used to enhance transparency in the natural diamond supply chain. 

Sourcing Diamonds Responsibly

Given natural diamonds’ desirability among leading jewelers and collectors, ethical sourcing has grown increasingly crucial. This means ensuring that mining operations align with ecological best practices while benefiting local communities.

As with all of his gemstones, John Atencio only sources diamonds adhering to the United Nations Framework for responsible mining. This upholds strict standards around sustainability, safety, transparency, and community development.

By partnering exclusively with miners who are conscious of their environmental and social footprint, John Atencio crafts pieces that bring clients peace of mind. 

Evaluating Diamond Quality

Not all diamonds share equal brilliance and beauty. Gemological laboratories grade each stone across what’s known as the “four Cs”:

Color: Most desirable diamonds appear optically colorless, allowing maximum light refraction. Stones progressing from faint yellow to brownish downgrade value.

Clarity: The fewer identifiable blemishes inside a diamond, the higher its clarity and value rating. Flawless and near-flawless gemstones rank highest.

Cut: Precise cutting with ideal proportions enables maximum sparkling brilliance through expert facet placement and symmetry.

Carat: Larger diamond crystals contain more concentrated mass and, therefore, carat weight. Rare, large stones over one-carat command exceptionally high market value.

By only selecting diamonds certified for quality assurance by reputable gemological institutes like GIA and AGS, John Atencio guarantees each stone’s authenticity and quality. This brings clients peace of mind around both ethics and investment value.

Showcasing John Atencio’s Signature Brilliance

Over nearly half a century, John Atencio has continually captivated clients with his creative pieces, spotlighting scintillating diamonds, luxe textures, and unique designs.

From breathtaking engagement rings to elaborate statement earrings, John’s pieces showcase the fire and light performance possible only through expert symmetry. This technical mastery, combined with his signature style, creates a show-stopping sparkle for 2024 and beyond.

If you're searching for conflict-free, eco-friendly jewelry, explore John’s natural diamond pieces online. Or make an appointment at one of our stores, where our experts can help you choose the perfect diamond jewelry piece for everyday wear and special occasions.

You can also learn more about the benefits of natural diamonds in our podcast! In this particular episode, we talk to Christophe de Borrekens, an accomplished professional in the diamond industry, about the history of natural diamonds and the importance of Antwerp as the world’s diamond capital. Christophe also discusses ethical sourcing, the Kimberley Process, and the case for natural diamonds as the preferred diamond investment in the long term.