Human Rights

Think Diamonds Only Come From Nature? Now They Can Come From A Lab

Lab-made diamonds can be created in about 12 weeks.

Think Diamonds Only Come From Nature? Now They Can Come From A Lab
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A difference between this diamond and many others on the market is its source can be easily tracked.

That's because it was actually created in a lab. These gemstones are moving into the multibillion-dollar rough-diamond market.

It's debated if natural and lab diamonds are comparable. And there's even a campaign against the quickly grown versions. But brands selling them claim they're the real thing.

Child Labor Helps Fuel Smartphones. This Phone Could Change That.
Child Labor Helps Fuel Smartphones. This Phone Could Change That.

Child Labor Helps Fuel Smartphones. This Phone Could Change That.

Watchdog groups say brands aren't doing enough to ensure child labor isn't linked to their phones.

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The chemical makeup is the same. Labs use hydrogen and carbon to "grow" the diamonds in about 12 weeks. They're usually less expensive than those mined the old-fashioned way.

As for mined diamonds, sourcing those can be tricky. A recent Human Rights Watch report warns there are transparency issues with some sellers.

Which means child labor and other abuses could be linked to the gemstone. Plus, there are environmental concerns with mining diamonds and the chemicals used to dig them up.  

But the report does mention some brands, like Tiffany and Co., are now more involved in sourcing and can tell consumers where the products come from.