A funny thing happened the other day while I was flipping through old fashion editorials for work. I landed on a 2008 spread where oversized statement jewellery was the big thing. Chunky stones, loud colours, necklaces bold enough to double as armour. It made me laugh a little, because if you look around now, we’ve swung in almost the opposite direction. These days, subtlety is having a moment. Not boring subtlety, mind you, but the kind that feels thoughtful and refined.
And right at the centre of that shift sits something I didn’t expect to become such a cultural favourite: the lab grown diamond necklace.
A few years ago, most people would’ve raised an eyebrow if you mentioned diamonds made in a lab. Some still picture dodgy knock-offs you’d find in a bargain bin. But honestly, that misconception has aged about as well as low-rise jeans. The truth is, the shift toward lab grown jewellery feels like one of the most natural progressions in modern style: conscious, clever, and genuinely beautiful.
I’ve spent months talking to jewellers, browsing ateliers around Sydney and Melbourne, and reading more gemological reports than I ever thought my job would demand. And the more I looked, the clearer the story became. There’s something quietly revolutionary happening in the jewellery world, and it’s sparkling around people’s necks.
Let me walk you through it.
The Appeal Isn’t Just Sparkle. It’s the Story Behind It.
When you first hold a lab grown diamond necklace, there’s a particular moment people keep telling me about. It’s a kind of double-take. “It looks exactly like the real thing,” they say, and jewellers always smile politely because it is the real thing.
These aren’t crystal substitutes or glass dressed up as gemstones. They’re chemically, physically, optically identical to mined diamonds. Same glitter, same fire, same hardness. Same carbon structure that makes diamonds so famously durable.
The only difference is the origin story.
Instead of being pulled from deep underground with massive machinery, a lab grown diamond comes from a controlled environment where scientists replicate the natural conditions in which diamonds form. It’s a bit sci-fi, a bit brilliant, and honestly a lot more transparent than traditional mining.
You might not know this, but one of the biggest draws for Aussies has been the environmental angle. We’re pretty conscious consumers as a whole. We like knowing where our stuff comes from. And the idea that you can have a stunning piece of jewellery without the heavy footprint? That’s appealing.
But here’s another part people don’t talk about enough: affordability.
Diamonds have always had this aura of exclusivity, and that’s part of their charm. But lab grown diamonds open the door in a way that feels refreshing. You can get a necklace with incredible clarity and size without paying the usual premium that comes with mined gems. That’s changed the landscape entirely. Suddenly, a diamond necklace isn’t something you only buy once in a lifetime. It can be a birthday treat, a promotion gift, a “why not?” moment.
And that shift is reshaping fashion in a beautifully democratic way.
How a Lab Grown Diamond Necklace Fits Today’s Style Mood
One thing that surprised me while interviewing designers was how often they talked about versatility. The modern wearer isn’t chasing drama so much as timelessness. A piece they can layer, dress up, dress down, pair with linen one day and a cocktail dress the next.
A simple pendant with a round brilliant cut.
A bezel-set marquise that feels slightly vintage.
A delicate drop necklace that catches the sun just right.
These designs have become staples precisely because lab grown stones make them accessible.
There’s a softness to the style that suits the Australian lifestyle. Maybe it’s our beaches, maybe our morning coffees, maybe just our general aversion to anything too fussy, but delicate diamonds simply work here. Lightweight jewellery that glitters subtly under natural light feels like the perfect match for a country where half our wardrobes are breathable fabrics and relaxed silhouettes.
And the best part is that the craftsmanship isn’t compromised. When I visited a workshop in the CBD last month, the jeweller told me that lab grown stones have actually pushed designers creatively. With more customers opting for diamonds they feel ethically confident about, jewellers are experimenting more freely with cuts, cluster designs, mixed metals, and personalised elements. They know the customer wants something meaningful.
One designer even said, “We’re not selling jewellery anymore. We’re selling identity.”
It stuck with me, because that’s exactly what these necklaces have become: tiny, beautiful expressions of self.
Personal Gifting Is Changing Too
You might’ve noticed this trend if you’ve been to weddings recently. The bridesmaids’ gifts? Increasingly lab grown diamond necklaces. Anniversary presents? Same thing. Even milestone birthdays get the sparkle treatment.
There’s something lovely about it. A diamond used to feel like a major commitment, and sure, it still does in the emotional sense. But financially it’s no longer a big leap. People feel freer to express affection with something that lasts forever.
One woman I spoke to bought matching necklaces for herself and her teenage daughter, something she said she’d never have considered with mined diamonds. “It felt like a bonding moment,” she told me. “Plus, she can wear it for life.”
That’s the charm of these pieces. They’re meaningful without being intimidating.
A Quick Word on Technology, Because It’s Honestly Fascinating
I’m not usually the sort who geeks out over lab tech, but the science behind man made diamonds is a little mesmerising.
There are two main methods: CVD (Chemical Vapour Deposition) and HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature). Both sound like something a Marvel character might invent in their garage, but all they really do is mimic the natural diamond-forming environment.
HPHT applies extreme heat and pressure to carbon until it crystallises. CVD, on the other hand, builds the diamond layer by layer inside a plasma chamber. It’s like 3D printing, but for gemstones.
When I first saw one of these chambers, glowing hot with the beginnings of a diamond inside, I felt like I was watching a star being born. A tiny one, sure, but still.
It’s also worth mentioning that modern lab grown diamonds undergo the same certification and grading processes as mined stones. The 4Cs still apply. Clarity, cut, colour, carat. The usual suspects. You get the same detailed reports and the same quality assurances.
If you’re curious about the wider landscape of man made diamonds and how they stack up against the legendary gemstones of history, you might enjoy reading this overview of some of the man made diamonds shaping the conversation today.
Choosing the Right Necklace: A Few Honest Tips
After chatting with jewellers and trying on far too many designs in the name of “research,” I can tell you this much: the best necklace is the one that feels intuitive when you put it on.
Here are a few things that came up often during my interviews, in case you’re browsing for yourself.
Keep your neckline in mind.
V-necks, button-downs, crew neck tees… they all play differently with pendant lengths.
Think about your lifestyle.
If you’re always on the move or you prefer never taking your jewellery off, a bezel setting is often more practical than prongs.
Go for a cut that mirrors your personality a little.
Round brilliant if you’re classic. Oval if you’re refined. Emerald cut if you like a bit of quiet drama.
Don’t get hung up on carat.
Seriously. A well-cut stone will outshine a bigger one with mediocre proportions. I’ve seen 0.5-carat lab grown diamonds that looked breathtaking simply because the cut was exceptional.
And above all: try things on. Your instinct will tell you which piece belongs to you.
If you’re the sort who likes browsing before stepping into a store, this collection of styles is a nice starting point: lab grown diamond necklace.
Sustainability Isn’t a Buzzword Anymore
I’ve noticed a shift in conversations over the last couple of years. Sustainability isn’t just something people politely mention anymore. It’s part of how we choose clothing, homewares, skincare, and now jewellery.
It’s not that mined diamonds are inherently “bad,” despite what online debates sometimes imply. Mining supports entire communities, especially in countries that rely heavily on the industry. But consumers today want options. Transparent options. And having the choice between mined and lab grown feels healthier and more modern.
A lab grown diamond necklace speaks to that sense of responsibility without sacrificing beauty. In a way, it lets you wear a little symbol of your values.
Where the Trend Is Heading Next
If I had to make a prediction as someone who lives and breathes fashion journalism, I’d say lab grown diamonds are moving out of the “trend” category entirely. They’re becoming a standard.
Designers no longer introduce them with a preface or an explanation. They simply present them as part of their collections. Customers barely flinch at the concept anymore. And younger buyers? They’re embracing lab grown as the norm.
What I find especially interesting is how this shift is influencing heirlooms. People used to assume sentimental jewellery had to be mined. But more are now choosing lab grown diamonds for pieces they plan to pass down someday. The meaning isn’t tied to geology anymore. It’s tied to memory.
And that’s kind of beautiful.
A Final Thought: Jewellery Should Make You Feel Something
Here’s the thing I keep coming back to. Whether your necklace comes from beneath the earth or a glowing lab chamber, the real magic isn’t in the origin. It’s in the moment you clasp it around your neck and something inside you lifts.
A lab grown diamond necklace represents a new kind of luxury: thoughtful, accessible, sustainable, and deeply personal. It’s the sort of piece that becomes part of your everyday rhythm, catching the sun while you’re waiting for your morning flat white or glinting softly during a dinner with friends.
And if you ask me, anything that makes us feel a bit more ourselves is worth celebrating.
If you ever get the chance to try on one of these pieces, do it. Don’t overthink it. Let the sparkle speak for itself.