February 2020 - Lab Grown Magazine

February 2020 | LG | The Lab Grown Diamond Resource Book 8 To advertise call (888) 832-1109 | February 2020 9 Publisher Zev Oster Manager David Oster Advertising & Sales LabGrownMagazine@gmail.com Graphics LabGrownAds@gmail.com Circulation 25,000 Magazines Printed & Mailed Monthly Distributed at Show Bins 30 West 47th Street | Suite 707 New York, NY 10036 T: 888-832-1109 F: 212-257-7056 www.LabGrownMagazine.com DISCLAIMER: Lab Grown Magazine assumes no responsibility for content, articles, or advertisement in publication. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form without prior written permission of the publisher is prohibited. The publisher reserves the right to edit all articles for clarity space and editorial sensitivities. Mainstream Choices You are holding in your hand the second edition of LAB GROWN MAGAZINE, our monthly look at the world of lab-grown diamonds in particular and other lab-created gems in general. We are pleased with the response LGM has received and we would like to thank our readers who have taken the time to comment on it. As I indicated in our launch issue, LGMhas been created as a neutral entity with the goal of bringing together opinions and activities of the various stakeholders in this arena. And, among the most important participants in the lab-grown arena are the jewelry designers and brands that use LGDs in their pieces. The feature article in this issue- Lab- Grown Diamond Jewelry ‒ Who’s Making the Cut? -takes a look at several designers and companies that use LGDs in their creations. They range from small and newly created entities to huge mega-brands such as De Beers and Atelier Swarovski. And, the reasons for making LGDs a part of their business strategy vary as much as the designers themselves. Some cite the growing need to protect and preserve Mother Earth; others see LGDs as a more economical way for consumers to enjoy the sparkle of a gem that would otherwise be unobtainable; still others believe that consumers should have a choice in their purchases, no matter the reason; and there are those who see LGDs as an inexorable and profitable evolution of the industry and want to be in on the ground floor. Today, lab-grown diamonds represent a small fraction of the $80 billion mined- diamond industry (less than 1% with sales of $75 to $200 million as estimated by Morgan Stanley), but their presence is growing. And the disruption LGDs are causing in the mined-diamond industry is undeniable. But with this disruption comes responsiblity. In the next issue, we will take a close look at new guidelines set by the FTC concerning created and mined diamond nomenclature and the responsibilities of those who sell LGDs and other man-created gems. Until then, we hope you find this issue useful. Zev