July 2023 | Lab Grown Magazine

July 2023 | The Lab Grown Diamond Resource Book 20 Mailed to 24,000 Jewelers Monthly - To advertise call (888) 832-1109 | July 2023 21 LAB GROWN FLEXI BANGLES Toll Free- 1.866.368.5700 • Sales@gemstarco.com www.gemstarco.com 30% HEAVIER THAN OTHER BANGLES MORE DURABLE • MORE FLEXIBLE PAY MORE FOR HEAVIER GOLD WEIGHT TODAY AND SAVE FUTURE HEADACHES DIA WT STONE SIZE PRICE 3CT TW .10PT $ 1,999 4CT TW .15PT $ 2,499 5CT TW .20PT $ 2,799 5.5CT TW .25PT $ 3,499 8CT TW .33PT $ 4,499 10CT TW .50PT $ 4,999 DIA WT STONE SIZE PRICE 3CT TW .05PT $ 1,499 5CT TW .10PT $ 2,499 7CT TW .15PT $ 3,499 8CT TW .20PT $ 3,999 10CT TW .25PT $ 4,999 13CT TW .33PT $ 5,999 17CT TW .50PT $ 7,999 14KT GOLD HALF WAY 14KT GOLD FULL ETERNITY (LGFXHF) (LGFXFL) CERTIFIED VS/FG COLOR WITH RETAIL MSRP APPRAISAL SUPREME QUALITY MADE TO LAST A LIFETIME ALSO AVAILABLE IN YELLOW, WHITE & ROSE GOLD D iamond Time. This feature carries out last month’s focus on LGDs and the luxe market at large. But leaning on LGDs and luxury in the watch world isn’t clocking in as planned. When you bypass the initial fascination of the watch brands promoting LGDs - beyond some incredibly high retail prices, these brands are not what one would classify as luxury within the fine jewelry marketplace. Yet these are powerhouse, global, renowned watch brands. And, they’re easy to remember since there are currently only three watches to review in this category. Perfect timing? Let’s take a close look at what’s really ticking behind the scenes of three demi-luxe watch brands keeping time with LGDs. And, why aren’t other high-ticket watch companies following suit? We know LGDs is having its day in the sun. The bridal market alone proves that more man-made diamonds will be sold in our lifetime over natural. The LGD consumer acceptance curve is looking more like a straight line. High quality “as grown” type IIa, GIA graded lab diamonds are competing against themselves in every form of jewelry except watches. From a distance, the fan fare of LGDs and select timepieces seemed to be synergized. Yet, the more we examine LGDs and the watch brands supporting such, distant alarm bells seem to faintly chime. Take TAG Heuer, no stranger to LGDs, as an example. Pricey plasma TAG is known to be a high-ticket sports watch. While in the LVMH family; the brand isn’t viewed in a Rolex category of luxe classification. The popular brand created a few minutes of excitement when they introduced pink LGDs accents with a “call to inquire” unlisted price aligned to their flashy Plasma Diamant d'Avant-Garde series, however. This, after what was promoted as a successful run with imaginative cuts of white LGDs surrounding the watch face, bezel, bracelet and fob from the Plasma Diamant d'Avant-Garde collection – retailing at $556,860 USD. One year earlier, TAG revealed 12 carats of LGDs in their tourbillon Hypebeast watch from the same collection at over $370,000 USD. Distant alarm bells? How is a watch featuring 124 diamonds (15.50 carats) buried within the features description on their own site and throughout their retail partner ads? You’ll see for yourself that no mention of diamonds, be they LGDs appear until you dig into the “special features” tab. Only then will you gain a glimpse of the diamond data. https://tinyurl.com/diamondTAGS TAG Heuer, an LVMH brand, introduced fancy LGDs this Spring with pink man-made diamonds accenting their most expensive watch to date. Photo: Jasma D’Crata for LVMH