De Beers has long fought against the sale of "synthetic" carbon chunks as gemstones -- a losing battle given that telling the difference between lab-made carbon chunks and carbon chunks from underground isn't happening without very expensive machines. Now they've given up, and will sell their own carbon chunks.
The brand, called Lightbox, will offer synthetic diamonds at a fraction of the price it charges for stones pulled out of the earth. De Beers framed the move as a response to consumer demands.
"Lightbox will transform the lab-grown diamond sector by offering consumers a lab-grown product they have told us they want but aren't getting: affordable fashion jewelry that may not be forever, but is perfect for right now," said De Beers CEO Bruce Cleaver. ...
De Beers had been an outspoken critic of synthetic diamonds. Company executives vowed never to sell artificial stones, and it participated in the diamond industry's "real is rare" campaign. It even developed a machine that spots lab-grown stones.
That marketing line, "affordable fashion jewelry that may not be forever" suggests it'll all be deliberately trashy-looking to create a perceived distinction in quality between lab and mined carbon chunks. But it's also true that mass production methods for gemstone-quality synthetic carbon chunks are coming into play and they know it's time to get in or get out. They've been selling industrial-quality synthetics for years — after all, one chunk of carbon is much like another.
Landsat imagery of the Ucayali river in Peru shows it meandering over a period of several years; an oxbow lake forms, islands grow and fade in the channel, and a smaller river is “eaten” at the top left. [Hindered Settling, via] P.S. Looks like it might be a bad idea to build houses on flood […]
It’s not the work of aliens. Instead, you can chalk these crop circles up to humans + money + time. And, with the help of satellite imaging, you can watch as humans use money to change the desert over the course of almost 30 years. Landsat is a United States satellite program that’s been in […]
In Tulsa, Oklahoma, over the last 30 years, the number of cliff swallows killed by moving vehicles has drastically decreased. That change can’t be accounted for by alterations in traffic patterns or swallow populations, say scientists. Instead, they think it’s tied to the fact that the birds’ wingspan is also decreasing. This adaptation — whether […]
So you missed Black Friday and Cyber Monday? Well, there’s one more holiday milestone coming up: Green Monday, on Dec. 16. It’s one of the busiest online shopping days for the simple reason that it will be 10 days before Christmas, which is when last-minute shoppers start to stress. Our advice? Don’t wait for that […]
Weighted blankets are officially a thing. And if you’ve ever tried one, you know there’s a reason for the fuss. Parents have known for generations that swaddling a baby has a profound calming effect, and the gentle pressure that blanket weights provide can have the same effect on restless sleepers. Pretty much all parts of […]
Walk through any office, and you will likely spot a few bobbleheads. These wobbly figurines are great fun to have around, although most celebrate people we will never meet. For something a little more personal, try Handmade Custom Bobbleheads. These mini caricatures are sculpted and painted by skilled artisans, based on any photo you provide. […]
