Is the party over for lab-grown diamonds?

THE past few years have been very good for the lab-grown diamond (LGD) market. Sales skyrocketed as producers and jewellers found greater acceptance among consumers for these alternatives to their natural counterparts.

Yet, even as these lab-grown beauties gained mainstream acceptance, prices have been falling as technology improved and production went into overdrive. Late last month, diamond giant De Beers did an about-turn and said it would stop making LGDs for jewellery. Some experts have even pronounced the heyday for LGDs as over, emphasising the stones’ low price points and oversupply.

So are LGDs, which have no resale value, losing their shine? In Friday’s (Jun 21) edition of BT Lifestyle, we speak to experts and jewellers for their views.

In Arts, we highlight some outstanding shows at Gillman Barracks, which may eventually give way to a residential neighbourhood. Meanwhile, the oil spill in Singapore waters has been heartbreaking for playwright-activist Cheyenne Alexandria Phillips, whose upcoming play examines Singapore’s petrochemical industry through its various players and stakeholders.

In Dining, Sri Lankan favourite Kotuwa has moved to larger premises in the just-opened hot spot, New Bahru. We check out its spicy offerings.

Read all this and more in Friday’s issue of BT.