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katarh t1_iz0rvgk wrote

Reply to comment by Electrical-One-2270 in Scientists have analyzed the specific labor costs for producing a 1 carat diamond in mines and through artificial synthesis. The work of human turned out to be more effective: 26 minutes versus 2-3.5 hours. by Skoltech_

Most consumers and industries don't want or need giant diamonds. Industry needs diamond dust for drills and files. For decorative jewelry, corundum (ruby and sapphire) is much cheaper to manufacture and almost as durable as diamonds.

Sure, it's going to be a lot more expensive and time consuming to make a 3000 caret rock than to mine one. But that 3000 rock is a curiosity to sit in a museum (or to be cut into smaller pieces), not a useful thing people will want to buy.

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Electrical-One-2270 t1_iz3kkir wrote

It says one carat, not 3000. That's a nomal size found in jewellery.

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katarh t1_iz4lvzm wrote

The article also admits that the industrial diamonds are a heck of a lot faster to make during the processes, and the 2-3 hours per caret for lab grown is specifically for gem quality stones intended to compete with gem quality mined diamonds.

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