Bailey’s Fine Jewelry will begin offering lab grown diamonds at all four of its locations Dec. 1, making it the first jewelry store in the Triangle to do so. Bailey’s will source the diamonds from Pure Grown Diamonds, one of the nation’s premier certified suppliers of lab grown diamonds.

Lab grown diamonds are indistinguishable from mined diamonds and provide an eco-friendly and often less expensive alternative to a traditional mined diamond. They are grown through an eco-conscious process that results in a seventh of the environmental impact of a traditional mined diamond. In addition, the ratio of carbon, nitrogen and sulfur emissions when comparing diamond mining to lab grown diamonds is 1.5 billion to 1. Because the process is controlled in a lab from beginning to end, it is often quicker and 30 to 40 percent less expensive than a traditional mined diamond.

“It’s important for us to stay on top of technology in the jewelry industry and we’ve been watching lab grown diamonds closely for several years now,” said Trey Bailey of Bailey’s Fine Jewelry. “The technology required to make these diamonds has grown tremendously in the last two years and we knew we wanted to be among the first adopters in our state. Although our main focus will continue to be diamonds from nature, we want to offer the technology of lab grown diamonds to our customers who want an alternative to mined diamonds.”

The diamonds will be in stores Dec. 1, just in time for the holiday season when 26 percent of the year’s engagements happen. Bailey’s staff will be fully trained on the lab grown diamonds and ready to assist patrons.