What’s the difference between natural diamonds and their synthetic alternatives? More than a billion years and that classic white sparkle. R.F. Moeller has been bringing the finest natural diamonds to the Twin Cities for more than 75 years, which is why the legacy jeweler chose to partner with the Natural Diamond Council (NDC). Through its Only Natural Diamonds platform, this global nonprofit organization works to advance the integrity of the modern diamond jewelry industry, educating and inspiring consumers about the remarkable world of natural diamonds.
Photography provided by R.F. Moeller
The first diamonds were found in India more than 4,000 years ago and have since made their way across cultures and continents. Today, the time-honored tradition has evolved to symbolize eternal love, power and enduring value. Sentimental significance is tied to these jewels, whether they mark special milestones or are cherished as family heirlooms. And while man-made counterparts share the same chemical composition and physical properties, natural diamonds result from an incomparable geological journey. These precious gemstones are likely the oldest things one will ever touch, each carrying a piece of our planet’s history, the stories of lives we cherish and the promise of generations to come.
The value of a natural diamond comes from its rarity as a finite, natural gemstone, so ensuring your jewels have that authentic sparkle is essential to any dazzling investment. Lab-grown diamonds can always be detected by experts and simply don’t hold their value thanks to increasing mass production. According to the NDC, the prices of some synthetic diamonds fell by more than 80% between 2015 and 2024. On the other hand, natural diamonds retain inherent value over time, with trends over the last 35 years showing an average annual appreciation of about 3%.
With members spanning four continents and ten countries, the NDC provides transparency and insight on the progress of the diamond industry and its commitments to betterment.The organization’s work emphasizes that the value of natural diamonds extends far beyond their price, rarity and aesthetic beauty. The industry supports the lives of millions of people globally, contributing significantly to local economies. More than 99% of employees in NDC member companies are hired locally, with a significant portion of that workforce being women. Local governments often co-own mining operations, which ensures that a substantial portion of the wealth generated from diamond mining remains in the region. Unlike mass-produced synthetic alternates, natural diamonds are intricately connected to the places where they are recovered, creating jobs and improving infrastructure in local communities.
Natural diamonds have an important and evolving legacy, one R.F. Moeller is proud to amplify across the Twin Cities. The combination of enduring value and purposeful contributions to the prosperity of communities make these one-of-a-kind gemstones the more impactful choice for engagement rings, heirloom baubles and other pieces of sentimental fine jewelry.
