Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
then open in external browser
and click "Open in External Browser" 
118
“AITA For Telling My Sister Her Baby Isn’t A Real Baby?”
Interview With ExpertSharing exciting news with family is a joyous occasion. Who else but your closest people would be as happy for you to hit important milestones or achieve your dreams? That said, not everyone is fortunate enough to have supportive family members who have their back in all walks of life.
Like this woman, who, after telling her sister about her engagement, instead of receiving cheerful congratulations, got accused of her lab-grown diamond ring being fake. Such a comment majorly upset her and she didn’t even notice how an insult about her sister’s baby flew out of her mouth, causing a whole situation.
Scroll down to read the full story and conversation with Matt Harris, gem expert and owner of Matt Harris Designs, and owner of Facets Fine Jewelry, Irina Aran, who kindly agreed to answer our questions about lab-grown diamonds.
RELATED:
Sharing exciting news with family, like engagement, should always be a joyous occasion
Image credits: Joe Eitzen (not the actual photo)
Unfortunately, the announcement of this woman’s engagement turned bitter when her sister started accusing her fiancé of gifting a fake diamond
Image credits: LightFieldStudios (not the actual photo)
Image source: Empty-Button-6511
Lab-grown diamond is a 100% real diamond
Image credits: Dillon Wanner (not the actual photo)
People looking to buy diamond jewellery can choose between mined diamonds, diamond simulants, or lab-grown diamonds. The first option is a natural gemstone formed over billions of years thanks to unique geological processes. The gemstone is usually found and extracted by workers in mines.
Diamond stimulants only offer the look of a diamond but don’t have the same chemical and physical properties, like durability and reflectivity, and are a cost-effective alternative for those wanting the aesthetic of a diamond. Materials like Moissanite and Cubic Zirconia are often used in place of mined diamonds as they resemble them the most.
Meanwhile, a lab-grown diamond is a 100% real diamond, sharing the same properties and physical appearance as the natural precious stone. “It’s their origin that sets them apart,” explains Matt Harris, gem expert and owner of Matt Harris Designs. “Lab diamonds are created by equipment in a laboratory and natural diamonds are created by Earth and are mined.”
The first batch of lab-grown diamonds was created in 1954 and over the years, scientists have perfected the production process. Currently, the stone is made by either pressing carbon with immense heat and pressure or using carbon-rich gas to crystalize a minuscule slice of diamond with the help of high temperatures.
“With increasing awareness of environmental issues, many folks are leaning toward lab diamonds because they have a smaller ecological footprint. No mining means less disruption to our planet!” said the owner of Facets Fine Jewelry, Irina Aran, to Bored Panda.
Half disagree with the statement that lab-grown diamonds are real
Image credits: Dillon Wanner (not the actual photo)
Due to their more cost-effective, sustainable, and ethical nature, lab-grown diamonds have gained quite a lot of popularity in recent years and now make up about 20% of the diamond market. “Lab diamonds are here to stay,” says Aran. “They offer the diamond and fine jewelry industry a safer and more ethical alternative to mining.”
However, others still remain skeptical about precious stones made in laboratories. De Beers’ 2021 Diamond Insight Flash Report found that 60% of consumers described natural diamonds as ‘authentic,’ while 41% found them to be more romantic. One in three also believed that the possession of natural versus lab-grown diamonds made them feel special. Almost half of the respondents even went as far as saying that they disagreed with the statement that lab-grown diamonds are real.
“In my view, it raises the question: Does having an epidural mean you’re not having a natural birth? You’re expediting a natural process and removing the painful part, making the process your own, with the same beautiful outcome,” Aran said, answering to those who might be still skeptical about lab-grown diamonds.
“If someone gives you a hard time for wearing a lab diamond, they’re the problem, not you!” said Harris. “Unless it’s a close friend that really is curious and wants to have a conversation about lab vs. natural, why even respond? That said, if you feel like engaging, you can mention that labs are identical to natural diamonds,” he suggested.
“Or talk about the price. I’ve heard couples say, “We decided we’d rather spend money on an incredible overseas honeymoon than a natural diamond.” The reality is that the lower prices of lab diamonds have provided the opportunity for many people to enjoy the sparkle of diamonds in much bigger sizes than they could afford if lab diamonds didn’t exist. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with owning a lab diamond, with machine-made bread, or with listening to a song on Spotify.”
The author provided more information in the comments
Some readers thought that the original poster wasn’t in the wrong here
Some also thought that both sisters were acting like jerks
While others believed that the original poster was acting immaturely
Poll Question
Total votes ·
Thanks! Check out the results:
Total votes ·
Newsletter
Subscribe to Access
Exclusive Polls
By entering your email and clicking Subscribe, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Privacy Policy.
Thank you! You've successfully subscribed to newsletters!
Explore more of these tags
What do you think ?
Bookworm 10 months ago
Makes me despair for society that so many people didn't understand she wasn't actually arguing that the baby wasn't real, she was pointing out the flaws in her sister's logic.
Janelle Collard 10 months ago
I understood it to mean: OP was *trying* to get sis to understand - just cuz something is "lab grown" doesn't make it not real.
Load More Replies...
CP 10 months ago
It was a fine comparison for someone making a ridiculous deal out of nothing.
PeepPeep the duck 10 months ago
Yeah, it seems like normal sister behaviour, for the types that get along one minute and say stupid shít the next.
Load More Replies...
Dusty's mom 10 months ago
Clearly many commenters merely skim the contents and whip out their two cent opinions in a haze of misunderstanding . Read, people. Read carefully. Consider what was meant before getting whipped up in a dither. And it wouldn't hurt to proofread before hitting "send".
Roni Stone 10 months ago
Yeah, I'm gonna say critical thinking isn't a high priority for all these ESH and YTA's folks in these responses. Try logic, people. It does a brain good.
Scott Rackley 10 months ago
NTA. Someone went and ran their mouth reckless and got comeuppance.
FreeTheUnicorn 10 months ago
No contact would be a blessing, enjoy the break from the petty lunatic
Alexandra 10 months ago
Why do people hate logic so much? OP was absolutely right in her reasoning. It might not have sat well with her sis, but sis opened the door herself. Why was sis so insistent on the diamond not being a ' real' diamond? She wanted to take her sis down a peg. Why would you want to do that to someone who's proud of her engagement ring? OP's sis has no reason to occupy the moral l high ground in this.
Wendy Miller 10 months ago
Seems to me the sister was jealous because even though it wasn't a "real" diamond, her sister got a nicer ring. Maybe she wanted a larger stone but that was all her husband could afford. Such a bizarre and stupid fight.
roddy 10 months ago
Also, the tag line of the thread is incorrect. OP was not insisting that her sister's baby wasn't real. Just the opposite. Baby is just as real as the diamond. Just because a process had human help doesn't make the end result not real. Is a child less real if it's born in a hospital? Is food less real if it's cooked and not raw?
roddy 10 months ago
Sister is totally at fault. Instead of admiring the ring and finding something nice to say about something her sister loves, she insisted on putting it down. Then took offence to the completely reasonable analogy. She was simply determined to be disagreeable. NTA in spades.
Meagan Glaser 9 months ago
TIL that people see the phrase "by your logic, that means..." and just skip over it and assume that OP was making a random declaration of personal beliefs out of nowhere
Austzn 10 months ago
Typical narcissist victim play: they're "just saying" (or something similar) until it is turned around on them, then that's the only thing that should be recognized by all parties. On the other side of this; I have some in-laws that had to use IVF to get pregnant and they had to hide it from their siblings and parents because the siblings/parents don't think IVF babies are real. But abortion is wrong because God purposely creates life. I guess IVF is like a loophole because the child is in fact, an actual real human. They're all MAGA and they don't even know what line they're towing anymore. And also yes; they all act like this article and become unhinged as soon as their behavior and words are turned around on them.
Bacon Tentacles 10 months ago
Everyone who voted YTA or ESH either didn't read the post, or they read what they wanted to read. They can all f**k right off. NTA.
Peter Bear 10 months ago
NTA. OP took her sister's 'logic' and applied it to a different related situation to demonstrate the flaws. That's how you test for validity in logical reasoning. Sister started the entire mess, got shut down by her own argument being used against her, and then doubled down on being both ignorant and malicious.
Angie Falzarano 3 months ago
Sister started the fight being rude and ugly about the type of diamond. You put an end to it. You used her logic against her and she didnt like it. Tough she shouldn't have started it. You might need to go low contact because she's going to pull this type of c**p again. She's jealous that you have a diamond that is bigger. Poor baby. She shouldn't t start a fight she knew was wrong. She should have been happy for you. Next she'll be trying to go thru phones to accuse you or finance of cheating and do it in front of family.
Panda Panda Bo Banda 10 months ago
Of course she called you back. Nobody says no to free babysitting.
Fiona Bell 10 months ago
Of course you were joking, you have all seen the living breathing proof
Janissary35680 10 months ago
LilSis is 26 and BigSis is 31. That means BigSis was about 5 when LilSis was born. Not an ideal age if BigSis was an only child. These two have probably been getting up each others' noses all their lives.
CP 10 months ago (edited)
Why is comparing two lab grown entities a stupid comparison?
Load More Replies...
Lyoness 10 months ago
I'm positive I'll be downvoted but I'm ok with that. I'm skipping over a judgement because I don't think that's really the issue. IMHO the whole fight is stupid, but I also think OP could easily have used another argument. I put this in another reply, but why not compare organic to GMO food? Or cotton to polyester? Or cacao to chocolate? It's all about a process, right? It didn't need to be about IVF. She didn't need to go there.
Bookworm 10 months ago
Makes me despair for society that so many people didn't understand she wasn't actually arguing that the baby wasn't real, she was pointing out the flaws in her sister's logic.
Janelle Collard 10 months ago
I understood it to mean: OP was *trying* to get sis to understand - just cuz something is "lab grown" doesn't make it not real.
Load More Replies... CP 10 months ago
It was a fine comparison for someone making a ridiculous deal out of nothing.
PeepPeep the duck 10 months ago
Yeah, it seems like normal sister behaviour, for the types that get along one minute and say stupid shít the next.
Load More Replies... Dusty's mom 10 months ago
Clearly many commenters merely skim the contents and whip out their two cent opinions in a haze of misunderstanding . Read, people. Read carefully. Consider what was meant before getting whipped up in a dither. And it wouldn't hurt to proofread before hitting "send".
Roni Stone 10 months ago
Yeah, I'm gonna say critical thinking isn't a high priority for all these ESH and YTA's folks in these responses. Try logic, people. It does a brain good.
Scott Rackley 10 months ago
NTA. Someone went and ran their mouth reckless and got comeuppance.
FreeTheUnicorn 10 months ago
No contact would be a blessing, enjoy the break from the petty lunatic
Alexandra 10 months ago
Why do people hate logic so much? OP was absolutely right in her reasoning. It might not have sat well with her sis, but sis opened the door herself. Why was sis so insistent on the diamond not being a ' real' diamond? She wanted to take her sis down a peg. Why would you want to do that to someone who's proud of her engagement ring? OP's sis has no reason to occupy the moral l high ground in this.
Wendy Miller 10 months ago
Seems to me the sister was jealous because even though it wasn't a "real" diamond, her sister got a nicer ring. Maybe she wanted a larger stone but that was all her husband could afford. Such a bizarre and stupid fight.
roddy 10 months ago
Also, the tag line of the thread is incorrect. OP was not insisting that her sister's baby wasn't real. Just the opposite. Baby is just as real as the diamond. Just because a process had human help doesn't make the end result not real. Is a child less real if it's born in a hospital? Is food less real if it's cooked and not raw?
roddy 10 months ago
Sister is totally at fault. Instead of admiring the ring and finding something nice to say about something her sister loves, she insisted on putting it down. Then took offence to the completely reasonable analogy. She was simply determined to be disagreeable. NTA in spades.
Meagan Glaser 9 months ago
TIL that people see the phrase "by your logic, that means..." and just skip over it and assume that OP was making a random declaration of personal beliefs out of nowhere
Austzn 10 months ago
Typical narcissist victim play: they're "just saying" (or something similar) until it is turned around on them, then that's the only thing that should be recognized by all parties. On the other side of this; I have some in-laws that had to use IVF to get pregnant and they had to hide it from their siblings and parents because the siblings/parents don't think IVF babies are real. But abortion is wrong because God purposely creates life. I guess IVF is like a loophole because the child is in fact, an actual real human. They're all MAGA and they don't even know what line they're towing anymore. And also yes; they all act like this article and become unhinged as soon as their behavior and words are turned around on them.
Bacon Tentacles 10 months ago
Everyone who voted YTA or ESH either didn't read the post, or they read what they wanted to read. They can all f**k right off. NTA.
Peter Bear 10 months ago
NTA. OP took her sister's 'logic' and applied it to a different related situation to demonstrate the flaws. That's how you test for validity in logical reasoning. Sister started the entire mess, got shut down by her own argument being used against her, and then doubled down on being both ignorant and malicious.
Angie Falzarano 3 months ago
Sister started the fight being rude and ugly about the type of diamond. You put an end to it. You used her logic against her and she didnt like it. Tough she shouldn't have started it. You might need to go low contact because she's going to pull this type of c**p again. She's jealous that you have a diamond that is bigger. Poor baby. She shouldn't t start a fight she knew was wrong. She should have been happy for you. Next she'll be trying to go thru phones to accuse you or finance of cheating and do it in front of family.
Panda Panda Bo Banda 10 months ago
Of course she called you back. Nobody says no to free babysitting.
Fiona Bell 10 months ago
Of course you were joking, you have all seen the living breathing proof
Janissary35680 10 months ago
LilSis is 26 and BigSis is 31. That means BigSis was about 5 when LilSis was born. Not an ideal age if BigSis was an only child. These two have probably been getting up each others' noses all their lives.
CP 10 months ago (edited)
Why is comparing two lab grown entities a stupid comparison?
Load More Replies... Lyoness 10 months ago
I'm positive I'll be downvoted but I'm ok with that. I'm skipping over a judgement because I don't think that's really the issue. IMHO the whole fight is stupid, but I also think OP could easily have used another argument. I put this in another reply, but why not compare organic to GMO food? Or cotton to polyester? Or cacao to chocolate? It's all about a process, right? It didn't need to be about IVF. She didn't need to go there.
You May Like Woman Finds A Savage Way To Shut Down MIL Who Insists On Watching Her Give Birth Woman Refuses To Host Thanksgiving For 30 People, Pushy Family Still Tries To Guilt-Trip Her Into It Woman Is Made To Choose Between Work And Husband's Family, Picks Her Career: "Just Figure It Out"
Greta Jaruševičiūtė
Indrė Lukošiūtė
Jonas Žvilius
Related on Bored Panda
33
67