Rotary Happenings: Rotarians hear about lab grown diamonds
Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, or so the saying goes. So what will be said about the newest trend of lab grown diamonds? How will these fit into today’s society?
Mark Loren, with Mark Loren Designs, recently spoke to the Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Club about lab grown diamonds in the jewelry industry. He shared the different processes of creating diamonds within a laboratory and the ability to create various sizes and colors. Loren also explained how difficult it is to differentiate between natural and lab created diamonds, stating that they must be sent to a lab to determine the difference. However, the cost difference between the two is quite impressive. Lab grown diamonds are being sold at an unexpected rate for a variety of reasons, ranging from 50 percent lower cost to ethical reasons.
Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Loren attended Gem City College in Quincy, Illinois, for advanced jewelry design, watch making and jewelry repair. After a brief stint repairing watches for the Bulova Watch Co., he began a jewelry apprenticeship with Frederick Prete Custom Goldsmiths in Highland Park, Illinois. Loren opened Mark Loren Designs in Fort Myers in 1985 and won his first of seven International Spectrum Design Awards in 1991, with his most recent awarded in 2017. He is a regular guest speaker at industry trade and local media events and to community organizations.
The Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Club holds a meeting on Fridays at 7:30 a.m. at The Community House, at 2173 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, and via Zoom; doors open at 7 a.m. To attend in person, email Bill Harkey at William.Harkey@gmail.com by the Tuesday before the meeting. For more information, visit sanibelrotary.org or www.facebook.com/sancaprotary.