But as soon as that happens, other gemstones will come in cheaper artificial varieties as well.

The biggest diamond alternative today, moissanite, is always artificial - ironically because its natural form is so rare that it's not obtainable.

	▲	tsimionescu 5 days ago \| parent [-]
		The point is more that people would move to gemstones that don't look like diamonds, if diamonds start being perceived as cheap. Moissanite was popular because it's not immediately obvious it's not a diamond, while diamonds were popular.