North Carolina

‘Made not mined’: Lab-grown diamonds at the center of this N.C. business

Published

2 years ago

December 23, 2022

‘Made not mined’: Lab-grown diamonds at the center of this N.C. business

MORRISVILLE, N.C. – Regardless of the recognition of diamonds, the worldwide diamond trade has lengthy been criticized. Diamond mining has been linked to human rights points, poverty, little one labor and practices that hurt the atmosphere.

One North Carolina enterprise is on a mission to supply much less controversial and extra reasonably priced different because the diamond trade evolves.

What You Want To Know

Charles & Colvard relies in Morrisville and not too long ago opened its first showroom

The enterprise sells moissanite and lab-grown diamonds, that are extra reasonably priced than pure diamonds

Apart from value, many individuals purchase lab-grown diamonds as a result of the origin is much less controversial than that of mined diamonds

48% of Charles & Colvard’s clients are between the ages of 25 and 44

To an untrained eye, the jewellery at Charles & Colvard’s Morrisville showroom seems like another diamond jewellery, however their merchandise are “made not mined.”

“Moissanite is on the blue and our Caydia lab-grown diamond is on the pink. This simply helps us to distinguish it not solely on-line however within the retailer,” Hillary Watson, the director of gross sales and merchandising for Charles & Colvard, mentioned. “Charles and Colvard is definitely the unique creator of moissanite. Moissanite is discovered within the earth however not in giant sufficient portions to be in gemstone-quality jewellery. So we truly discovered over 27 years in the past the way to replicate that course of in a lab.”

The enterprise makes a speciality of moissanite in addition to lab-grown diamonds. So what’s the distinction between these and pure diamonds?

“Moissanite is a colorless gemstone. It is fabricated from silicon carbide. A diamond from the earth is fabricated from carbon. A lab-grown diamond can also be fabricated from carbon. The one distinction is the origin,” Watson mentioned.

The levels of manufacturing a lab-grown diamond begin with the uncooked materials, at left. (Spectrum Information 1)

Charles & Colvard gained’t give away all of the secrets and techniques about how they’re made, however they are going to inform you how they examine to pure diamonds.

“To offer you an instance of worth, that is 3.9 carats for $4,100 and it is a DEF colorless moissanite,” Watson mentioned.

If that very same ring was a pure diamond, the fee would skyrocket.

“For 4 carats, you are upwards of $40,000,” Watson mentioned.

Their jewellery could be very widespread for engagement rings, with millennials making up nearly all of their buyer base. In reality, 48% of their clients are between the ages of 25 and 44.

“As a result of it’s extra reasonably priced, they’re capable of put a deposit on their dream dwelling, they’re capable of take their dream honeymoon, have a bigger marriage ceremony,” Watson mentioned

How do moissanites examine on the hardness scale that pure diamonds are measured on?

“Particularly, moissanite is a 9.5, 9.25 to 9.5, on the Mohs hardness scale. Diamond is a ten. So moissanite is second solely to a diamond when it comes to hardness, which makes it excellent for on a regular basis put on. It is tremendous sturdy. It isn’t going to interrupt or scratch,” Watson mentioned.

Charles and Colvard is so assured of their product and keen to teach folks about it that they opened up their first ever showroom on the finish of October.

“Shopping for an engagement ring is a brilliant private course of and whereas we do have a direct shopper web site, CharlesandColvard.com, we do get a ton of asks for on-figure images or ‘I need to see what the gemstone seems like in actual life,’ and particularly people who find themselves not acquainted with moissanite or lab-grown diamonds. They need to see and expertise and contact and really feel the product. So we’re actually excited to have this venue, this unimaginable 2,000 sq. ft of showroom, to let shoppers fall in love with the gem stones in individual,” Watson mentioned.

Watson says not everybody within the diamond trade has been welcoming to those lab-grown options, however issues are altering.

“I believe you are all the time going to have individuals who in all probability may have this preconceived notion {that a} diamond is comes from the earth however the trade is adopting lab-grown diamonds,” Watson mentioned.

Charles & Colvard’s jewellery can also be offered in all the Helzberg Diamonds shops, a sequence with greater than 150 places throughout the nation.

Paul Ziminsky, an impartial diamond analyst in New York, says that most individuals nonetheless need a pure diamond however that curiosity in lab-grown diamonds is rising shortly, as they characterize about 10% of diamond jewellery gross sales by worth.

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North Carolina

Live Updates: Ball State vs No. 16 North Carolina At Battle 4 Atlantis 2024 – FloHoops

Published

2 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

Live Updates: Ball State vs No. 16 North Carolina At Battle 4 Atlantis 2024 – FloHoops

No. 16 North Carolina and MAC favorite Ball State face-off in the Bahamas for a special one to kick off two weeks full of holiday college basketball tournaments coming live to FloHoops. The game begins at 6:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 23 and is the second of many in the 2024 Battle 4 Atlantis Women’s College Basketball tournament.

The Paradise Island, Bahamas-based tournament hosts eight teams including No. 18 Baylor, Indiana, and Texas A&M.

No. 16 North Carolina is 3-1, coming off of a close loss a week ago to No. 2 UConn, falling 58-69 to the Huskies. They hold wins this season against NC A&T, UNC-Wilmington, and Charleston Southern.

Currently undefeated, Ball State will be hoping to upset North Carolina to add an important win to their resume en route to a potential at-large bid to the NCAA tournament at the end of the season. They have defeated Northern Iowa, IUPUI, Memphis, and Old Dominion so far this season.

Read the live updates, watch highlights and view scores after the game tips off at 6:30 p.m. ET.

Live Updates: Ball State vs No. 16 North Carolina Score At Battle 4 Atlantis

Refresh the page for live updates, highlights and scores from today’s game in the Bahamas. Tip off is at 6:30 p.m. ET.

While You Wait…LIVE NOW: Watch Columbia vs Indiana

Click here to tune in live to more women’s college basketball live on FloHoops.

we’ve got a 3️⃣ point game y’all 👏@CULionsWBB | #Battle4Atlantis | @B4AOfficial pic.twitter.com/9Rg0GzJtl6
— FloCollege | Basketball (@FloCollegeHoops) November 23, 2024
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Earlier Today On FloHoops: Baylor Puts Up 15 Threes, Hits Triple Digits vs Southern Miss

After four great quarters of basketball between Southern Miss and Baylor—the Lady Bears come out on top of game one of the Battle 4 Atlantis Women’s tournament.

Five Baylor players had more than 14 points today against the Lady Eagles and were 44% (15-34) from behind the three-point line, making that the most threes for them this season. Fontleroy and Andrews both tallied four.

For Southern Miss, Grayson and Evans led the points with 12, despite Grayson fouling out.

Despite their quick start, the Eagles were unable to keep up with Baylor and will be looking for redemption against the loser of Columbia vs Indiana. Baylor will play the winner.

Read the full game recap.

Battle 4 Atlantis Women’s Tournament Schedule

Saturday, November 23

Sunday, November 24

Monday, November 25

Battle 4 Atlantis Women’s Bracket

Battle 4 Atlantis 2024 Women’s Teams

How To Watch The Battle 4 Atlantis 2024 Women’s Tournament

Every game except the championship of the Women’s Battle 4 Atlantis will be streaming on FloHoops, FloCollege and the new FloSports streaming app.

Game replays, highlights and more will be available on all platforms.

How To Watch College Basketball On The FloSports Network

Basketball games are streaming all year long on FloHoops, FloCollege and the new FloSports streaming app. Game replays, highlights and more will be available on all platforms.

Watch NCAA Women’s Basketball On FloHoops

The NCAA Women’s Basketball is streaming live on FloHoops and the FloSports app.

The BIG EAST Digital Network is also on FloHoops and the FloSports app.

FloHoops Archived Footage

Video footage from all events will be archived and stored in a video library for FloHoops subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscription.

Join the College Basketball Conversation on FloHoops Social

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North Carolina A&T now offers degree in artificial intelligence

Published

10 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

North Carolina A&T now offers degree in artificial intelligence

GREENSBORO, N.C. (WTVD) — North Carolina A&T State University is now offering a bachelor’s degree in artificial intelligence.

It is a milestone for the university to be the first in our state and one of only a handful in the nation to offer this program.

In the program, students can pick one of two concentrations: Advanced AI Systems through the College of Engineering and Applied AI in the College of Science and Technology. Courses are available both in-person and online.

Some schools already offer a concentration in artificial intelligence, but A&T will be offering a full program dedicated to AI. The university said there are talks to develop a graduate studies program in AI.

School officials report that AI jobs are increasing in North Carolina, which will help in workforce development. According to a recent Hanover Research report, North Carolina is projected to grow at a pace over three times faster than the overall labor market, potentially generating more than 20,000 new jobs.

“Artificial Intelligence and machine learning are increasingly part of everyday life with the potential for profound and far-reaching impact on virtually every facet of society,” Chancellor James R. Martin II said in a news release. “Collaborating with federal and state agencies, major industry leaders and fellow research universities, we have created a rich AI learning environment that is well informed by the latest in science and policy. Our new bachelor’s degree will prepare students for immediate impact, especially in the critical area of human interaction with AI.”

They anticipate enrolling their first group next fall.

SEE ALSO | James Martin II announced as new chancellor for NC A&T after UNC BOG unanimous vote

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As energy needs grow, North Carolina faces solar roadblocks

Published

18 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

As energy needs grow, North Carolina faces solar roadblocks

North Carolina’s solar energy landscape is at a crossroads as the state works to meet its ambitious climate goals.

Under House Bill 951, passed in 2021, North Carolina is required to cut carbon emissions in the energy sector by 70% from 2005 levels by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. However, meeting these targets is proving difficult as energy demand surges.

Jeff Hughes, a commissioner with the North Carolina Utilities Commission, says that it’s challenging to maintain grid reliability while pursuing aggressive decarbonization goals.

“If we have two gigawatts of load coming in the next three or four years, it’s going to be very difficult to model our way, to solarize our way out of it,” Hughes said, pointing to the growing demand from industries like AI-driven data centers.

Duke Energy, the state’s largest utility, has said fossil fuels are essential to ensuring reliable power amid increasing demand. Critics argue that the company’s reliance on natural gas and coal could derail progress toward cutting emissions.

North Carolina has long been a leader in solar energy, initially driven by smaller, five-megawatt projects. Today, the focus has shifted to larger installations, which are more efficient but face growing local opposition.

Carson Hart, CEO of Carolina Solar Energy, said scaling up has been key to increasing clean energy capacity. “Moving to these bigger projects has been really beneficial for getting more megawatts in the ground and meeting the state’s climate goals,” Hart said. But she noted that large projects often draw pushback from residents concerned about aesthetics and land use.

Rural areas are at the heart of the state’s solar boom, hosting about 80% of large-scale projects. Reginald Bynum Jr., director of community outreach at the Center for Energy Education, said rural North Carolina plays a critical role in meeting the state’s clean energy goals.

“My job is to make sure rural communities don’t miss the movement,” Bynum said. “These projects bring jobs, economic growth, and opportunities to areas that desperately need them.”

The economic impact of solar energy is substantial. In counties with significant solar development, property tax revenues have increased by as much as 1,600%, according to the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association. These funds have supported schools, infrastructure, and emergency services in areas facing population declines and economic challenges.

The state’s clean energy sector also supports more than 110,000 full-time jobs, according to a report from e2, with many more expected as solar development continues.

Hughes said the state’s carbon plan, which is updated every two years, will play a key role in charting a path forward.

“There’s a lot of check and adjust that will occur over the next few years,” he said.

As North Carolina advances its solar energy ambitions, balancing the needs of developers, communities, and environmental goals will be essential to achieving a sustainable and reliable energy future.

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