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Lab-created diamonds are beautiful and can be cost efficient, but are they too good to be true? We’ve got all of the info that you need to determine if a lab-created diamond is the right choice for you!
When my husband and I were first thinking about marriage, we embarked on the journey of finding an engagement ring together. This is such a fun thing to do together as a couple, but it can also be overwhelming! There are so many options out there to choose from. We scoured the internet researching everything we could about diamonds. We learned everything about color, clarity, cut, and carat size (the “4 Cs”). We debated the advantages and disadvantages of particular metals for the ring setting. We researched jewelers and their reputations. We wanted to get the best possible deal we could find.
The research before the ring buying process was quite arduous and time-consuming, but ultimately we found a diamond we both loved and felt was a good value. Fast forward ten years and I see couples going through a similar process when selecting a diamond engagement ring. But couples today have even more options which is great but this can also add to the stress of choosing the right diamond.
Namely, I’ve recently learned that couples today have the option of purchasing “lab-created” or “lab-grown” diamonds. The introduction of lab diamonds into the jewelry market has definitely shaken things up and caused quite the debate among jewelers. The lab-grown diamonds versus real diamonds debate is still alive and well, so I wanted to do my own research to better understand this new option for engaged couples. After all, the ring is a very important (and fun) part of an engagement, and you don’t want to buy anything without knowing what it is that you’re purchasing!
Lab Created Diamonds – What Are They?
If you’re like me, you’re wondering exactly what are lab-created diamonds? The first time I heard about them, I automatically assumed they were fake or simulated diamonds–and you know your girl does not do fake!
But nothing could be farther from the truth. Lab-created diamonds are real diamonds. These man-made diamonds are “grown” inside a lab using technology that mimics what happens in the earth when a natural diamond is formed. Thus, the only thing that makes a lab-created diamond different from a natural diamond is its origin. This should make you feel a little better about considering a lab-created diamond – they actually are real diamonds, just ones that were made in a lab!
The result of making a diamond in a lab is a diamond that is chemically, physically, and optically the same as those grown beneath the earth’s surface. Additionally, lab-created diamonds are graded and certified using the same process as mined diamonds. Finally, lab-grown diamonds are evaluated with the same color, clarity, cut, and carat size (the “4 Cs”) and can be found in all the similar shapes (e.g., round, emerald, brilliant, princess, etc.) as naturally-mined diamonds. With all of this grading and caution that is put into making the diamonds, you can certainly consider them to be extremely high quality diamonds, lab-made or not!
Lab Created Diamonds – How Are They Made?
Okay, now you know what lab-created diamonds are, but how exactly do they make them? A diamond in a lab? That’s got to be complicated! To understand how lab-created diamonds are made, you first need to understand how naturally-mined diamonds are created. Natural diamonds are formed when pure carbon undergoes extremely high temperature and pressure over billions of years beneath the earth’s surface. Centuries of ground movement bring the diamonds to the earth’s surface embedded in large chunks of rock. Miners excavate these gems from the rocks and collect these natural diamonds for sale to the public. As you can imagine, these naturally occurring diamonds that have to be mined out are often much more expensive than the lab-created diamonds.
Like naturally-mined diamonds, the process for lab-grown diamonds starts by putting carbon under extreme heat and pressure. Labs take a single carbon “seed” (a small sliver of a natural diamond or lab-created diamond) and take it through a process that mimics the earth’s natural process for creating diamonds. Using one of two processes, High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) or Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD), the carbon seed slowly forms into a crystalline structure. Through these advanced technologies, labs are able to “grow” diamonds that are chemically, physically, and optically the same as naturally-mined diamonds. A lot of work goes into making these beautiful, lab-created diamonds.
Lab-Created Diamonds – How can you tell the difference?
Here’s the tricky part about lab-created diamonds: Lab-created diamonds are virtually indistinguishable from natural diamonds. The untrained eye (i.e., your nosy best friend) will never be able to tell if you’re wearing a man-made diamond. Even most jewelers cannot tell the difference without specific testing. To make sure that lab-grown diamonds are not mixed up with natural diamonds, jewelers are required to label lab-created diamonds with laser inscriptions on the diamond’s girdle, the outermost edge. If you are afraid of anyone calling you out for having a lab-created diamond, don’t be! You will have saved some money, gotten an authentic, high-quality diamond, and will have a beautiful rock on your ring!
Lab-Created Diamonds – How are they different from diamond simulants?
You may be wondering how lab-created diamonds are different from diamond simulants, like cubic zirconia, white sapphire, and moissanite (AKA dupe diamonds). Diamond simulants are comprised of a proprietary blend of elements that simulate the look, weight, and wear of a diamond but are chemically distinct. Whereas, lab-grown diamonds have all of the same properties of their natural counterparts and are “real” in every sense of the word. In simpler terms, diamond simulants are not real diamonds, but lab-created diamonds are!
Lab-Created Diamonds – Advantages
So now that we know that lab-created diamonds are the real thing, let’s talk about what benefits they have over mined diamonds.
- Eco Friendly – Lab-created diamonds do not disturb any land surfaces. Additionally, lab-grown diamonds do not produce any mineral waste. If you’re looking for an eco-friendly diamond, a lab-created diamond may be the choice for you!
- Ethically Sourced – Lab-created diamonds are conflict-free. Diamond miners are never harmed or exploited during the making of lab-grown diamonds. Thus, there are never any issues that you’re purchasing a “blood diamond.” If you are concerned about your diamond having a negative impact when it is sourced, opt for one that is lab-created.
- Competitively Priced – Lab-grown diamonds typically cost 20-40% less than mined diamonds due to a shorter supply chain. If you are looking to save money on a diamond but still have something that is beautiful and high-quality, going with a lab-created diamond may be your best bet!
Lab-Created Diamonds: Disadvantages
While man-made diamonds are technically real diamonds, they do have disadvantages when compared to natural diamonds.
- Rarity – Because lab-created diamonds are manufactured, they can be mass-produced. Thus, your diamond will not be a “one-of-a-kind” as is the case with those diamonds mined from the earth’s surface. If you want your stone to be one of a kind, you may not want to choose a lab-created diamond.
- Value – Man-made diamonds are new to the jewelry industry. Thus, the long-term value of lab-grown diamonds is not yet settled. As they continue to take up market share in the diamond industry, advancements in lab-grown diamond technologies could lower the value of previously sold lab-created diamonds. While naturally-mined diamonds typically increase in value over time, the lab-created diamond you buy today could be worth considerably less a year from now. If you want your diamond to be more of an investment, you may want to go with a natural diamond.
The uncertainty of the value of lab-created diamonds makes their resale value questionable. However, the value of naturally-mined diamonds stays fairly consistent and thus, are, at this point, a more stable investment.
To help you compare the similarities and differences as well as the pros and cons of lab-created diamonds versus “real” diamonds, we’ve created this handy-dandy chart:
| Lab-Created Diamonds | Naturally-Mined Diamonds |
| Similarities | |
| Constructed of carbon atoms structures | Constructed of carbon atoms structures |
| Available in a range of shapes and carat weight | Available in a range of shapes and carat weight |
| Differences | |
| Created in a lab in a matter of weeks | Formed under the earth’s surface over billions of years |
| Mass-produced | One-of-a-kind |
| Priced 20-40% lower than naturally-mined diamonds | Priced up to 40% higher than similar lab-created diamonds |
| Decrease in value over time | Increase in value over time |
Lab-Created Diamonds: Where can I buy them?
Okay, you’ve done your research and you understand the ins and outs of the lab-created diamonds. Considering all of this, if you’re looking to get your hands on one, you have few options. More and more jewelers (some established, some new) are getting into the lab-grown diamond market. With these types of diamonds being new to the jewelry industry, it can be tough deciphering which lab-grown diamond companies are quality.
Clean Origin stands above the competition because of its commitment to quality and its unbelievable features. As third-generation jewelers, the founders know a thing or two about the industry and pass on that knowledge to the customer in terms of competitive pricing and benefits.
In addition to offering stunning lab-created diamonds, the company offers the following to all of its customers:
- Free shipping
- 100-day return policy
- Lifetime manufacturing warranty
- Independently certified diamonds
- Free resizing
- Phone and email support
With all of these features and a 100-day return policy, you really have nothing to lose.
Buying a diamond engagement ring is a complicated decision-making process. And the process of purchasing a lab-created diamond engagement ring can add additional wrinkles to that process. So make sure you do proper research and choose a reputable lab-grown diamond company. Clean Origin is definitely one to look into.
Buying a diamond engagement ring is a complicated decision-making process. And the process of purchasing a lab-created diamond engagement ring can add additional wrinkles to that process. So make sure you do proper research and choose a reputable lab-grown diamond company. Clean Origin is definitely one to look into.
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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Clean Origin. The opinions and text are all mine.
