With similar chemical composition, lab created diamonds are replacing mined diamonds and becoming a popular answer to growing climate concerns. Many young people and influencers, including Meghan Markle, are supporting the trend.
The origination of lab grown diamonds is like a breath of fresh air in the jewelry industry. You save costs, contribute to the betterment of the climate, and have something as beautiful as natural diamonds.
Considering the perks, lab grown diamonds have become the new favorite for countless mature couples. If you and your spouse are environmentally responsible, it’s a good idea to base your relationship on a decision of buying lab grown diamonds that would put you amongst countless millennials choosing them.
Let us first understand what is a lab grown diamond. In the course of this article we will delve into the process used to create these diamonds, discuss their value and understand if they are ethical and if so how. Let’s try and answer each of these questions in depth.
What is a Lab Created Diamond?
A lab created diamond is a more ethical alternative to mined diamonds. As the name goes, these diamonds are created in a lab. They are pressured in a closed setting to match the quantity of a real diamond’s carbon atom. The atom proportion helps these man-made stones shine bright.
What Makes Lab Grown Diamonds Popular?
Mined diamonds have been at risk of depleting with time. This makes them crazily expensive. Lab grown diamonds are synthetic and easily created when compared to mined diamonds.
Besides that, lab grown diamonds have the same molecular arrangement as natural diamonds. Hence, you get exactly what a real diamond brings to the table but at a lower price.
Do Lab Created Diamonds Have Long-term Value?
Lab grown diamonds are said to have lesser resale value than real diamonds since they don’t involve intensive labor, product scarcity, and hefty production costs.
But, each lab grown diamond has half the value of its original price at the time of resale. This means when you set out to sell your diamond pendant or solitaire ring, you get a portion of the actual cost of the lab created diamond.
Are Lab Created Diamonds More Ethical?
Yes. There’s no question about lab created diamonds and their sustainability. They are definitely more sustainable or ethical when compared to naturally mined diamonds.
A fun fact that many of you may not know is that real diamonds take 1 to 3 billion years to recreate. On the other hand, the diamonds carefully crafted in the lab take about 6 to 10 weeks to develop. Surprising isn’t it?
How Can You Identify a Lab Created Diamond?
At first glance, it is hard to tell if a diamond is lab created or natural. In particular, the untrained eye won’t ever be able to know if you are wearing a diamond that is crafted in the lab. Even the experts, like jewelers, cannot differentiate a man-made diamond without getting it through certain testing.
It is crucial for the jewelers to NOT let the natural diamonds and lab grown diamonds mix up. It won’t be wrong if we say it’s their prime responsibility. They can do it by labeling lab created diamonds with laser inscriptions. These inscriptions are made on the outermost edge of the diamond, also known as the diamond girdle.
Lab Created Diamonds Vs Diamond Simulants
Lab created diamonds are definitely different from diamond simulants. Diamond simulants are gemstones manufactured by blending specific elements to imitate diamonds. They are however different from real or lab created diamonds in appearance and composition. Some well-known examples of diamond look likes or diamond simulants include the following:
- Cubic Zirconia (CZ)
- White sapphire
- Moissanite
All the above examples of diamond simulants lack the chemical properties of real diamonds. Also, note that, unlike diamond simulants, lab created diamonds have similar properties as real diamondsl. This does make sense, folks!
Lab Created Diamonds and Naturally-Mined Diamonds
Lab created diamonds are the real game of delivering the same value, so let’s discuss some of the similarities and differences between lab created and naturally-mined diamonds.
| Lab Created Diamonds | Naturally-Mined Diamonds | |
| Similarities | Made of carbon atoms structures | Made of carbon atoms structures |
| Available in a decent range of shapes and carat weight | Available in a decent range of shapes and carat weight | |
| Differences | Created in a lab in a matter of 6 to 10 weeks | Constructed under the earth’s surface over billions of years |
| Mass-produced as per buyer demand | Unique, one-of-a-kind | |
| Priced around 20-40% lower than mined diamonds | Priced up to 40% higher than lab created diamonds | |
| Decreases in value over time | Increases in value over time |
Wedding Jewelry with Lab Created Diamonds
There are a dozen benefits of lab created diamonds, which is why many environmentally conscious diamond jewelry businesses are making it easier for you to buy lab created diamond rings for your special day.
When buying diamonds from this source, you get full control over the type of diamonds you want. You get to choose the shape of the diamond, its certification, color, cut, weight, and even price.
Some lab created diamond businesses offer customers the ultimate freedom to choose their jewelry at the time of buying.
Lab Grown Diamond Engagement Rings
Lab created diamond engagement rings have different styles and different wedding ring shapes with precise diamond cuts. You will find all the types and shapes for your dreamy lab created diamond engagement ring.
All these points prove that you’ll never run out of variety while also saving money and synthetic diamond wedding rings are 40% less expensive than naturally mined diamonds.
Lab created wedding rings for women have a striking range of designs to beautify the day for the couple.
Tennis bracelets, wedding bands, necklaces and other jewelry created with ultimate attention and dedication for a bride is a must-have in your bridal look.
Key Takeaway
Now that you know that trending lab created diamonds are real, you can easily go for this nice-looking diamond jewelry. Ethical diamonds are a wise choice if you don’t have a big diamond budget and want to rock your day with a huge diamond.
Lab created diamonds are worth your money though not having natural diamonds’ intrinsic rarity value. Yet they are valued for their appreciable 4Cs (cut, carat, color, and clarity). They are the perfect jewelry wear for your wedding. Be it for an important occasion in your life, or as an investment opportunity, lab created diamonds offer the perfect balance between cost, environmental responsibility, and beauty.
