Learn about Lab Grown Diamonds
Developments in science and technology are giving rise to new inventions in various fields, and with diamonds now being grown in labs, the jewelry industry is fast catching up. Needless to say, this advancement has sparked up a new debate among jewelers and jewelry connoisseurs alike; which is really better, lab-grown diamonds, or naturally mined stones? You might be amazed to learn that, when we look into it, there’s no significant difference between the two categories – except, of course, where they come from.
Here’s a brief guide to understanding lab-grown diamonds, and seeing how they stand up to their natural counterparts.
Lab diamonds vs. natural diamonds – the cut
As far as the cut and the colors are concerned, there isn’t any significant difference between man-made diamonds and naturally mined diamonds. You get the same brilliant cuts, the same flawless colors, and pretty much the same kind of stones when you opt for synthetic diamonds. In fact, lab-grown diamonds are categorized and graded according to the same system that has been in use for the natural, earth-mined stones for decades; rated in exactly the same way against exactly the same criteria.
Lab diamonds vs. natural diamonds – the making
Natural diamonds, as we all know, are mined from various geographical regions. Lab diamonds, on the other hand, and created in the lab under controlled conditions that mimic the natural diamond-making process. Typically, one of two processes are involved in the making of a synthetic diamond: in the High Pressure, High Temperature (HPHT) procedure, synthetic diamonds are grown under conditions of high heat and pressure that imitate the conditions inside the earth, while in the process of Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD), a gas like methane is introduced into a vacuum chamber and separated. The carbon atoms then crystallize into diamonds at the bottom of the chamber.
Lab diamonds vs. natural diamonds – the flaws
Both kinds of diamond come with their own set of flaws. Natural diamonds, for instance, have inclusions such as crystals and feathers that can affect their clarity. As for lab-grown diamonds, the inclusions are mostly metallic, because these stones are grown in molten metal solutions. However, much like the rarest natural diamonds that are formed without any inclusions, you’ll come across lab-grown diamonds that are free of any flaws too.
Lab diamonds vs. natural diamonds – the price
Typically, lab-grown diamonds cost less than their natural counterparts by around twenty to thirty percent. It’s this difference in price that can make people believe that synthetic diamonds are of lower quality than natural ones. The truth is, since natural diamonds are much harder to discover and mine (because they are natural resources that are fast depleting), they are logically priced higher than synthetic stones. In other words, a synthetic diamond is an opportunity for diamond-lovers to enjoy the same brilliance, cut, and clarity, but at a more affordable price.
So before you judge a lab-grown diamond too harshly, visit a store and check out these beauties for yourself. You may just fall in love with them and end up taking one home!