If you’re on a strict budget and aren’t as bothered with a real diamond’s contemporary twist, you can get a stunning lab created diamond at a nice bargain.
It’s not just about the price though. The sustainability involved in creating the best lab grown diamonds also plays a significant role in why big names like Meghan Markel and Billy Porter are using these diamonds as an alternative to real diamonds.
Intrigued to know more?
Read on and we’ll tell you all you need to know about lab grown diamonds and whether are they real in any way.
Let’s dive in.
Why are Lab Grown Diamonds Called Sustainable?
Lab grown diamonds are also known by the terms synthetic diamonds, artificial diamonds, cultivated diamonds, or cultured diamonds. Despite growing in popularity, lab grown diamonds were first “produced” in the 1950s.
The production or creation process is based on a high-pressure and high-temperature method. It is somehow similar to the mining of real coal diamonds except that there are no holes dug in the earth.
The best lab created diamonds are created with an entirely ethical, eco-friendly approach. These diamonds are man-made but 100% original in their composition. You can buy diamond wedding jewelry, bracelets, or rings and nobody will be able to spot the difference.
The Process of Lab Grown Diamond Creation
A carbon seed is placed inside a closed container with carbon-rich gas and then heated to approximately 800 degrees Celsius until the gases start to stick to the seed, which forms a diamond carbon atom.
There are two processes to create lab grown diamonds.
- High-Pressure High-Temperature (HPHT), this processive is replicative of the real process of mined diamonds
- Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD), this process uses a vacuum chamber and a diamond seed is used in it.
Just like natural diamonds, man-made fancy colored diamonds are created when minute amounts of particular chemical elements are involved in the creation phase of the lab grown diamond.
The precise composition of trace elements in man-made diamonds, both white and fancy colored, may vary from that of mined diamonds. You have to look at the types of diamonds and identify real from lab-grown diamonds by considering these factors.
Are Lab Grown Diamonds Real?
Diamonds generated in a laboratory are artificial gems. Lab grown diamonds don’t need to be dug and cut enormous holes in the earth like conventionally mined diamonds require. Alternatively, they naturally imitate diamonds’ growth by using carbon from fossil fuels. As a result, they resemble mined diamonds chemically and artistically.
Pricing
Diamonds created in a lab are a high-end premium product. The method is intricate and expensive since it blends technology with art. But, prices for lab-grown, synthetic diamonds are often lesser than genuine diamonds.
But, lab created diamonds offer significant value in comparison to the scarcity of mined diamonds and the high cost of discovery and mining, which is why the mined diamonds are 50% high in price compared to synthetic diamonds.
How to Differentiate Lab Grown Diamonds From Mined Diamonds?
If you want a cut-short answer, it is impossible to tell a lab created diamond apart from a natural diamond when comparing the two. Even a trained gemologist can’t distinguish the lab created from the natural diamond without using advanced tools.
A qualified gemologist uses microscopy to examine certain types of compositions to determine if a diamond was mined or created in laboratories.
Examining the grading statements is another method for determining whether a diamond was created in a laboratory or natively. Compared to lab created diamonds, inclusions in natural diamonds have a different meaning. There are occasional variations in how a diamond reflects light compared to a man-made diamond.
But, the final point is that the lab grown and mined diamonds are similar in aesthetic appearance and composition.
Diamond Grading
Lab grown diamonds are graded through a gem lab that specializes in grading diamonds.
Most of these labs follow the 4Cs process to determine grades::
- Cut
- Clarity
- Color
- Carat
It’s not the standard that every diamond lab sticks to. Some have their own set of rules to determine the quality and grades of gems.
The top diamond accreditation laboratories:
- American Gemological Institute (GIA)
The American Gemological Institute was established in 1931to verify the authenticity and quality of diamonds, gemstones and colored stones. The institute focuses on gem education.
- World Diamond Center of Antwerp (AWDC)
AWDC (Antwerp World Diamond Centre) is a five centuries old organisation working in the diamond trading industry. It verifies diamond traders and companies based on the fulfilment of the defined standards.
All of the diamond certification laboratories use a similar method for evaluating diamonds. Several gemologists at the lab independently grade every diamond. The individual grades are tallied and examined to arrive at the final grade.
Lab Grown Diamond Jewelry by Clean Origin
Clean Origin is a Stamford, USA-based diamond company with 100 years of diamond jewelry industry exposure. They aim to promote ethical jewelry worldwide.
By offering a wide variety of wedding jewelry, they are making it possible for everyone to earn diamonds and contribute to the climate by making a responsible choices. Clean Origin offers different types of diamonds for customers to pick and customize their special day jewelry.
Awestriking Jewelry Pieces by Clean Origin
Luisant Diamond Ring - 2.04 – 2.39 Ct
A wedding band with six diamonds set between curving scrolls of metalwork:
Delphinium Promise Ring – 2/5 Ct
An engagement ring with a set of lab grown diamonds encircled around the Blue Round Lab Created Diamond.
Classic 10 ct. tw. Tennis Bracelet
Diamond bracelet with 43 gemstones.
Screw Back Studs
3 prongIGI certified studs.
Starburst Diamond Necklace
Round lab grown diamonds with 18.3mm x 10.2mm pendant dimensions.
Lab grown diamonds look elegant and shiny, just as your normal diamond would look. It’s worth your investment. Browse clean origin to get your hands on beautiful wedding jewelry.
Conclusion
The simplest approach to prevent purchasing an unethically mined diamond is to go for a lab created one. Ethical diamond mining has recently gained popularity.
The carbon footprint of lab grown diamonds is lower than that of mined diamonds. Because of this, synthetic diamonds are also a more environmentally friendly choice.
