The diamond ring you are planning to buy might have great significance. Why? Firstly, it may be for the special woman you are making part of the family in your life. Secondly, it is an investment that could make you happy.
Women often associate emotional value with diamond rings and pass it on to generations. It even becomes the family heirloom. The older it becomes, the more expensive it gets.
For example, recently, a 400-year-old diamond that has passed through generations became famous in the Geneva auction because of its worth. It was sold for a whopping $9.7 million.
It is true that only a few can afford the price tag. But it doesn’t mean you cannot buy a diamond ring for your loved one.
What Are Lab-grown Diamonds?
Lab-Grown Diamonds are created in a controlled environment in the concealed chambers. These are legitimate and authentic diamonds like those extracted in mines.
These stones are ranked ten on the Mohs hardness scale. Mohs is the scale to measure the hardness of any stone. When tested, the lab-grown diamond offers the same hardness as natural sourced diamonds. No one can even see the difference!
For instance, lab-grown diamond engagement rings have the same properties and composition as natural diamonds. It is equally valuable as its natural counterpart, but the price you’ll have to pay is less, thanks to the artificial growth process.
The Process of Creating Diamond in a Lab
It usually takes somewhere between six to twelve weeks to grow diamonds in the lab. There are two methods to create diamonds in the lab.
- High-pressure High Temperature (HPHT)
It is the process of replicating the condition beneath the surface. A diamond seed is placed in extreme temperatures and pressure to mimic the perfect conditions that form beneath the earth’s surface.
Due to this constant pressure and temperature maintained by the chambers, the seed transforms into a diamond.
- Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD)
In CVD, a thin slice of diamond or seed is placed in a chamber. Then the chamber is exposed to carbon-rich gases for a period of certain weeks.
Exposure to these gasses under a controlled environment changes these seeds into fully-grown diamonds.
Important Things to Know Before You Buy Lab-grown Diamonds
- Lab-grown Diamonds Are Less Expensive
Besides Russia and Canada, diamonds are mined from Angola, Africa, Congo, and Botswana. With Botswana and South Africa being the prime producers. These regions are known for producing coal. Yet the occurrence of natural diamonds is quite common.
However, diamonds take tons of resources and effort. It is even hard enough just to reach inside the mines. Hence it increases the cost of extraction and labor.
Lab-grown diamonds, on the other hand, are produced efficiently. This allows producers to cut costs by up to 50%. The manual labor required in the production of lab diamonds is not even a third of the cost earth-mined diamonds take.
- Lab Diamonds Are Ethically Sourced
Besides, the horrible working conditions in extracting natural diamonds, it is not safe. In fact, for most diamond-abundant countries, mining diamonds is highly unfavorable. It results in injuries and even deaths.
History is evident of countless occurrences of mining-related accidents. Unfortunately, these accidents not only happen in third-world countries only but also in developed nations like the United States and Canada.
- Lab Diamonds Are Real Diamonds
Contrary to popular belief, lab-grown diamonds are real and authentic diamonds. They are not imitations. Even the most skilled jeweler will not know the difference. Mainly because there is no difference at all!
Lab-grown diamonds have the same physical and chemical compounds as real diamonds. Experts have already said that there is no exact distinction between the two.
- Lab-grown Diamonds Produces Fewer Carbon Footprints
Fortunately, we live in times when people are aware of their carbon footprint on Earth.
It has pushed scientists to find ways to eliminate carbon emission, extraction, and fracking activities. These activities often disrupt the harmony of the tectonic plates.
The result of constant fracking and extraction may result in mild tremors, or seldom, into earthquakes. In conjunction with mining accidents, it makes one wonder if these are even worth the trouble.
- Diamonds Must Be Certified for its Credibility
There are four Cs of credibility in a diamond – color, carat, clarity, and cut. Therefore, each diamond should pass the test of four Cs.
Each gemstone created in the lab undergoes rigorous testing, such as UV-ray testing. Expert gemologists even test and inspect each stone closely before certifying it.
Mined diamonds grew in a natural environment. Hence, its quality heavily varies. But since lab-grown diamonds are grown in controlled environments. Hence, the diamonds produced are of higher quality with almost no blemish at all.
- Lab-grown Diamonds are as Durable
Lab-grown diamonds are no less in durability and quality than their natural counterparts. When checked for hardness, they rank the same on the Mohs scale as naturally sourced, hence they are equally durable.
Each stone goes through some rigorous testing and quality checks before reaching you. A properly-tested and certified diamond is durable enough to pass through generations, just like the mined diamonds.
Benefits of Choosing Lab-Grown Vs. Mined Diamonds
We have established how lab-grown diamonds are no less compared to mined diamonds. In fact, they are better in many ways than mined diamonds. The great thing about lab-grown diamonds is that they require almost 50% fewer resources compared to extraction and mining.
There are several other benefits of lab-grown diamonds. First, there is no negative feeling or stigma associated with the extraction or transportation of the diamond. They are sourced by using all ethical means and are not harming the earth.
While they are eco-friendly, the cost of the stones reduces by 20-40% compared to natural stones. In this way, you can use the saved-up bucks in adding more value to the lab-grown diamonds.
As anticipated, the switch to buying lab-grown diamonds would impact the naturally acquired diamonds. Recently it was mentioned by jewelers how this switch in purchase and consideration had reduced the demand for mined diamonds.
In turn, it discourages the extraction of diamonds giving the slack for the earth to heal from all the meddling activities. Moreover, these extracting activities can induce minor earthquakes.
If you consider it hard, you would realize the rock on your hand could have been a part of disrupting the tectonic plates.
Not many people know that a naturally sourced diamond can have contaminants such as nitrogen and other impurities. Meanwhile, the lab-grown diamonds are grown in conditions created and controlled in the lab hence they are 100% pure.
Conclusion
The reason why mined diamonds are expensive is due to the cost involved in the extraction, transportation, and further processes. Contrastingly, growing diamonds artificially doesn’t require a hefty cost. This is the main reason why they are less expensive.
Another reason for the lower price tag is that lab-grown diamonds have no resale value. But the stone is durable enough to pass through generations, and become a prized possession.
In the end, make sure to buy a lab-grown diamond ring from a reputable jeweler. The ring must accompany a certificate stating it’s a real diamond.
Iskra Banović is our seasoned Editor-in-Chief at Blufashion. She has been steering the website’s content and editorial direction since 2018. With a rich background in fashion design, Iskra’s expertise spans across fashion, interior design, beauty, lifestyle, travel, and culture.
