With the growing popularity of guides lab grown diamonds, it is essential to comprehend all that goes into producing one. We’ve put together this comprehensive guide so you can make an informed decision when shopping for lab-grown gems.
Unfortunately, diamond mining carries with it numerous ethical and environmental hazards. It’s impossible to know if a mined diamond has been responsibly sourced, and doing so could contribute to violence and conflict in communities.
1. The Origin of Lab-Grown Diamonds
Lab-grown diamonds, unlike their natural counterparts, are created in a controlled laboratory setting using special equipment. This replicates the conditions that buy lab diamonds would experience during formation on Earth – providing stunning gemstones without the ethical or environmental hazards associated with mining.
Different scientists and companies have invested a great deal of effort and experimentation to produce synthetic diamonds. General Electric is credited as being the first to successfully utilize high pressure and high temperature (HPHT) methods in 1954, becoming an international success.
This method has proven incredibly successful at synthesizing gem-quality diamonds, and it is now used to produce many different gemstones. The majority of synthetic diamonds you see today are created using this HPHT process; however, other alternatives are also being explored.
2. The Process of Lab-Grown Diamond Creation
Two primary methods for lab diamond creation: High Pressure-High Temperature (HPHT) and Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD). Both use a single carbon “seed,” (a small sliver of natural or lab-created diamond) placed inside a chamber under intense heat and pressure.
Under these conditions, carbon atoms from a seed begin to coalesce and form a diamond crystal. Once complete, it’s cut and polished to reveal its full brilliance.
Lab grown diamonds offer consumers a more sustainable option compared to mining diamonds from conflict regions. They avoid community displacement, low wages and human rights violations associated with mining. Furthermore, they lack unscrupulous middlemen, creating an ethical and transparent supply chain that can be traced from creation to consumption.
3. The 4Cs of Lab-Grown Diamonds
When purchasing diamonds, it’s essential to understand their 4Cs: carat, cut, clarity and colour. These four factors influence the diamond’s appearance as well as price point.
The 4Cs are essential as they offer an objective way to assess a diamond’s quality. They’re spicecinemas an effective way to ensure you don’t overpay for something which won’t live up to its price tag.
Lab-grown diamonds are created in a controlled environment that allows them to be compared with natural diamonds. They share the same chemical, optical and physical characteristics as natural diamonds but are much cheaper.
Lab-grown diamonds, while visually indistinguishable from natural diamonds, are graded using the same GIA standard of evaluation as natural diamonds. This means they receive official grades based on carat weight, cut quality and colour.
4. The Benefits of Lab-Grown Diamonds
Lab-grown diamonds are an ethical and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional mined diamonds. They offer a responsible alternative to conflict diamonds, which have been linked to human rights abuses and unethical mining practices.
Lab grown diamonds are created using cutting-edge technology and appear identical to natural diamonds when inspected without a lens. Due to strict regulation during production, they feature fewer flaws and greater purity than their naturally occurring counterparts.
Laboratory-grown diamonds are much cheaper than their mined counterparts, typically 30-40% cheaper. As a result, they’re becoming increasingly commonplace in jewellery designs.
Furthermore, they come in an extensive palette of colours. You have your pick of pinks, blues, yellows and reds to choose from.
Things to Consider When Buying Lab-Grown Diamonds
When shopping for lab-grown diamonds, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, make sure the diamond is certified by a reputable organization of America (GIA) or International Gemmological Institute (IGI).
Also, consider the cut of the diamond as it has a significant impact on the diamond’s brilliance and beauty. Additionally, decide on the carat weight, clarity and colour that you desire.
It’s important to choose a trustworthy and reliable jeweller when purchasing lab-grown diamonds. Look for a jeweller who is transparent about the sourcing and production of their diamonds.
Conclusion
Finally, be aware of the resale value of lab-grown diamonds as they may not hold their value as well as natural diamonds. However, this is slowly changing as lab-grown diamonds gain more recognition in the industry.
