Diamonds are associated with happy events like engagements, weddings, and anniversaries. When choosing a diamond, you want the best you can afford. A lab-grown diamond may be the answer to finding the perfect affordable piece of jewelry to celebrate your event or loved one.
What Is A Lab-Grown Diamond?
Lab-grown diamonds are known by several names. You may have heard the terms man-made diamonds, engineered diamonds, cultured diamonds, or even synthetic diamonds associated with lab-grown diamonds. No matter what they are called, a lab-grown diamond, true to its name, is created in a laboratory.
Pressure High-Heat method, and the other is the Chemical Vapor Deposition method. The High-Pressure High-Heat method is a simulation of the conditions that result in the formation of natural diamonds in the depths of the earth. The Chemical Vapor Deposition method breaks carbon atoms free from molecules using heat and allows them to settle and form crystals freely. Discerning between natural diamonds and lab-created ones is difficult for the average person.
Is A Lab-Grown Diamond the Same as A Diamond Simulant
A diamond simulant is a stone that mimics a diamond, but it doesn't have all the same properties as a diamond. Cubic zirconia is one example of an inexpensive diamond simulant. Moissanite is another example of a diamond simulant.
You might recognize cubic zirconia. Costume jewelry and inexpensive pieces that look like diamonds are made with this stone created from zirconium dioxide. Cubic zirconia doesn't hold up well over time. It scratches and discolors easily and therefore isn't a good alternative to diamonds.
Next to diamonds, Moissanite is the second hardest stone. It's formed from silicon carbide. If you want a diamond substitute, this one is a better choice than cubic zirconia because it's less expensive than natural diamonds and durable.
However, neither of these stones is the same as a lab-created diamond. Lab-created diamonds are made from carbon like natural diamonds are. A lab-grown diamond's atomic makeup is the same as that of a natural diamond. These are actual diamonds, not simulants.
Benefits of Lab-Grown Diamonds
Lab-grown diamonds have the same makeup as natural diamonds. They are created in a lab under heat and pressure. So, what are the benefits of choosing a lab-grown diamond rather than a natural diamond?
Environmental Sustainability
Have you ever considered how diamonds are mined? The mines are immense holes that require the use of a tremendous amount of fuel to power heavy machinery to extract the diamonds. One mine, the Mirny Diamond Mine, is over 1,700 feet deep and a mile in diameter. Not only that but there are plans to dig a mine in India that will destroy a Bengal Tiger habitat and require cutting over 490,000 trees—to dig the mine.
The damage to ecosystems and watersheds extends well beyond the hole where the diamond mine is located. Between damage to natural habitats and the use of fossil fuels for running equipment, diamond mines are not environmentally friendly. Lab-grown diamonds, however, can be grown using renewable resources to power the facilities. This is promising for future sustainability
Cost-Effectiveness
Whether you are purchasing an engagement ring or some other piece of diamond jewelry, you likely don't want to break the bank simply to afford a nice piece of jewelry. This is another reason to consider a lab-grown diamond. They are approximately 40% cheaper than their mined counterparts.
This means you can get a bigger lab-created stone for the same money. Or, you could choose a custom setting or better metal than you thought you would be able to purchase
Known Origin
People value knowing where their gems originate. Mined diamonds have a risk of being blood diamonds—diamonds mined in areas where rebel forces use the money from the diamonds to fund attempted coups. Unfortunately, those diamonds are mined by people who are treated badly; sometimes, slave labor is used. There is a general disregard for safety with blood diamond mining.
On the other hand, if you purchase a lab-created diamond, you will have a way to trace where it was grown. The history is known, clean, and 100% traceable. You will even be able to ascertain when and where it was purchased to be set into jewelry.
Improved Quality
You've likely heard of the four Cs of diamond ratings. If not, it's cut, clarity, color, and carat. These four Cs help you, or more specifically, the jeweler, know the quality of the diamonds you are viewing. Higher quality typically means a higher price, but remember, you get what you pay for. You can lean more about the 4Cs on our diamond buying guide
Typically, you will get a purer diamond if you purchase a lab-created diamond rather than a natural diamond. Natural diamonds often have impurities within them. Those impurities are a result of the natural environment in the mines. However, lab-created diamonds are formed in a controlled environment, so they don't typically have impurities.
Available in Colors
Occasionally, you will find a mined diamond that has color to it. These diamonds are rare and, therefore, pricey. Also, the color of a diamond from a mine tends to be dull and imperfect.
In contrast, lab-grown diamonds of color are less expensive than comparable mined diamonds. Their color is bright and doesn't fade. They have perfect purity and are easier to find than a mined diamond of color.
Final Thoughts
If factors like environmental sustainability, knowing the origins of your jewels, getting improved quality for a fraction of the cost, and having options for the color of your diamonds are important to you, consider purchasing a lab-grown diamond. The lab-created gems are as beautiful as their mined counterparts (some might say more beautiful), and they have an unmatched purity.
Why choose a Lab-Created Diamonds at Yadav Diamonds?
Yadav Diamonds and Jewelry is one of the few suppliers in the U.S. who provides consumers with the option to purchase lab-created diamonds. We’ve been in the jewelry business for about four decades with a passion to provide the best for our customers. Search for a Lab-Grown diamond using our online tools. Once you find one you like, your Lab-Created diamond can be expertly cut and placed into the high quality setting of your choice. We care for your feelings and the environment and support you with your decision to choose a lab created diamond.
For free consultation contact us at [email protected]
United States: +1 (415) 626-1793 or (888) 968-8810
