Buying the best lab grown diamond for you requires plenty of research. By equipping yourself with the necessary knowledge, shopping for the perfect lab grown diamond becomes a stress-free and enjoyable experience. Since not everyone has the time to become a gemologist, we have gathered the top 10 most frequently asked lab diamond questions. From learning what is a lab grown diamond, lab grown diamond prices, and much more, our diamond experts have you covered. Watch our video about lab diamonds below, if you have further questions, read on or contact our gemologist team!
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One of the biggest questions we get is “are lab diamonds real?” Indeed, lab grown or man made diamonds are real as their naturally grown counterparts and have the same visual, physical, and chemical traits. Both natural and lab diamonds are known as the hardest substance known to man, and require carbon as well as intense heat and high pressure to grow. While mined diamonds form within the Earth's mantle and travel to the surface through the kimberlite pipes, lab grown diamonds are made in a controlled environment with cutting-edge equipment that mirrors the conditions in which natural diamonds form. Since the two diamonds look the same and are incredibly robust, only highly skilled gemologists with advanced equipment can tell the difference between lab created diamonds and mined diamonds.
Synthetic diamonds are another name for lab created diamonds and they are different from simulated diamonds. Also known as fake diamonds, simulated diamonds are stones made to resemble diamonds. Some examples of diamond simulants are: zirconia, moissanite, and rhinestones. From a gemologist perspective, simulated diamonds do not have the same beauty, versatility, or longevity as lab grown and naturally grown diamonds. Because of the previous point, simulants are easily identifiable as “fake diamonds.”
While naturally formed diamonds required 1 million to 3 million years to form, lab diamonds need as little as 2 to 6 weeks to grow. Thanks to advanced technology, lab diamonds can be crafted and enter the market much faster than their natural counterparts.
Definitely one of our top questions is: are lab grown diamonds cheaper? One of the best factors about lab diamond diamonds is how much more affordable they are in comparison to natural diamonds. You can expect to pay 15% to 30% less on a synthetic diamond than you would on a mined diamond. This price difference is because mined diamonds go through a longer supply chain and require more costly resources.
Nearly everyone has heard of the 4 C's of diamond grading, but just what do these grades mean? Each grade reflects the characteristics of a diamond, helping customers make informed purchases. The most well-known 4 C is carat weight which refers to the size of the diamond. Clarity indicates the number of imperfections a diamond has. Color defines the amount of yellow hues that a white diamond has. The most important grade of the 4 C's, and most misunderstood, is cut. Cut identifies how proportionate a diamond's facets are. A diamond with an excellent cut grade has facets that are cut and arranged so that light can best travel through the stone and brilliantly sparkle. If a diamond has a poor cut grade, light will escape from the bottom and sides of the diamond, making it look lifeless.
Any lab diamond you buy should absolutely be certified. A certified diamond comes with a report from a diamond lab that details valuable information about the diamond, such as its 4 C's, proportions, and fluorescence. This way, you can know exactly the type of diamond you are looking at and understand if it has the characteristics you most desire in a diamond, such as an excellent cut grade. Certificates for lab grown diamonds are also important because it prevents jewelers from inflating grades, which could have made you pay much more than what the diamond is worth. Always make sure that your lab grown diamond has a certificate from a reputable lab such as the IGI.
The International Gemological Institute, also known as the IGI, was founded in and is the world's largest independent diamond grading lab. IGI is one of the few labs that produce reports for lab grown diamonds whose gradings you can trust. Your lab grown diamond IGI report will not only detail your diamond's grades but also clearly indicate your stone is lab grown.
Diamond type is another commonly misunderstood geological term. It does not refer to the cut of the diamond or how it was formed, instead it is a scientific classification that identifies the amount of impurities the stone has. While diamonds are predominantly made up of carbon, certain trace elements can enter during the formation process that influences the stone's appearance. For diamond type, it's more important for researchers and gemologists because it's a starting point for them to identify of natural, synthetic, and treated diamonds.
Accounting for 98% of diamonds, type IA diamonds are most common. Moreover, they have nitrogen atoms clustered in its carbon lattice, resulting in diamonds that have a pale-yellow or orange hue. Type IA diamonds are notable for their fluorescence when shown under infrared and ultraviolet light.
Accounting for 1% to 2% of all diamonds, type IIA diamonds are the purest and most valuable of all diamond types. Type IIA diamonds contain no to very few nitrogen atoms, allowing for a remarkably white diamond. Type IIA diamonds are the most coveted of all diamond types and the most expensive. The good news is that you can buy an affordable lab grown type IIA diamond without draining your savings. But ultimately, you should buy the diamond type that's most appealing to you.
Accounting for less than 0.1% of diamonds, type IB diamonds have nitrogen atoms scattered as single atoms in its carbon lattice. These types of diamonds absorb a spectrum of blue light, thus resulting in diamonds with strong brown, orange, and/or yellow hues.
These diamonds, like Type IIA diamonds, are free from nitrogen. However, the difference is, these contain boron within them. Boron absorbs a spectrum of red light, therefore these diamonds have a light blue to grey hue.
Perhaps the biggest question anyone has before buying a lab grown diamond is whether they should shop in-store or online. If you are unsure about which diamond style to get, looking at lab diamond engagement rings and lab diamond jewelry in person is incredibly helpful. When it comes to buying lab diamond rings and jewelry, shopping online is far more cost-efficient. Physical stores have more overhead fees from bills and employee wages that get passed onto their merchandise. You can expect to pay more in a physical jewelry store than you would for a comparable diamond sold online.
Regardless of your diamond's origins, all diamonds attract grime, dirt, and the oil from your skin. This build-up will diminish your diamond's sparkle because light can no longer properly pass through the stone. Regularly cleaning your diamond is an easy way to keep your jewelry always looking its best.
Step 1 - Get a clean, soft-bristled toothbrush, and castille soap.
Step 2 - Close the sink hole (we don't want a lost-and-found accident!).
Step 3 - Gently brush the diamond with soap.
Step 4 - Rinse under light-pressure warm water.
Step 5 - Pat dry with a non-fibrous cloth.
As an extra bonus step, you may want to have annual cleanings with a professional jeweler who has ultrasonic tools that clean your lab diamond ring’s setting in addition to the diamond. With clarity offers a complimentary lifetime warranty with every purchase which includes ultrasonic cleaning and polishing.
Are lab-grown diamonds the same as natural diamonds? In this video, Jake Talve-Goodman of The Concierge Gemologist shows you how lab-grown diamonds are made and explains why they have the same properties as natural diamonds but might have a huge impact on the future of the diamond industry.
Chemically, physically, and optically, lab-grown diamonds are identical to natural ones. They're real diamonds with the same crystal structure and beautiful sparkle as natural diamonds. Lab-grown diamonds also have the same famous Mohs hardness of 10. They're just as durable as natural diamonds, but they're a bit easier on your pocketbook.
That's why they've become so popular, and why top diamond jewelers like James Allen have opted to offer them along with their selection of natural diamonds.
Lab-made diamonds can go by a few different names. Lab-made, lab-grown, lab-created, synthetic, cultured, and created can all describe diamonds made in a laboratory.
At first glance, there's no way to tell the difference between a lab-made diamond and a natural one. However, there are two small details you could look for.
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With a magnifying glass, try to find a tiny laser inscription on the girdle — the widest part of the diamond that forms its outline when you look at it from the top. See if you can read it. Many lab-made diamonds have an inscription that identifies them as lab-made.
Diamonds can also have a lab report number inscribed on the girdle. If you go to the laboratory website, you can enter this number to get the report, which will tell you whether the stone is mined or lab-grown, along with plenty of other information.
If there's nothing on the girdle, only a major gemological laboratory can tell you whether the diamond is mined or created.
Lab-made diamonds have the same thermal and electrical conductivity as mined diamonds. So, they will pass a diamond tester exam.
Since a lab-grown diamond appears identical to a mined diamond, most jewelers won't be able to tell the difference. (Assuming, of course, that the diamond has no girdle inscriptions). However, jewelers who are also trained gemologists may be able to tell whether a diamond is lab-grown with the aid of a powerful microscope. Still, the only way to be certain is to send it to a gemological laboratory.
Two processes can create jewelry-quality diamonds: HPHT and CVD.
HPHT stands for High Pressure/High Temperature. This process mimics the way that diamonds grow in nature, subjecting carbon to high temperatures and pressing it together. This costly method requires a lot of energy.
CVD stands for Chemical Vapor Deposition, and it's not as scary as it sounds. In this process, a mixture of hydrogen and methane gas is placed in a chamber with a seed crystal. Typically, microwave power heats the chamber to a high temperature, which excites the gas. The diamond grows on the seed crystal. The CVD method is cheaper than HPHT and has become more common in recent years, as new technology has made higher-quality diamonds possible.
Some people feel that lab-made diamonds are inappropriate for an engagement ring because they're "cheap." Others say that a diamond is a diamond, whether it came from the ground or a laboratory. Still others prefer lab-made diamonds over mined diamonds for ethical and environmental reasons.
Not too long ago, a majority of consumers considered lab-made diamonds "cheap." However, attitudes are rapidly changing. About ⅔ of people aged 21-40 who are shopping for an engagement ring are now willing to consider lab-grown diamonds. Due to natural diamond sticker shock, that's not too surprising. Lab-grown diamonds average about 30-40% of the price of comparable natural ones. Plus, they look the same. With lower prices and guaranteed ethical sourcing, a lab-grown diamond is a practical and guilt-free alternative.
Lab-grown diamonds are a far cry from fake diamonds. Historically, fake diamonds were typically glass. Glass is much less durable and has a lot less sparkle than a well-cut diamond. Other diamond imitations, like synthetic cubic zirconia and natural zircon or topaz gems, are likely to chip with wear. Lab-created diamonds have none of those issues. They're just as durable and sparkly as any natural diamond.
Still, there's nothing wrong with opting for a diamond lookalike. For example, moissanites are a durable and affordable alternative to diamonds with a huge fan base. They look very similar to diamonds, too. Only an expert could tell the difference!
Lab-created diamonds are less valuable than natural diamonds. But, unless you're dropping some serious cash on a large, high-color white diamond — or a rare fancy colored diamond, like a blue diamond — a natural diamond isn't going to appreciate much in value.
In reality, all diamonds dramatically drop in value the second you buy them. After that, a mined diamond will slowly regain value, but it's unlikely you'll be able to sell your natural diamond and break even within your lifetime. (That is, unless you spent millions on a world famous diamond with an exciting provenance).
So, whether lab-grown or mined, diamonds aren't a good investment. That's why you should always choose what will make you happiest. If you're shopping for an engagement ring stone, what would you prefer: a mined diamond or some extra cash for the honeymoon?
Even as heirlooms, lab-made diamonds aren't bad options. Odds are, your children and grandchildren will want your jewelry because it was yours. Where the stone came from will just be an afterthought.
Whether lab-made or mined, your diamond will certainly last long enough for your heir to enjoy it.
Lab-made diamonds typically have good clarity. Like a high-quality natural diamond, lab-made diamonds won't get cloudy.
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Ethical diamond mining has become a hot topic, and the easiest way to avoid unethically mined diamonds is to choose a lab-made one. Diamonds grown in a lab are never "blood diamonds" and have a smaller environmental footprint than mined diamonds. That makes lab-made diamonds a more environmentally sustainable option, too.
Still, there are ways to purchase ethically mined diamonds. Diamond mines in Canada, Botswana, and Australia have opted for a more transparent supply chain. You can also shop for a "recycled," secondhand diamond.
If you're concerned about ethical diamonds, check out our guide to ethical engagement rings.
The colored diamond option is a major "plus" for lab-grown diamonds. Fancy colored diamonds can be some of the most expensive gemstones — but also some of the most remarkable. Pink diamonds, in particular, are always in demand, but getting one in a nice size for an engagement ring just isn't an option for most budgets.
If you're interested in a fancy colored diamond for your engagement ring, a lab-grown stone might be your best option for a nice color, cut, and size at an affordable price.
As long as they have a nice cut, lab-grown diamonds will sparkle!
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