What Important Facts Do I Need to Know About Lab Grown Diamonds?

Lab Grown Diamonds have become increasingly popular in recent years and can be a great option when considering purchasing a diamond engagement ring. But then again, the concept might sound a little suspect.

A diamond that's termed ‘synthetic’ and professionally grown in a lab wouldn't, strictly speaking, dovetail with your ideas of romance. But spend a couple of minutes getting to know Lab Grown Diamonds. You might be surprised with this one.

We’re just used to the notion of a Natural Diamond.

It’s the way people have done things for thousands of years and there’s something really appealing to me about the commitment and the familiarity that comes with selecting a Natural Diamond.

Here’s what to think about when choosing between lab created diamonds vs natural.

What is a Lab Grown Diamond?

A lab-created diamond is one that is made in a laboratory setting. Scientists can now produce a diamond that visually looks like a diamond mined from the earth, has the same chemical and physical properties and can even be certified by GIA and made from of popular methods like Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) or High-Pressure High Temperature (HPHT).

Are Lab Diamonds Real?

Oh yes. Lab Grown Diamonds are real diamonds just as those that come from the earth.

They are graded for shape, size, color and clarity just as natural diamonds. Both of these Natural & Lab Grown Diamonds are of the exact same physical and chemical properties and both are accompanied by diamond certifications.

Lab Diamonds vs. Natural - What do the Experts Say?

To the naked eye, Natural Vs. Lab grown Diamonds are identical and have the same hardness and durability.

In 2018, the Federal Trade Commission acknowledged Lab Diamonds to be real.

But do lab created diamonds test as real? Yes.

In fact, The Gemological Institute of America, (GIA) “has been grading laboratory-grown diamonds since 2007.

Effective July 1, 2019, GIA Laboratory-Grown Diamond Reports and Identification reports no longer use the term “synthetic.”

The GIA Laboratory-Grown Diamond Report describes key characteristics of the laboratory-grown diamond with a plotted diagram, and includes a microscopic laser inscription on the girdle of the diamond for identification.

Lab Made Diamonds

Lab Diamonds vs. ‘Real’ Diamonds – What is the Difference?

Natural diamonds have minuscule nitrogen and Lab Grown Diamonds do not have any nitrogen. This is one of the markers gemologists are looking for when trying to tell whether a diamond is natural or lab grown.

Natural diamonds are created under the earth’s crust over millions of years, and then they are mined, cut and polished. A man made Diamond is subjected to the same conditions – in a laboratory!

Actually, the way Lab Grown Diamonds are made is a different type of intervention in nature and it reduces the grow time from millions of years to few months. Next, the Lab Diamond is cut and polished.

How are Lab Grown Diamonds Created?

Lab Grown Diamonds are also commonly known as man-made, synthetic, cultured or artisan. The interchangeable language can be confusing to a consumer.

However what each term is referring to is the same certified diamond, one that has been ‘grown’ in a Lab. Although on occasion you may hear Lab Grown Diamonds also referred to as CVD or HPHT – all this is doing is recognizing the method used to produce the diamond!

Lab Grown Diamonds are produced using either:

CVD Method

The initial process is chemical vapor deposition (CVD). A small diamond seed, called a “seed crystal,” is inserted inside a small chamber. Then the heated gases fill the chamber. As the gases get hot enough, layers of carbon start to build up on the seed crystal. The seed then grows into a square diamond crystal.

HPHT Method

The next process is High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT). This is designed to mimic the earth’s Natural Diamond making process. This natural graphite is then loaded onto a massive machine that crushes it under extreme pressure and high temperatures. Now the graphite becomes a diamond.

CVD vs HPHT Diamonds - What's the Difference?

With the naked eye you can’t distinguish a CVD diamond from an HPHT diamond. Both processes produce a real diamond that is chemically and physically quite similar to natural diamonds.

When it comes to grading Lab Grown Diamonds, the same 4 Cs: Color, Cut, Clarity and Carat are applied.

Just like the argument of Natural Diamond vs Lab Grown, the argument of which process is ‘better’ is complex. An experienced Jeweler can help you navigate these waters.

Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Good?

The answer is Yes.

A perfect cut, internally FLAWLESS diamond is very expensive and very rare regardless of whether it is a Lab Grown Diamond or a Mined Diamond.

Lab Grown Diamonds naturally contain different degrees of internal “inclusions” which are compared to fingerprints, and are therefore referred to, and graded by reputable gemological labs.

Lower Clarity-Graded Lab Grown Diamonds may have inclusions visible to the naked eye. The cut & color also plays a large role in the overall quality of a diamond as to whether it is excellent, very good, good, or poor.

Advantages of purchasing a Lab Created Diamond

Lab Created Diamonds cost around 30-50% less then Natural Diamonds, and can typically be 30-50% larger for the same budget, giving you a larger and a more brilliant stone.

The difference is indistinguishable to the naked eye when comparing a Lab Grown Diamond to a Natural Diamond of equivalent 4 C's attributes.

Lab Grown Diamonds possess the same physical, chemical and optical properties as Natural Diamonds, your stones will sparkle with all their glory.

Is Lab Grown More Ethical? Those who prefer Lab Grown Diamonds believe that the gemstones are more ethical as they suffer from no negative mining practices. But The Kimberley Process which was established in 2003, has indeed kept conflict diamonds at bay.

If you are not so much interested in the resale value of the diamond, then a Lab Grown Diamond is a great option to have to buy instead of a more costly Natural Diamond. In layman terms it’s called getting more bang for your buck.

Cons of purchasing a Lab Grown Diamond

A natural diamond comes in a rarity.

Overall, a natural diamond does better holding it's value than lab created, because there's finite supply. The law of supply and demand, it is presumed, operates as we learned in Econ 101, where increasing demand and a relatively fixed supply pushes up the value of the asset.

Some Real Grown Diamonds can be made; they might not be a good investment (because of this same value retention), and resale prices might continue to fall as the market becomes saturated.

A Lab Grown Diamond avoids the environmental and ethical problems associated with mining Natural Diamonds, but there are sustainability concerns with Lab Grown Diamonds too. A HPHT processed diamond hogs lots of energy…because you need a lot of heat to make a diamond. This CVD process uses as much energy as to power a home for month.

GIA Certified Man Made Diamonds

The GIA (Gemological Institute of America) is recognized as the leading authority in diamond certification worldwide. What is a Lab Grown Certified Diamond?

Because a Lab Grown Diamond is identical chemically to a natural Diamond, you will also receive this certificate.

GIA-certified diamonds are a coveted supply in the jewellery trade, signifying precision and accuracy in the grading of diamonds.

The GIA certification of lab-created diamonds (LG) starts with the submission of the stone then a comprehensive analysis by trained gemologists. The diamond's physical properties, such as carat weight, color, clarity, and cut, are evaluated in detail and identified with the aid of specialized features to ensure accuracy.

With the introduction of a high-quality report, complete with a GIA grading, for lab-grown gems, GIA will help consumers understand what they’re buying with the same information they can use to make a choice about a natural diamond, instilling confidence in the value of those products in the market.

Should I Get a Man Made Diamond Engagement Ring?

When picking a Lab Grown Diamond VS a Natural Diamond, there is no one right or wrong answer. The question is entirely up to you.

Take into account whether you care about resale value, your significant other’s preference and your budget.

Not sure about your decision?

Luna Felix Goldsmith are here to support you through these decisions. Please call (505) 989-7679, or E-Mail us using the online CONTACT US FORM for further details.

Do Lab-Grown or Natural Diamonds Make More Sense for You?

Only diamonds are formed from a single element – carbon. Ideal for engagement rings, necklaces, earrings, and whatever else, these classic stones have always been nature's design, until now.

Greater exposure to new technology has made lab-grown diamonds possible in rings and other jewelry designs. When consumers interested in lab-grown diamonds come in to browse, one of their most common questions is: what’s the difference between lab-grown and natural diamonds, and which type is right for me?

But though they’re chemically and optically identical to mined diamonds, lab-grown diamonds are fundamentally different in terms of their origins, availability and value.

Ultimately, the best decision is the one that aligns with your priorities, but understanding the differences between lab-grown and natural diamonds will help you determine which is right for you.

Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Real?

The natural diamond, for sure, is millions — and sometimes billions — of years in the works. Here above ground, in labs and production facilities, lab-grown diamonds are made in a matter of weeks.

Even though the chemical, optical and physical characteristics are the same, a man-made diamond is not exactly the same as a natural diamond in terms of formation, rarity or value.

Stay with me here and maybe hopefully you’ll see why lab grown diamonds are always called lab created, lab grown, manmade or some term used to emphasize that they’re formed a new and shiny like vs formed by nature like earth made diamonds.

Lab Grown Diamonds vs Mined Diamonds

Creation

It’s the process of making these gemstones that is the primary difference between natural and lab-grown diamonds.

Lab-created diamonds are generated in a gem lab and are usually produced using High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) or Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) techniques.

In these processes, an artificially-grown diamond is formed over a period of weeks. Both processes are common for rapidly and reliably growing lab-made diamonds. Modern technologies now make it possible to produce jewelry-quality lab-grown diamonds in a wide range of shapes, sizes, and even colors!

Natural diamonds, however, formed deep in the earth over the course of millions and frequently billions of years.

It took perfect conditions for gemstones to form under billions of tons of pressure under the earth’s crust, separating regular carbon from rare crystal, in order to produce diamonds naturally. Pressure, time, heat and the correct elements cooked up diamonds deep in the earth.

They were brought closer to the surface by similarly rare volcanic eruptions. The natural diamonds in fine jewelry are magical flukes of randomness, individuality and beautifully cosmic absurdity.

Rarity

Natural diamonds of jewelry quality are rarer than lab-grown diamonds with similar properties.

Price and Value

Lab-made diamonds are manufactured at scale, so their value isn’t based on scarcity: They can be created indefinitely.

This compares with the nosebleed $30,000 average price for natural diamonds, all of which however have at least some appraisable resale value, unlike the diamonds still hanging in the lab, and it is the price spread, from mine to lab, that tells you how much time and energy and capital this new technology just may be able to save.

Lab-grown diamonds can be produced much more quickly and plentifully and are therefore less expensive, meaning that larger diamonds are less expensive. Their ubiquitous nature might not make them inherently valuable.

Looks

At a glance, naturally-occurring diamonds and lab-grown diamonds are visually indistinguishable to the naked eye.

They’re just beautiful, sparkly additions to jewelry. But professional jewelers are frequently able to tell the difference between the two kinds of diamonds with sophisticated instruments.

Lab-grown diamonds frequently grow unnaturally fast, leading to telltale signs you won’t find in diamonds made by nature.

The Pros and Cons

When choosing between a natural diamond and a lab-grown diamond, it really comes down to what’s most important to you — or the person you’re buying for if the jewelry is a present.

There are those who may appreciate the rarity and distinctiveness of natural diamonds, and others who are more concerned with the price discrepancy between lab-grown diamonds.

At the end of the day, the “best” diamond is the one that reflects the values and preferences of the person who will be wearing the jewelry.

Select the diamond that tells your story, what is most important to you or your loved one.