Lab-Grown Diamonds: The Future of Fine Jewelry

Lab-grown diamonds have become all the rage in recent years owing to their premium quality and affordability. While these precious stones have long been hailed as the future of fine jewelry, some misconceptions continue to exist regarding the purity, quality, and authenticity of lab-created diamonds.

If you’ve been awed by lab-grown diamonds but haven’t been able to convince yourself to buy one, it could be because of misinformation or a preconceived notion about these gorgeous gemstones. The following guide will help clear misconceptions and provide you an insight into the world of lab-grown diamonds, which are fast gaining favor with environment-conscious jewelry lovers.

Understanding the process of growing diamonds in a lab

Just like diamonds found deep inside the earth, lab diamonds are also made from carbon, which is why gemologists consider them true diamonds. These diamonds are grown in a lab, also called a diamond greenhouse, using two different methods that replicate natural diamond formation under the earth and in outer space.

One is called the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method, in which carbon-rich gases are heated to very high temperatures in a vacuum-sealed chamber and pieces of carbon are placed in layers to create a diamond. This process works much like 3D printing and produces lower grade diamonds with low clarity.

The other method, called high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT), uses conditions similar to those under the earth to transform carbon into premium lab diamonds. Making diamonds through HPHT is costlier and time-taking, but it produces the world's purest lab created diamonds with superlative brilliance, color, and clarity.

The diamond-making technology used in both methods is highly advanced and requires great expertise and sophisticated equipment. Because lab-produced gems are made from carbon, they are so real that gemstone experts find no reason to distinguish them from mined diamonds.

3 Reasons to choose lab-grown diamonds over mined diamonds

●        Lab produced diamonds are cent percent real diamonds. They have the same atomic and chemical structure as mined diamonds and will, therefore, test positive on any diamond testing machine. In addition, lab diamonds are grown by experts with decades of experience working with diamonds. This, powered by cutting-edge technology, results in high-quality diamonds that are often purer than their mined counterparts.

●        The world of diamond mining is replete with unethical mining practices and widespread exploitation of mine workers. As a conscientious individual who cares for the environment as well as the welfare of fellow humans, choosing a lab-grown diamond gives you the opportunity to make an ethical choice without having to give up on something you love.

●        With lab-grown diamonds, you get to own a stunning work of art at a fraction of the price of a similar mined diamond. This means that you can afford to build a personal collection of fine jewelry made with real diamonds, without spending a fortune.

How to be sure you’re making a quality purchase when buying lab-grown diamond jewelry

Often, due to lack of knowledge, customers are duped into buying CZ (Cubic zirconia) marketed as a lab-created diamond. Used widely as a cheaper alternative to real diamonds, CZ is a human-made diamond look-alike. It is a worthy alternative for customers who love the brilliance of real diamonds but cannot afford the high price of mined stones.

As CZ stones cost a fraction of the price of real diamonds and look so much like natural diamonds, some sellers pass them off as lab-grown diamonds. This brings a bad name to the greenhouse diamond industry and genuine diamond growers. Fortunately, there are ways you can safeguard yourself against such deception. First and foremost, always buy lab-grown loose diamonds or diamond jewelry from a reputable manufacturer or seller to be sure you’re buying a high-quality true diamond created and cut to perfection.

Second, diamonds grown in a lab come with an independent grading report from a trusted gem laboratory. A trusted diamond grower will not hesitate to have the diamonds go through an independent authenticity test at a reputed testing facility. A grading report is a proof that the gemstone you’re purchasing is a true diamond and not a CZ (a CZ seller will not be able to offer you one).

To sum up, a lab-grown diamond is a real diamond in every sense, and it’s a worthy investment for a true diamond aficionado who won’t have anything but the best. So the next time you’re looking to buy fine diamond jewelry for yourself or a loved one, do give lab-grown diamonds a try!