If you have ever wondered how magic can work in real life, here’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to discover it. We’ll talk about one of the many wonders enabled by the human mind and hands - about lab-grown diamonds. Their creation is indeed a process close to alchemy in its true sense. So stay tuned to learn about how these diamonds are made, if they are ‘real,’ and how they work in engagement rings - just in time to get one for your own special moment!
Nature Meets Science: How Lab Diamonds Are Created
These diamonds are born not in the deeper layers of the Earth but in the sophisticated equipment of hi-tech laboratories. Lab-created stones begin their journey as humble carbon (just like mined stones), but the true magic starts in the process of their creation.
There are two ways to create diamonds in a lab: the High-Pressure High-Temperature method and the Chemical Vapor Deposition method. With the High-Pressure High-Temperature method, carbon is subject to conditions very similar to extreme conditions in the Earth's depths, and very high pressure and temperature convert this soft material into a wonderful hard gem. With Chemical Vapor Deposition, carbon is applied layer by layer until the desired size of a stone is achieved.
It does sound like magic and looks like something from the sci-fi movies: scholars take brittle and soft carbon (graphite) and through a complex process transform it into a shiny crystal, the hardest of all. One material becomes a completely different one literally on the atomic level, no less. The same thing happens when natural diamonds are formed. Only with lab-grown diamonds, the process is speeded up a million-fold. A stone does not need to grow for thousands of years to become available for your engagement ring.
Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Real Or Not, After All?
Lab-grown diamonds are diamonds in the truest sense, by looks, by chemical composition, and by properties, including the outstanding hardness of 10/10 on the Mohs scale. So they can be called real in these terms. They are not imitations or alternatives, like moissanite or zirconia.
Yet to differentiate them from mined diamonds, lab-grown diamonds are also called synthetic diamonds and man-made diamonds. These names are used by gemology experts and jewelers across the world. So when you hear some different names, like diamond simulations, clarify the matter on the spot, so as not to buy a fake diamond.
Is There A Big Difference Between Lab Diamonds and Mined Diamonds?
The only fundamental difference is their origin: natural diamonds are formed in the layers of rocks and clays and are subsequently mined by people. Lab-grown diamonds are created in laboratories from scratch. Otherwise, both types of diamonds share completely identical chemical, physical, and visual properties.
One more difference flows directly from the previous one: lab diamonds are readily available and thus more affordable. They are created on-demand in required amounts, so no need to wait till someone finds a suitable stone in the mines. Mining is always a gamble, that’s why mined diamonds are so expensive. When diamonds can be created on the spot in a controlled environment, their price goes down reasonably, and more people can afford them. That’s a great piece of news, actually.
A Matter of Quality: Certification Of Lab Diamonds
Since lab-grown diamonds and mined diamonds are identical across all key parameters, gemmologists apply to lab diamonds the same 4C standards that they apply to mined stones.
4C includes carat, color, clarity, and cut. So lab stones can be graded by their clarity (transparency), color, size (carat), and cut (shape). Yes, since lab diamonds are made in a process that fully imitates the natural process, all stones are subtly different, they can have tiny inclusions, variations of color, and so on. Better stones will cost more than mid-quality or low-quality stones, obviously.
If you need a very, very brief crash course in important C’s, look at the clarity because it impacts the overall shine and brilliance of a diamond.
- The best stones have no to very few inclusions, and they are graded from IF (flawless) through VVS and VS (very, very slightly included). IF-grade stones are very rare, and VVS and VS stones are excellent.
- SI and I markings mean stones that are slightly included and included, correspondingly. SI and I-grade stones are of lower quality.
It all should be stated clearly by a seller when you consider purchasing a stone.
So before pulling out a credit card or signing a check, always make sure to get a gemological certificate of quality, where the exact data show the real quality of the stone. If a perfect-looking diamond costs a fraction of what you expect, there might be a hidden flaw that non-professionals cannot detect.
How Are Lab Diamonds Priced?
One more huge plus of lab diamonds is the pricing. On average, lab stones will cost around 50% less than natural stones equal in carat weight and quality. In some cases, especially for smaller stones, the difference can be up to 80%. It means you can get a decent lab diamond for the 20% of the price a natural diamond would fetch.
Surely, everything depends, and some exceptional lab stones can cost almost as much as their natural counterparts. But in general, lab diamonds are a real bargain while they carry the same glorious look and properties of mined diamonds.
Sustainability and Ethical Matters
Lab-grown diamonds are often marketed as completely sustainable, but there’s a caveat. Man-made diamonds do not damage the Earth and the environment in the sense that large areas of nature need not be converted into mines (dust, explosives, use of large amounts of water, and all). Lab stones don’t need this sacrifice. Yet for diamond-making in laboratories, large amounts of energy are required. So if you want a completely ‘clean’ diamond, look for stones created with the use of renewable energy sources.
Ethically, on the other hand, lab diamonds are flawless. No conflicts, no potential shady activities behind them, no environmental damage, none of that. So you put on your finger - or the finger of your loved one - a diamond that is as pure and beautiful as your love story.
Lab Diamonds In An Engagement Ring: Options are Endless
Rings with lab diamonds can be anything you want them to be. Moreover, since the pricing is very welcoming, you can pick a big stone and go for a blingy thing that will blaze like the blinding lights. Just be ready to answer questions on how you managed to secure such an awesome boulder.
- You can opt for a magnificent solitaire of various shapes. A big stone of good quality will make a statement ring fit for a princess.
- You can opt for a medium-sized stone and put it into a halo of smaller diamonds. This trick will multiply the sparkle manifold (if the sparkle of a solitaire is not enough).
- You can choose an ornamental ring design like Art Deco or Victorian and give a stone a royal treatment. Such rings are considered to be heirloom pieces.
- Dainty slim rings with smaller stones also look glorious with lab diamonds because no other stone can replicate this unique fire and sparkle.
- You can even mix colorless diamonds with colored gems in one ring for the one-of-a-kind effect - and it will be spectacular.
So nothing is off the table with lab diamonds because they are diamonds, after all!
Lab Diamond Rings from YourAsteria
As you see, lab diamonds are a real godsend to people who want diamonds that don’t cost a fortune. You can choose the size and color of the stone, the cut, and the styling, all while keeping the spending relatively low. So yes, if there isn’t a ready-made ring that ticks all the boxes, you can - and should - get a custom piece. The key is to find a jewelry shop that you can trust, and then let them show off their skills and passion in jewelry-making.
YourAsteria is the jewelry shop that you can trust. The lab diamond collections can impress the pickiest bride. Yet if you want something different and unique, you can work with a team of dedicated jewelers and designers and create a diamond token of your commitment and care. YourAsteria knows what you feel and can help make it true.
Conclusion
So if you are still thinking if you should get a ring with a lab diamond, the answer is a confident yes. You get a diamond of the same quality as mined stones, you can pick and choose among dozens of stones, and even a bigger stone won’t hurt your bank account.
Just be sure to shop at a trusted jewelry shop and get a stone certificate that confirms the quality of your diamond. The rest is a matter of your taste and preferences. And YourAsteria is always ready to help when you need the splendid diamond engagement ring that says it all.
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