Since making their debut in the global jewelry market, lab-grown diamonds, also referred to as cultured diamonds, have generated a lot of discussion, some correct and some misleading. 

If you are interested in these pieces of jewelry and you would love to know more about them, here are a few facts about them that you should know: 

Lab-grown Diamonds Are Often More Affordable

What you see is what you get with your Labgrown jewelry: a high-quality, pure diamond made in a laboratory. It does not take a large industry to build and mine it from the ground up. 

As a result, it is presented for what it is: a genuine diamond that typically costs less than mined diamonds. For a new generation of millennials grappling with debt and the approaching horrors of climate change, this is likely to be a much-needed cost saving.

Lab-grown Diamonds May Be a More Sustainable Option

Everyone knows that mining diamonds from the earth is a resource-intensive process that causes environmental concerns such as air pollution. Large-scale mining operations, particularly those that employ open-pit mining processes, can also cause significant deforestation. 

The most significant factor is forest clearing and the creation of roads and communities as a result of mining operations. 

Furthermore, once a diamond mine has been fully developed, the harvested material and minerals are not always restored, leaving you with an ecosystem that cannot recreate itself.

This can result in water pollution and land that is unsuitable for farming or other uses, as well as exposure to severe erosion and flooding. 

A diamond mine also leaves a massive hole in the earth’s surface, which can be dangerous to animals and people living nearby.

 Lab diamonds, on the other hand, are generated in regulated laboratories, and so offer an environmentally benign alternative to earth-mined diamonds.

Lab-grown Diamonds Offer Long-lasting Durability

A lab-grown diamond has the same chemical composition as an earth-mined diamond; thus, it will live forever. In recent years, an increasing number of people have resorted to lab-grown diamonds as a sustainable alternative for their eternal engagement rings since, apart from their origin, they are identical in shape to earth-mined diamonds. 

A diamond remains a diamond regardless of how or where it is generated—whether it emerges from the ground or is created scientifically in a lab. Furthermore, because lab-generated diamonds are composed of the same material as mined diamonds, they have identical optical and chemical qualities.

This means they will last as long as their mined counterparts as long as you take good care of them. 

Lab-grown Diamonds Are Created In Just A Short Time

Lab diamonds are made in weeks rather than centuries deep underground. The carbon structures of lab-grown and mined diamonds are similar in composition. It’s only that the process is accelerated in a controlled laboratory setting. 

The process starts with a carbon seed placed in a chamber, where heat, pressure, and gases facilitate the formation of the diamond. This typically takes 6 to 10 weeks.

Diamonds are cut and polished when they have fully crystallized. That means the process of selecting your perfect forever diamond is simple: simply choose the type of diamond you want, and it will appear before your very eyes before you know it.

Lab-grown Diamonds are Made in Two Ways

There are two ways to create lab diamonds: CVD and HPHT. CVD stands for chemical vapor deposition, whereas HPHT stands for high pressure, high temperature. Both processes generate the same result: a lab diamond that is identical to an earth-mined diamond. 

During CVD creation, a thin slice of diamond is placed in a chamber and exposed to carbon-rich gas. The temperature is really high. It just takes a few weeks for the carbon ions and particles to adhere to that tiny piece of diamond, resulting in a fully crystallized diamond.

The CVD process is marginally superior to generating lab diamonds by HPHT. This is primarily due to the fact that the HPHT process employs metal, which occasionally enters the diamond and can generate inclusions. However, any traces of metal will be invisible to the human eye.

Lab-grown Diamonds May Develop Stains Over Time

As mentioned, lab-grown diamonds are made from the same chemical ingredients as earth-mined diamonds, making them prone to the same natural color tints and defects. This makes lab-grown diamonds as real as diamonds found in the ground, which are shaped and colored according to the formation of the rock, and as beautiful to look at. 

Since they are made from the same materials, it means that the same materials can stain them. This calls for you to be ultra-cautious with your lab-grown jewelry if you want it to retain its elegant looks for a long time.

As a rule of thumb, don’t go swimming with your lab-grown diamond. You also should make it a habit to store your diamond in a safe place when you aren’t wearing it. 

Lab-grown Diamonds are Different from Cubic Zirconia

A lab diamond is a real diamond; it is not fabricated. In contrast, cubic zirconias are synthetic diamonds. They are sometimes known as artificial diamonds. This is because they lack the features and attributes of real diamonds, yet they do have the same beauty. 

On the other hand, lab diamonds have all of the same carbon properties and other characteristics as earth-mined diamonds.

Due to their differences, you should be extra-cautious when buying them and ensure that what you purchase is what you get. 

Lab-grown Diamonds Are Typically Conflict-Free

An additional aspect of lab-grown diamonds is that they are created in a controlled environment, which helps avoid the ethical concerns associated with traditional diamond mining practices. This means that when you buy them, you don’t have to feel guilty that you are purchasing a product that involves the use of child labor or the use of guns. 

Parting Shot

These are a few facts you should know about lab-grown diamonds. Whether you are looking for a lab-grown ring, pendant, or any other piece of lab-grown jewelry, ensure that you buy your piece from a reputable company with a proven track record. 

The last thing you want is to buy your piece only to find that it’s not as good as the earth-mined diamond.

Published by Mark V.