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For many years, diamonds have been a symbol of love, aspiration, and even wealth. Recently, lab-grown diamonds have been making a lot of buzz in the market. Perhaps you have heard the term before, but do you know exactly what differentiates it from the ‘real’ diamond? Are they real diamonds? How are they produced? And most importantly, why has there been a surge in the demand for lab-grown diamonds? In this blog, we will discuss the very interesting world of lab-grown diamonds and dive deeper into how they differ from natural diamonds and why they can be a perfect choice for you.
What Are Lab Diamonds?
Let's begin with the fundamentals. Lab diamonds are, in essence, real diamonds. That's right! Their chemical, physical, and optical properties1 match that of natural diamonds and the only difference is that they are crafted in a laboratory as opposed to forming deep within the earth's crust. They are created in artificial diamond-forming conditions using modern and high-tech settings. Creating a diamond in the lab only takes weeks compared to the millions of years it takes for a diamond to form naturally. Regardless of the creation method, a diamond’s sparkle, glare, and shine remain unparalleled.
Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Real Diamonds?
This is where things start to get complex, as many assume that lab-grown diamonds are inferior compared to natural diamonds. This misconception is entirely false! As we discussed earlier they share the same physical and chemical properties, the only difference is the process by which they are created. Lab-grown diamonds do not lose authenticity at any stage of their creation; thus, they are as real as any diamond found on the earth. The term “not genuine” is far-fetched, because the only difference is in the way they are formulated. It is like a food that tastes the same but has a different recipe, at the end you get to enjoy the same taste, not the recipe.
To make it clearer, lab-grown diamonds undergo the same process where carbon crystals bond together to create a diamond and the only difference lies in the creation setting. The resulting diamond shines with an unparalleled level of beauty, brilliance, and robustness that is comparable to stones found deep within the mines.
What is the process of making lab-grown diamonds?
Now that we have inferred that the lab-grown diamonds are genuine, let's talk about the technology that makes it possible. The two primary methods used to make these diamonds include the following:
High Pressure, High Temperature (HPHT)
This technique is based on how diamonds form naturally under the Earth. In HPHT, carbon goes through extreme heat and pressure, simulating the same environment that is thousands of miles beneath the Earth's surface. Eventually, carbon crystals will grow into diamonds, the only downside is that it can take weeks. It resembles natural diamond formation in many aspects and is supposedly enhanced in labs.
Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD)
This is yet another sophisticated technique that is used in the laboratory. In this procedure, a chamber is vacuumed and filled with carbon-packed gases that break with heat. These carbon atoms are deposited on a platform, gradually forming into a diamond. CVD diamonds are more popular among jewelers because the diamonds are less flawed and do not require further enhancements in the labs as with the High Pressure, High Temperature (HPHT).
Lab Grown Diamonds vs Natural Diamonds
What is the difference between a lab-grown diamond and a natural diamond? Looking closely, there’s no practical difference in physical properties or appearance. But inspecting deeper, how they are made, and priced, and the impact they have on the world brings out significant differences, for clarity, let us summarize this with a table:
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Why Consider Lab-Created Diamonds?
There are many reasons to consider a lab-grown diamond, no matter whether you are planning to buy a pendant or any piece of jewelry collection. If you are unaware of these ideas, let’s dive into some of the advantages:
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Environmental Impact- Compared to mined diamonds, lab-grown diamonds have a significantly smaller carbon footprint. There is no loss of wildlife or ecosystems that is common in large-scale mining.
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Economic Factors- Lab-grown diamonds are relatively affordable, so they are excellent value by quality. Also, most people can afford it and add a diamond to their life that they can cherish for decades.
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Ethical Issues- The main issue with naturally sourced diamonds is that there is a maximum chance that they are connected with unethical sourcing, but lab-grown are free from all these.
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Control- When it comes to clarity, color, and cut, lab-grown diamonds are a perfect match. Not only you can get a custom-made diamond that reflects your personality.
How to Test Lab-Grown Diamonds
Given that lab-grown and natural diamonds look the same finding the difference is quite hard but there are ways to verify them. The Lab-Grown Diamonds have the following attributes that make them different from their counterpart:
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Internal Patterns- Lab-grown diamonds usually have unique internal growth marks that can be observed under powerful lenses. They share their own set of patterns unique to them, unlike natural diamonds.
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Inclusions- Both lab and natural diamonds may contain inclusions but lab-grown diamonds tend to have less or have different types of inclusions. They also have a small probability of having visible cracks or bubbles.
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Laser Inscriptions- The most prominent difference is that the lab diamonds have laser inscriptions on their girdle, marking them as synthetic. This can be verified under a microscope or a magnifying glass.
Conclusion
If you're looking for a stunning piece that won't break the bank and is ethical and sustainable, then go for lab-grown diamonds as they offer the same natural beauty and complexity at a lower price bracket.
After everything we have discussed above, we hope you'll consider a lab-grown diamond for your next big purchase. Remember, you still get all of the beauty without compromising on anything.