Top 5 Benefits of Buying a Lab Grown Diamond
Diamonds are associated with happy events like engagements, weddings, and anniversaries. At Devon's Diamonds & Decor, we believe that both natural and lab grown diamonds are excellent options. Still, there are a few unique benefits you should know that come along with embracing a lab grown diamond — and how important these perks are to you depends on your one-of-a-kind situation.
WHAT IS A LAB GROWN DIAMOND?
Lab grown diamonds are known by several names. You may have heard the terms man made diamonds, engineered diamonds, lab created diamonds, or even synthetic diamonds associated with lab grown diamonds. No matter what they are called, a lab grown diamond, true to its name, is created in a laboratory.
IS A LAB GROWN DIAMOND THE SAME AS A DIAMOND SIMULANT?
The answer is no.
A diamond simulant is a stone that mimics a diamond, but it doesn't have all the same properties as a diamond. Cubic zirconia is one example of an inexpensive diamond simulant. Moissanite is another example of a diamond simulant.
You might recognize Cubic Zirconia. Costume jewelry and inexpensive pieces that look like diamonds are made with this stone created from zirconium dioxide. Cubic Zirconia doesn't hold up well over time. It scratches and discolors easily and therefore isn't a good alternative to diamonds.
Next to diamonds, Moissanite is the second hardest stone. It's formed from silicon carbide. If you want a diamond substitute, this one is a better choice than cubic zirconia because it's less expensive than natural diamonds and durable.
Cubic zirconia and Moissanite have superb sparkle and are loved by many, but they are not chemically or optically similar to diamonds and are far less expensive because of this. Therefore, neither of these stones is the same as a lab grown diamond. Lab grown diamonds are made from carbon like natural diamonds are. A lab grown diamond's atomic makeup is the same as that of a natural diamond. Therefore, they are actual diamonds, not simulants.
SO LAB GROWN DIAMONDS ARE REAL DIAMONDS?
The answer is yes.
Diamonds grown in a lab are the same as real diamonds—pure crystallized carbon in the isometric cubic system. Both lab grown diamonds and mined diamonds have the same chemical, optical and physical properties. They are made using similar conditions found in nature (pressure and temperature) in a controlled environment. Lab grown diamonds are the same as diamonds found in the earth in every single way.
BENEFITS OF LAB GROWN DIAMONDS
1. Environmental Sustainability
Diamond mining can damage the earth substantially. The damage to ecosystems and watersheds extends well beyond the hole where the diamond mine is located. Between damage to natural habitats and the use of fossil fuels for running equipment, diamond mines are not environmentally friendly. Lab grown diamonds, however, can be grown using renewable resources to power the facilities. This is promising for future sustainability. In fact, with the demand for lab grown diamonds continuing to rise and the supply of mined diamonds being predicted to dwindle, it is a far more sustainable choice to switch to growing diamonds instead of mining them. Lab grown diamonds are the answer to the growing gap between the demand and supply of this brilliant stone.
As a bonus, lab grown diamonds are fully vegan, unlike naturally mined diamonds. Lab grown diamonds cause little to no environmental damage, and they’re more affordable as well, meaning that lab grown diamonds offer a great option for everyone involved, including the buyer, the manufacturer, the supplier, and the earth at large.
2. Cost-Effectiveness
Whether you are purchasing an engagement ring or some other piece of diamond jewelry, you likely don't want to break the bank simply to afford a nice piece of jewelry. This is another reason to consider a lab grown diamond. They are often times less than a third of the price of a natural diamond. This means you can get a bigger lab created stone for the same money. Or, you could choose a more elaborate setting or a higher quality diamond than you thought you would be able to initially purchase.
One of the best advantages to buying a lab grown diamond is that to the naked eye, it looks exactly the same as a mined diamond. Diamond detectors and traditional observations cannot identify between the two given they are identical both chemically and optically. The only real difference is that lab grown diamonds have a microscopic inscription on them. However, without highly specialized equipment designed to read this inscription, the two types of diamonds cannot be differentiated from one another.
This means that your friends, family and acquaintances won’t know the difference. You can still get that engagement ring you’ve been dreaming of, with all the sparkle and shine that diamonds are known for, without the guilt of a mined diamond.
3. Improved Quality
You've likely heard of the 4 C's of diamond gradings. If not, it's clarity, color, cut, and carat weight. These 4 C's help you, or more specifically, the jeweler, know the quality of the diamonds you are viewing. Higher quality typically means a higher price, but remember, you get what you pay for. You can lean more about the 4C's on our diamond quality guide.
Lab grown diamonds are purer than the stones mined naturally, because unlike mined stones, lab grown diamonds do not have any dirt or impurities ingrained in them. They also have fewer defects, and show fewer signs of strain in their crystal structure, because they are made under carefully controlled conditions. Improved purity means that the diamond is poised to be brighter, better, and whiter. In fact, a large proportion of lab grown diamonds typically receive higher purity ratings than their natural counterparts.
4. Known Origin
People value knowing where their gems originate and would usually prefer to be aware of the journey of their stone. Unfortunately, the origins of most naturally mined diamonds can be vague, as they come from conflicted regions. Often called ‘blood diamonds,’ these stones have a dark background, and may have been sold to fund armed conflicts or civil disturbances. Even diamonds that aren’t sourced from conflicted regions might carry a history of child labor, human rights violation, and poor working conditions. There is a general disregard for safety with blood diamond mining. On the other hand, if you purchase a lab grown diamond, you will have a way to trace where it was grown. The history of a lab grown diamond is known, clean, and a guaranteed, trackable source.
5. Available in Colors
Occasionally, you will find a mined diamond that has color to it and these colored diamonds sell for inflated prices because of their rarity value. Also, the color of a diamond from a mine tends to be dull and imperfect. Thanks to technology, lab grown colored diamonds are available for a fraction of the cost of natural colored diamonds. And what’s even better is that they are brighter and more perfect than natural colored stones: lab grown colored diamonds are pure, steady in color and easy to find.
WHY CHOOSE A LAB GROWN DIAMOND?
If factors like environmental sustainability, knowing the origins of your diamond, getting improved quality for a fraction of the cost, and having options for the color of your diamonds are important to you, consider purchasing a lab grown diamond. These lab created gems are as beautiful as their mined counterparts (some might say more beautiful), and they have an unmatched purity.
LOOKING FOR LAB GROWN DIAMONDS IN BOCA RATON?
The primary benefit of offering lab grown diamond jewelry to customers can be defined with one word: choice. At Devon's Diamonds & Decor, we offer both natural and lab grown diamonds, explain each to the customer, and allow them to decide.
Within the last few years, lab grown diamonds have been growing in popularity and more and more of our customers have been inquiring and purchasing lab grown diamonds. Whether you are looking to custom design a lab grown diamond engagement ring, purchase a lab grown diamond tennis necklace or even a pair of lab grown diamond stud earrings, the simplistic beauty of lab grown diamonds makes it easier to come by a higher quality that fits into all types of budgets. A lab grown diamond may be just the answer to finding the perfect affordable piece of jewelry to celebrate your event or loved one. Call or stop by our family-owned and operated jewelry store in Boca Raton today to design your next piece of lab grown jewelry.
