In recent years, lab grown diamonds have emerged as a popular alternative to natural diamonds with customers seeking out these beautiful man-made-gems for their affordability, high-quality and ethical production. In this article, we will explore the benefits of lab grown diamonds and reveal how lab grown diamond jewellery is shaping the future of the diamond jewellery industry.
Before we get into detail about the benefits of lab grown diamonds, let us first give you a brief introduction on the difference between lab diamonds and natural diamonds. Lab-grown diamonds, also known as synthetic or cultured diamonds, are diamonds that have been grown in a laboratory rather than being mined from the Earth. Despite being created differently, lab diamonds have the same chemical composition, physical properties, and crystal structure as natural diamonds and so are real diamonds in every way. Because of this, people often ask whether lab grown diamonds are better than natural diamonds and truthfully, the answer depends on the factors you consider to be important. Here are some of the key advantages of lab grown diamonds and lab grown diamond jewellery:

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One of the main benefits of lab grown diamonds is that their production process allows for a greater degree of control over their characteristics such as their size, colour and clarity. Since natural diamonds are mined from the Earth’s mantle, their quality and size is unpredictable and it is easier for dirt and imperfections to be rooted within them. Cultured diamonds also have less strain applied to their crystal structure so are more likely to have fewer flaws. This means lab grown diamonds can be produced with a higher clarity grade than natural diamonds, making them whiter, brighter and generally better in quality. This is one of the reasons lab created diamonds have become a more reliable choice for diamond jewellery buyers who are looking for specific characteristics.

Since lab grown diamonds do not require mining, the issues surrounding unethical mining practices do not apply. The origins of natural diamonds can sometimes be vague, with those sourced from conflicted regions possibly having a history with child labour, poor working conditions and human rights violations. “Blood diamonds”, named as such for their dark backgrounds, are also linked to civil disturbances and war. Thankfully, the Kimberley Process established in has since helped alleviate the trade of conflict diamonds. Countries participating are required to deliver a certificate that verifies that their natural diamonds are conflict-free. Lab grown diamonds on the other hand are conflict-free as standard. They are created within a laboratory without the use of forced labour, and their supply chains are generally more transparent.

Another benefit of lab grown diamond jewellery is lab grown diamond prices. Synthetic diamonds are considerably cheaper than natural diamonds despite their identical levels of quality. Mining natural diamonds is an expensive and time-consuming process since it involves a large number of employees, heavy machinery and transportation across the globe. Meanwhile, lab grown diamonds are formed more efficiently within a controlled laboratory environment taking less time, people and equipment. Because of this, lab diamonds are typically between 30 and 40% cheaper than natural diamonds which allows customers of lab diamond jewellery and lab diamond engagement rings to purchase larger gemstones in their budget.

We don’t always think about the effect diamond mining has on our earth, but it requires huge amounts of fossil fuels and large machinery to extract the gemstones from the ground. As well as creating large manmade holes in the earth, natural diamond mining is believed to generate 160 kilograms of greenhouse gases for every polished carat of mined diamond. Lab grown diamonds also use up a lot of energy, but many laboratories source this energy through greener methods such as solar panels or wind turbines. For this reason, lab created diamonds are considered more sustainable and eco-friendlier.
Once you understand the benefits of lab created diamonds, it’s easy to see why consumers are choosing lab grown diamond jewellery over their natural counterpart. However, it's also worth noting that natural diamonds have their own advantages, such as their rarity and emotional significance. Ultimately, the choice between lab-grown diamonds and natural diamonds will depend on your personal preferences and priorities.

Pros and Cons of Lab Grown Diamonds

You've likely heard the term lab diamonds before, but what exactly is a lab diamond? Lab grown diamonds are a “real” diamond that shares the same chemical composition, optical properties, and physical features as natural diamonds. Keep reading to learn more about how lab diamonds get created and some advantages and cons to lab diamonds. This information can determine if a lab-made diamond is right for you.

How Lab Diamonds are Made

The first lab-made diamonds were made by GE in , but it took years to perfect the process to create gem-quality lab-made diamonds. The process to create a lab grown diamond is somewhat similar to the process to create natural diamonds. Except one occurs within the earth's crust and the other is in a laboratory. The manufacturing process for lab diamonds replicates conditions used to create a natural diamond (extreme temperatures and pressures that turn carbon into a diamond).

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Manufacturers create lab diamonds two ways, either by using High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) or Chemical Deposition (CVD). Here's an explanation of each manufacturing process:

• HPHT: This method utilizes a diamond “seed” that's added to carbon. The diamond seed is a small, natural diamond fragment that undergoes extreme temperature and pressure conditions. In fact, the diamond seed and carbon's extreme temperatures are in excess of 1,300 to 1,600 degrees celsius and pressures of one million pounds per square inch. These extremes replicate the heat and pressure conditions deep within the earth where natural diamonds form. Then, carbon forms around the diamond seed and is then cooled.
• CVD: This process is a chemical vapor deposition system that begins with a diamond “seed.” The seed impacts the resulting lab diamond, so it's important to select the strongest and highest grade natural diamond piece in terms of color and clarity. During the CVD process, the diamond seed gets placed in a vacuum chamber and it's filled with gasses that are heavy in carbon. It's then heated to over 1,000 degrees, which turns the gasses into “plasma.” This plasma helps “build” the layers of the lab diamonds.

Lab Diamond Benefits

In addition to the unique processes to create lab diamonds, they also have some interesting benefits:

• While there are other stones that mimic diamonds, only lab-created diamonds give the “real” look and feel of a diamond. That's because they have the same chemical composition, optical properties, and physical features as natural diamonds.
• Selecting a lab-created diamond allows you to get a bigger diamond for an affordable price. They typically cost 30-50% less than an earth-mined diamond because the manufacturing process cuts out lengthy supply chains and eliminates expensive mining costs.
• Lab-created diamonds are conflict-free and eco-friendly. You can pinpoint where the lab-made diamond was created. While lab diamonds use energy to create them, the environmental impact is reduced. Mined diamonds impact environments, landscapes, and communities.
• The popularity of lab-created diamonds continues to increase. As a result, you'll see more jewelry options using lab-made diamonds, including tennis bracelets, earrings, engagement rings, anniversary bands, pendants, and necklaces.
• Lab-created diamonds are widely available and an ethical choice in diamonds.

Lab Diamond Cons

We can't mention all of the benefits of lab-created diamonds without mentioning their short list of cons.

Lab-made diamonds aren't as rare as natural diamonds, so their value depreciates over time. This will impact resale value if you want to sell your jewelry in the future.

Manufacturers have to use a tremendous amount of energy to create lab-made diamonds.

While they generate jobs for people in the labs, they don't help provide jobs and income for those working in diamond mines.

Lab Diamond vs. Earth Mined Diamonds: What Should You Pick?

Ultimately, you’ll have to weigh the pros and cons of lab and earth diamonds and decide what works best for you. Consider your budget, opinions of conflict-free diamonds, and environmental impact with diamond mining. Research the best place to buy lab-made diamonds and look at the brand's reputation, warranty, and return policy. Companies like With Clarity provide plenty of educational information to help you make the best decision for you.

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