Like mined diamonds, lab grown diamonds come with a grading report. Common reports come from International Gemological Institute (IGI) and Gem Certification & Assurance Lab (GCAL), although there are many other graders out there. These reports include a grade for each of the 4Cs as well as verification that it was grown in a lab, if applicable. A diamond engagement ring is a big financial decision, which is why these grading reports give you peace of mind that you’re getting the diamond quality that you expect.
A lab grown diamond (also known as man-made, lab-created, cultured or cultivated diamond) is created in a controlled laboratory environment as opposed to an underground mine. The process is human-controlled rather than geological and it possess the same physical and chemical properties as natural diamonds.
Lab-created stones are formed in a controlled environment whereas natural diamonds are formed as a result of chemical reactions deep inside the earth as a natural processes. Both share the same physical, chemical and visual properties. The lab produced stone is usually free from major defects and can be structurally stronger than its natural counterpart while also achieving optimum color.
Lab grown diamonds are authentic diamonds in every sense. All their physical, chemical, optical and atomic properties are identical to those of mined diamonds. The only difference is that they are made above ground instead of below ground. Lab grown diamonds are absolutely real diamonds.
Two important reasons to choose a lab diamond are origin & value. Rest assured that your diamond did not result in the funding of conflict in a war-torn country, nor did it require leaving a mile-wide hole in the ground. Also objectively, diamonds grown above the Earth are more pure than "dirt diamonds", blasted out of the Earth with dynamite and diesel. Compared to diamonds grown in the chaos under the Earth, diamonds grown by mankind have fewer defects and less strain in the crystal structure.
Quite simply, the more pure the diamond, the better, brighter, and whiter the gemstone
Lab diamonds receive grading reports from independent gemological organizations on the 4Cs:
Cut, Color, Clarity, and
Carat Weight. Just like in mined diamonds, lab diamonds will exhibit variations across the 4Cs and range from poor to superlative quality.
A diamond’s quality is determined by the 4C’s:
- Cut: Quality of the angles, proportions, facets, and finishing details.
- Color: How colorless the diamond is.
- Clarity: How clean the diamond is of inclusions and blemishes.
- Carat: The weight of the diamond.
Of course, Lab-grown diamond jewelry does have a resale value. Just as natural diamonds have some resale value, lab-created diamonds have a similar resale value as a portion of the original sale price. There is around a 15-20% deduction depending on the policies of the respective jeweler selling them.
Whenever you plan to buy diamond jewelry online and want to ensure your diamond is authentic always ask for a certificate from your vendor, which will mention the 4 Cs of a diamond. All of Shine Eternal jewelry pieces come with a certificate of authenticity from reputed diamond grading labs. So you don
How big the stone size or carat weight does not determine how much you love your significant other or are loved by your partner. Bigger is not always better and stone size is relative to personal style, stature, hand size, setting preference and budget. The great thing about the affordability of Shine Eternal diamond is that you won't have to compromise your preferred stone size because of budget restraints.
The 1 carat center stone used to be the standard "desired" size, now 1.5 and 2 carat are gaining demand. If you have smaller hands and a 6.5 ring size, we recommend you consider a 1 carat or 1.5 carat. If you have larger hands with larger ring size than 6.5, you might want to consider a 2 carat. We don't normally recommend anything over a 2 carat, but again, stone size is about personal preference.
In short, yes. Lab grown diamonds are real diamonds.
Lab grown diamonds are authentic diamonds in every sense. All their physical, chemical, optical and atomic properties are identical to those of mined diamonds. The only difference is that they are made above ground instead of below ground. Lab grown diamonds are absolutely real diamonds. On the other hand, diamond simulants such as moissanites and cubic zirconia are not actual diamonds, but merely resemble them because they do not have the same chemical & physical properties of a mined diamond.
Chemical Composition: C
Crystalline Structure: Cubic
Refractive Index: 2.42
Dispersion: 0.044
Hardness (MOHS): 10
Density: 3.52
So whether it is mined or grown in a lab, a diamond is a diamond.
Lab grown diamonds are identical to mined diamonds. Even to the trained eye, it is impossible to tell the difference between a diamond grown in a lab and an earth mined diamond. Distinguishing between the two requires a trained gemologist and sophisticated equipment specifically designed for identifying lab grown diamonds. Traditional observations and diamond-detectors cannot tell the two kinds of diamonds apart from one another since they are identical both chemically and optically. So, a lab grown diamond and a mined diamond will look the same and you won’t be able to tell the difference because they’re identical in every way.
Diamonds that are grown in a lab feature many different benefits that add to their value and are equally as beautiful as diamonds found in the earth. But beauty isn’t the only thing that lab grown diamonds have going for them. Lab grown diamonds have many benefits that appeal to consumers.
Socially Responsible
One of the major benefits of lab grown diamonds is that you know exactly where the diamond originated. Many traditional mined diamonds come from conflict regions. This has raised both ethical and humanitarian concerns. The diamond industry has been linked to child labor, poor working conditions, human rights violations and funding armed conflicts. With lab grown diamonds, you can have peace of mind knowing your diamond wasn’t involved in the blood diamond trade.
Smaller Environmental Impact
Mining for diamonds has a tremendous impact on the environment. Between 88,000 and 176,000 pounds of dirt must be sifted through to find a single 1-carat diamond. While the diamond industry, or rather one company in particular, has pushed the false belief that diamonds are rare, we now know the truth. Diamonds are not rare. Never have been and never will be thanks to advanced technology.
Less Expensive
With lab grown diamonds, you’ll be able to get a bigger stone or higher quality for your budget. This is because lab grown diamonds can be up to 40% less expensive than traditional mined diamonds of the same quality. As processes of creating lab grown diamonds continue to improve, the difference in price between the two types of diamonds is likely to continue to grow.
Better Quality for the Price
Lab grown diamonds are made in a controlled environment, although each diamond will differ in quality similar to mined diamonds. Every lab diamond is graded using the 4Cs of Diamond Quality: cut, color, clarity and carat weight. This is true for both lab diamonds and mined diamonds. The price of a diamond is determined based on how it performs on each of these categories. So while no two diamonds will be exactly the same, whether lab grown or pulled from the earth, you can get a better quality for the same amount you would spend on a mined diamond.
Like mined diamonds, lab grown diamonds come with a grading report. Common reports come from International Gemological Institute (IGI) and Gem Certification & Assurance Lab (GCAL), although there are many other graders out there. These reports include a grade for each of the 4Cs as well as verification that it was grown in a lab, if applicable. A diamond engagement ring is a big financial decision, which is why these grading reports give you peace of mind that you’re getting the diamond quality that you expect.
The process of making a diamond in a lab is much more efficient. Labs use two different methods to grow diamonds—High Pressure-High Temperature (HPHT) and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD).
HPHT
When the HPHT method is used, a small diamond seed is placed into a piece of carbon. Then using either a belt press, cubic press or a split-sphere (BARS) press, the carbon is pressurized to approximately 1.5 million pounds per square inch. Additionally, the carbon is also exposed to temperatures over 2,700 Fahrenheit. This pressure and heat begin to melt the carbon, forming a diamond around the initial diamond seed. The newly formed diamond is then carefully cooled.
CVD
Like HPHT, CVD uses a small diamond seed (often an HPHT diamond). This seed is placed inside a sealed chamber that is heated to over 1,400 Fahrenheit and filled with carbon-rich gases (typically methane and hydrogen). These gases are then ionized into plasma using a technology similar to lasers or microwaves. This technology essentially breaks down the molecular bond of the gas. Once the molecular bond is broken down, pure carbon begins to stick to the seed and a new diamond forms. Additional treatments may be used (heat or irradiation) to enhance or change the diamond’s color after it is grown.
