It’s easy to see why people fall in love with diamonds. They’re precious gems that reflect light so beautifully and are cut in unique shapes.
This remains true even when diamonds aren’t mined from their natural ecosystems. Today, you can get diamonds that look every bit as amazing, but were fabricated in a laboratory.
The purchase of manufactured diamonds grew by 63% in a year’s time. People are waking up to their many great attributes and are shopping around. So, what are these diamonds, and why are they unique?
These tips will help you learn more about lab grown diamonds.
If you’re like many people, you weren’t aware of the fact that beautiful diamonds could be created in a laboratory. Laboratory-created diamonds are chemically identical to natural ones but are crafted in a man-made setting.
Natural diamonds are formed in the earth’s mantle thanks to pressure, heat, and a lot of other conditions. In a natural setting, it can take anywhere between 20 million and 2 billion years to form.
Consider the process of making lab diamonds before purchasing. Rather than naturally occurring beneath the earth, lab diamonds are made by taking carbon from existing diamonds and introducing it to chemical vapor deposition.
The process is similar to 3D printing and allows jewelers more control over the process of getting diamonds to their consumers.
If you’re interested in purchasing a lab grown diamond, you should first get to know the advantages. These diamonds are becoming favorites among people from all walks of life for several reasons.
Here are some lab grown diamond benefits that you might appreciate:
Laboratory diamonds are an excellent option because of the quick turnaround time. While natural diamonds often take more than a billion years to form, lab grown diamonds are produced in about a month.
You’ll have the luxury of time on your side, and will learn a lot about the process in the meantime. These diamonds are crafted with either the High Pressure-High Temperature (HPHT) or Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) processes.
The available selections, along with a speedy turnaround time, make lab grown diamonds an attractive option for anyone who loves jewelry.
People who care about the environment will also appreciate lab grown diamonds. Chemically identical diamonds are created without having to use the earth’s resources.
You will appreciate that these diamonds were created without carbon emissions, but without having to sacrifice quality or authenticity.
Many lab diamond creators go out of their way to make their diamonds as eco-friendly as possible. They use sustainable electricity from solar panels or wind energy to make sure that even the power used to create the diamond in a lab is from a green process.
This is an excellent way to lower your carbon footprint while still getting a diamond that you’ll love.
Lab grown diamonds are also unique because of the many different color options that are available. Because you have control over the creation and process, you’ll also be better able to customize the hue that works best for you.
Examples of some lab grown diamond color options include:
Within these various color options is a broad spectrum that you’ll be able to choose between. While you have more color options, you don’t have to worry about it happening through any artificial means.
Outside of using specialized equipment to test them, lab-created diamonds are indistinguishable from diamonds found underground.
When you purchase diamonds that are made in a controlled environment, you also have more control over the potential defects.
Diamonds created in a laboratory tend to have finer and higher-quality cuts. This means that it will have fewer defects and you can come away with peace of mind about the quality of your lab-created rock.
One of the biggest benefits of lab grown diamonds is that they are cost-effective. You are essentially getting a tremendous discount for a diamond that is chemically identical to any natural diamond that you would buy.
People today are spending 40% less for their laboratory diamonds than they would pay for natural ones. This is a tremendous discount that also lets you enjoy making a move toward more modern technology and processes.
It’s an incredible discount if you’re a price-conscious person who appreciates getting more bang for your buck. You’ll be able to get an incredible deal without it having to overtax your budget.
You’re also in a good position with these diamonds because they are every bit as durable as natural diamonds.
Carbon is among the hardest materials on earth, so you can count on your lab grown diamonds being just as hard. When you get an appraisal, you will get a clear breakdown of your lab diamond‘s hardness, in addition to its other most important metrics.
This diamond will last for years and can be passed down for generations without worrying about it taking any damage.
Purchases will appreciate the clarity that they get from their lab grown diamonds. These lab diamonds are graded using the exact same metrics that natural diamonds are tested for, as set forth by the Gemological Institute of America and the International Gemological Institute.
Since clarity is one of the 4 C’s that people look for when purchasing diamonds, you will appreciate having some options that are rated highly. The refractory quality of your lab grown diamonds will stand out and make your jewelry piece a marvel to look at.
People enjoy purchasing lab grown diamonds because they are made in excellently controlled settings. These pieces of jewelry are ethically created using technology and pure science.
It’s easy to track the origin source of your diamond since they are created in a verifiable laboratory. This is the next step in clean technology that lab grown diamond manufacturers are continuously working to perfect.
Now that you know a bit more about lab diamonds, it’s time to shop around for the best jewelry pieces. A custom jeweler can provide you with plenty of lab diamond options.
Here are some of the details that you need to keep track of:
For starters, you should gain an understanding of which diamond attributes are the most important to you. People shopping for diamonds look for a few characteristics, including:
Understanding the measurables of your lab diamond will help you check all of the boxes before making your purchase.
The cut of the diamond refers to the shape of the diamond, which allows it to refract and reflect light in an attractive way. This is arguably the most important diamond detail because a quality cut can hide diamond imperfections.
Accredited laboratories and jewelers give diamond cut grades that range between Poor (P) and Excellent (EX).
A diamond’s clarity refers to any blemishes or imperfections that it has. It is graded based on the number of inclusions or other flaws you are able to see under certain levels of magnification.
For diamonds the clarity scale ranges from I3 on the low end, which refers to a diamond with several inclusions, to Flawless (FL) on the highest end.
Diamond carats are a metric that refers to the diamond‘s physical weight. The value of the diamond goes up the higher the carats.
A single carat refers to a diamond with a weight of .2 grams. Diamond carat ratings range from less than a carat to 2 carats.
Finally, the color rating scale rounds out the 4C’s as another important metric to pay attention to. The less flawed a diamond is the closer to being completely translucent and free of color it is.
The diamond color grading scale gives some insight into where your diamond falls on the chart. Diamond colors range from Z on the lowest end of the scale to D on the higher end.
Once you have an idea of what metrics and grades you’d like to match, check around for diamonds of different styles and shapes. With both lab-created and natural diamonds, you will find that there are plenty of style choices to choose between.
Whether you’re looking into an engagement ring setting or a pair of earrings, you will find that there are plenty of shape options to choose from.
Examples of some popular diamond shapes you can check into include:
No matter what diamond styles you like most, they are available in a laboratory diamond option. Make sure to do your homework and be prepared to compare prices between the styles that you love in natural diamonds.
The best thing that you can do when shopping for a lab grown diamond is to find the help of a jeweler that can look out for you.
There are several jewelers today who specialize in lab diamonds and would be happy to explain the process to you. Come prepared with questions and check out their ratings in advance.
In addition to being certified with jeweler organizations, look up the shop with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and make sure that they have a stellar reputation. When you go to the shop, ask to see examples of their inventory, including any custom-made jewelry pieces.
Shopping for custom wedding rings can help you tie the knot with your spouse while making sure you express your love in a way that is completely unique.
The jewelers will go over options with you and offer a quote for the customization work.
Finally, always make sure that you protect the purchase of any lab grown diamonds that you buy. Like natural diamonds, you can get a professional appraisal for your laboratory diamonds.
Use this so that you know the value of the diamond, so it can be protected on an insurance plan.
Consult price guides in advance to figure out how much you might pay for a lab grown diamond. From there, figure out if you want to add your jewelry to an existing homeowner’s plan, or whether you’d like to purchase insurance through the jeweler.
Think about your style preferences and compare the prices between a few different jewelers so that you know what the market dictates.
Once you have insured your jewelry, make sure that you also know how to take the best care of it. Invest in a jewelry cleaning kit and add a safe solution to go with your purchase.
You can also keep your lab grown diamonds clean with soap and water. Keep your jewelry pieces in a case for safe-keeping, and regularly take them in to get cleaned by a professional.
Lab grown diamonds are an excellent option when you’re looking to purchase jewelry. Use the information above so that you can shop around for the perfect piece.
Finer Custom Jewelry can help you find the lab grown diamond pieces that you will enjoy. Use our contact form or call us at (480)771-8833 in Scottsdale, (713)903-7788 in Houston, and (469)772-4714 in Dallas.
Do you have a vision for your custom engagement ring, but aren’t sure how to make it a reality? Allow us to guide you through the process of how to create truly exceptional rings. Schedule your design appointment today and see how Finer Custom Engagement Rings and Diamonds will bring your vision of an engagement ring to life.
© Copyright Finer Custom Jewelry 2024
