{"id":16564,"date":"2022-01-13T10:57:06","date_gmt":"2022-01-13T10:57:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.serendipitydiamonds.com\/blog\/?p=16564"},"modified":"2023-03-09T13:12:39","modified_gmt":"2023-03-09T13:12:39","slug":"lab-grown-diamonds-vs-natural-diamonds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.serendipitydiamonds.com\/blog\/lab-grown-diamonds-vs-natural-diamonds\/","title":{"rendered":"Lab Grown Diamonds vs Natural Diamonds – a Definitive Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

To search for lab-grown diamonds, view a list of available diamonds on our original website page. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are lab-grown diamonds?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Lab-grown diamonds are synthetic diamonds grown in a laboratory to replicate natural diamonds mined from the Earth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The process uses specialists equipment to convert carbon atoms into the crystal form of a diamond. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most importantly, these cultured diamonds have the same optical, physical and chemical properties as natural diamonds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Manufacturing processes recreate the natural conditions under which natural diamonds formed billions of years ago. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Loose<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In appearance and physical composition, lab-created diamonds look identical to natural diamonds. In fact, natural and lab-created versions look identical. Furthermore, they provide the same high-quality gemstone, traditionally set into engagement rings with identical physical properties including hardness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just like natural diamonds, polishers cut lab-grown rough diamonds into all diamond carat-weights, colours, and clarities. Lapidiarists cut lab diamonds into a variety of diamond shapes in exactly the same way as a natural diamond. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Lab-grown certified diamond with IGI report noting the diamond has been laboratory grown. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Until recently, lab-grown alternatives to natural diamonds were shunned by the jewellery industry. In fact, many jewellers stressed that they would never stock lab-grown alternatives. At the same time, many diamond merchants made similar statements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In contrast, today many of our existing diamond suppliers now stock lab-grown inventories listed alongside natural diamond stock. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Lab-grown<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Are lab-created diamonds real diamonds?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds with the same physical, chemical and optical properties as natural mined diamonds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To both the expert and untrained eye, they are impossible to tell apart. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, we must emphasize that lab-created diamonds are not diamond simulants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To clarify, diamond simulants are natural or artificial gemstones with similar properties. As a result, diamond simulants look like diamonds but are not diamonds<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lab-grown diamonds vs natural diamonds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The significant difference between a natural diamond and a lab-grown diamond involves trace amounts of nitrogen present in natural diamonds but absent in created diamonds. Gemmologists can use specialised equipment to determine if a diamond is natural or created. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why are man-made diamonds popular?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Lab-grown diamonds make a popular choice for consumers. Firstly, grown diamonds provide an ethical choice. But, a key factor comes from their (much) lower price. Both reasons support the use of grown diamonds for ethical diamond jewellery<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The market for ‘made’ diamonds and their interest continues to increase as seen in the following chart. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Searches
Interest in lab-created diamonds over time. (2004 – 2022)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Are grown diamonds ethical?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Many buyers seek out man-made diamonds for two main reasons. Firstly, owing to inhumane acts surrounding conflict diamonds. Secondly, due to the environmental impact of mining diamonds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, many Millennials and Gen-Z buyers continue to move away from mainstream diamonds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what about the environmental impact of grown diamonds? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“A study comparing the environmental impact of grown diamonds and mined diamonds depicts that growing diamonds cause a significantly less environmental impact than mining diamonds. There are several aspects of environmental impacts, such as air pollution, water usage, energy usage, etc. There is also a significant level of human impact as well in the process of diamond production.”(Source: Frost & Sullivan).<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With new technology, some of the World’s grown diamond manufacturers create diamonds with renewable energy with carbon-neutral credentials. Diamonds are created using diamond seeds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How are lab-grown diamonds created?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are two main ways to create a diamond artificially. Both start the process with a seed diamond. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

High-Pressure High-Temperature (HPHT) <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The seed diamond is a sliver of a diamond. The first known technique used\u00a0High Pressure High Temperature<\/a>\u00a0(HPHT<\/strong>) with the seed added to pure graphite carbon, subjected to high temperatures around 1,500 degrees Celcius, with pressures of approx. 1.5 million pounds per square inch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Another, more recent technique uses Chemical Vapor Deposition<\/strong> (CVD<\/strong>). Firstly, a technician places a seed diamond into a sealed chamber filled with carbon-rich gas heated to around 800 degrees Celcius. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, the gases \u201cadhere\u201d to the seed. Carbon atom by atom, the seed grows into a rough diamond. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, the grown diamond goes through cutting and polishing in much the same way as a natural diamond. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How much do lab-made diamonds cost?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To begin with, grown diamonds cost considerably less than natural diamonds. As a result, the growth of laboratory-grown diamonds posed a serious threat to natural diamond producers, DeBeers. For this reason, DeBeers entered the lab-grown market. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

De Beers maintains its participation aims to create a clear divide between lab-grown diamonds and natural diamonds<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, like natural diamonds, man-made diamonds vary in cost depending on the diamond’s size, colour and clarity. Also, prices vary from supplier to supplier. Also, prices vary from retailer to retailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Comparing the price of lab-grown and natural diamond engagement rings.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Recently, we compared the average price of an engagement ring<\/a> (\u00a32000) between different retailers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, we compared two diamond solitaire engagement rings, both in 950 Platinum. One set with a natural diamond and one set with a lab diamond. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Platinum, single stone 0.40-carat<\/strong> diamond ring. G colour. SI1 clarity. Very Good Cut. GIA certified. \u00a32000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Platinum, single stone 0.90-carat<\/strong> lab-grown diamond ring. F colour. SI1 clarity. Excellent Cut. GIA certified. \u00a32000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In summary, the lab-created option worked out to be approximately 45 – 50% cheaper than a natural diamond. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where to buy a man-made diamond?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The popularity of lab-grown diamonds means that consumers now have a fantastic choice when it comes to sourcing their diamonds. In fact, some organisations grow a diamond to order! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most organisations provide information on the process of manufacturing. For example, CVD or HPHT. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example of a lab-grown diamond engagement ring.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The following video shows a lab-grown diamond set into a simple ring design. A real diamond shows no visible difference with the same optical properties. We create most of our designs as lab diamond rings<\/a> in any choice of precious metal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n