Lab Grown vs Diamonds

Lab Grown vs Diamonds

Shopping for Jewelry, particularly engagement rings, can be a daunting experience in today's world. Choosing a single design is challenging, with many different stones, styles, and shapes. What's more, if you are looking for a classic stone, there is another level to consider: a mined diamond or a lab-grown diamond. 

Before you make a decision, you might be thinking about what distinguishes lab-grown diamonds from natural mined diamonds. Don't worry; we're here to explain everything, including their prices, clarity, and durability. Read on.

What are Lab-Grown Diamonds?

Lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds formed by man. These diamonds are formed in highly regulated laboratory environments. They utilize advanced technological procedures that mimic the circumstances under which natural diamonds form underneath the Earth's crust in the mantle. These laboratory grown diamonds are made up of carbon atoms organized in the diamond crystal structure. They have the same visual and chemical qualities as natural diamonds because they are manufactured of the same material.

Natural Diamonds vs. Lab Grown Diamonds

Using your naked eyes, it is practically hard to identify the difference between a lab-created diamond and a natural diamond.  For better understanding, here's a detailed comparison between the two:

How They're Created

Natural diamonds are mined from the earth's crust. They started as carbon deep within the earth's mantle but were eventually brought to the surface by volcanic activity through kimberlite pipes. The precious stones are then extracted from these gigantic, deep-reaching craters.

Lab-grown diamonds are a diamond substitute. They are manufactured by placing a seed in a high-pressure chamber and then bombarding it with carbon atoms. This process is called chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The resulting diamond is chemically and physically identical to a natural diamond. It has the same chemical, optical and physical properties as a natural diamond found underground.

Color

In terms of color, the best quality lab-created diamond is graded on a similar scale as naturally mined diamonds. There is no discernible difference between a laboratory grown and natural diamond, as most people pick stones of both sorts that are near colorless and fall in the grading scale of G and J. Genuinely colorless diamonds, graded between D and F, are highly uncommon and consequently very expensive.

Price

Real diamonds can cost thousands of dollars per carat. Lab-gowns cost much less per carat because they don't need to be mined from the earth, which is an expensive process that involves digging up tons of earth to find one small diamond. The price difference between lab gowns and natural diamonds is about 50%, so if you have a limited budget, then buying a lab gown would be better than buying a mined diamond!

Clarity

Clarity refers to the number of imperfections in a stone. The fewer flaws it has, the more apparent it is. Lab-grown diamonds tend to have more occasional imperfections than natural ones because they're grown under controlled conditions where impurities can be removed before cutting begins (which is why some people refer to them as "pure carbon crystals"). Natural diamonds come from mines that don't allow for this kind of control, so naturally, they have more flaws than artificial stones do.

Durability

Lab-grown diamonds are made of carbon, the same material as natural diamonds. Still, they are the hardest materials on the planet, graded at ten on the Moh's hardness scale. Hence, lab-grown diamonds are as hard to chip as natural diamonds.

Value

The resale value difference between natural and lab-grown diamonds is considerably bigger than the price difference. Natural diamonds usually retain roughly 50% of their original value, while lab-created diamonds are nearly hard to resell without losing some pennies on the dollar.

It's also vital to evaluate the changes in the price of natural vs. laboratory grown diamonds over time. With the cost of lab-grown diamonds falling and natural diamonds increasing historically, your lab-created diamond will likely be less valuable than a natural diamond of the same grade.

Why Choose One Over the Other

Although diamonds shouldn't be considered an investment, there is also the sensation of buying an engagement ring that is likely to preserve its value over time. If this is important to you, go for natural diamonds.

Don't rule out laboratory grown diamonds as a great choice. Couples on a tight budget may discover a gorgeous ring far off their budget by choosing a lab-created diamond. But remember, the same diamond may be sold for much less than the original price in the future.

The Bottom Line

As the diamond sector evolves to compete with customer preferences, natural and lab-grown diamonds are constantly undergoing improvements. Diamond jewelry is not purchased for its value as an investment. A purchase like this is an emotional one, and that's what makes it valuable. We at Martin Busch Jewelers offer you a unique collection of diamond rings. Contact us today and let us help you choose the perfect ring for you.