Lab Diamonds: A Sparkling Alternative for Your Custom Jewelry
Learn what lab diamonds are, why more people are choosing them, and what options you have when buying them.
Contents
What is a Lab Diamond?
Lab diamonds are grown in a laboratory using advanced technology mimicking the natural conditions of the earth. They have the same chemical composition, crystal structure, and physical properties as natural diamonds, but they are not mined.
Although they are created in a lab, they are still diamonds, making them 10 on the Moh's scale of hardness. Lab-created diamonds are also known as synthetic diamonds, cultured diamonds, or engineered diamonds.
Why Choose It for Your Custom Design?
- Lab grown diamonds are more affordable. This is often the primary reason why a lab diamond is selected. They are typically much less expensive than natural diamonds of the same quality, size, and shape. This means you can get a bigger (or "better") diamond for your budget, or you can allocate more of your budget for other design elements in your custom jewelry.
- Lab diamonds are considered ethical and more eco-friendly. They do not require mining, so they are not associated with any conflict, violence, exploitation, or negative environmental impacts that may occur in some natural diamond sources. Lab diamonds are certified by independent labs that verify their origin, quality, and authenticity. They do use a significant amount of power and electricity in their creation, which sometimes comes under scrutiny.
- Lab diamonds are customizable. You can choose from a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes depending on your preferred design. You can also create a unique lab diamond from your own DNA, hair, or ashes as a way of personalizing your jewelry or honoring a loved one.
What to Consider When Purchasing
- Quality still matters for a lab grown diamond. Always reference the same 4 C's (cut, color, clarity, and carat) used for natural diamond selection to evaluate the quality of a lab diamond. You can also look for a grading report from a reputable lab that certifies the quality and origin of the lab diamond.
- The shape of the lab diamond can affect its brilliance, fire, and scintillation, as well as its price and availability. You can choose from the classic round shape, or opt for a fancy shape, such as princess, cushion, oval, pear, marquise, emerald, radiant, or heart.
- The color of the lab diamond can affect its rarity, value, and appeal, depending on your taste and style. You can choose from a range of colors, from colorless to near-colorless, or from fancy colors, such as pink, blue, yellow, or green.
- There are two common creation methods that can produce different results (see Interesting Facts below). We recommend HPHT lab-created diamonds for their remarkable color and natural features.
Interesting Facts
- The first lab diamonds were created in the 1950s by scientists who used high-pressure and high-temperature (HPHT) methods to transform graphite into diamond. These lab diamonds were mainly used for industrial and scientific purposes, such as cutting tools, abrasives, and electronics.
- The first gem-quality lab diamonds were created in the 1970s by using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) methods, which involve growing diamond crystals from a gas mixture in a vacuum chamber. These lab diamonds were mainly used for jewelry and optical applications (such as lasers and lenses).
- In both methods, a tiny natural diamond seed acts as the foundation for growth.
Our Recommendation for Lab Diamonds in Custom Jewelry Designs
Beautiful and Budget-Friendly
- Lab grown diamonds are exquisite and nearly indistinguishable from natural diamonds. When considering affordability, lab diamonds shine brightly. You can have a stunning gem without breaking the bank.
- As a plus, lab diamonds offer ethical advantages (no negative impact on communities or ecosystems). They do have a higher carbon footprint, so if minimizing carbon emissions is your primary concern, natural diamonds may be better for you.
Not Valued As Highly
If you’re looking to diamonds as an investment, lab diamonds may not appreciate in value the same way natural diamonds do. Because they can't be created on demand, natural diamonds are more rare and will command higher prices.
Regardless of whether they're formed in the Earth over billions of years or created in a lab over several weeks, diamonds are a stunning gemstone that capture the essence of beauty and timelessness. If you're managing a budget but love the classic diamond style, lab diamonds may be perfect for you.
If you have concerns about the value or price of lab diamonds, we recommend considering one of the following:
- Natural diamonds (although more expensive) are Earth-formed, timeless, and brilliant.
- Salt and pepper diamonds are uniquely imperfect, with character-filled inclusions.
- Moissanite (another man-made stone) offers an even more affordable alternative and still sparkles like a diamond.
- White sapphires are ethereal, durable, and elegant, although not as brilliant and fiery.
The Kris Averi Promise
We welcome you just as you are, in your authenticity and unique expression of love.
We believe love knows no bounds, limitations, or exceptions. It is all inclusive, and so are we. Here at Kris Averi, we are committed to standing behind all love, always.
We look forward to helping you make your dreams come true.
