Lab grown diamonds have sparked discussion in many forums recently. To answer many questions that are out there we have gathered this article to explain what lab grown diamonds are.

What are lab grown diamonds?

- also known as man-made diamonds, conflict free diamonds, above the ground diamonds, engineered or cultured diamonds and sometimes even synthetic diamonds.

First of all, they are real diamonds.

The difference between mined diamonds and lab-created diamonds are their origin. Mined diamonds form in the mantle, beneath the Earth’s crust, where they have been formed during millions of years of extensive heat and pressure. Once the rough diamonds are found, they are cut, polished and finished to be placed in fine jewelry.

Lab-created diamonds are made above the ground, by cutting-edge technology that replicates the natural diamond creation process, without the heavy environmental impact. Since the lab-created diamonds are made of exactly the same material as natural diamonds, they have the same optical and chemical properties that people have fallen in love with. Once rough diamonds are created, they are cut, polished and finished to be placed in fine jewelry.

The result? Diamonds that are physically, chemically and optically identical to each other, but with a different origin. The difference is like comparing vegetables that grow in a greenhouse versus vegetables growing out on a field. Just as real, but with significant environmental benefits.

Aside from mined and lab-created diamonds, there are many other materials acting as diamond simulants in the markets. Most known examples are moissanite, zirconium and crystals, mostly used in fashion jewelry which are created with cheaper and short-lasting materials. Diamond simulants can often look similar to diamonds but they do not have the same chemical, physical or optical properties as natural diamonds. They are not true carbon crystals. Simulants can be distinguished from mined and lab-created diamonds with just the naked eye.

Due to lacking in these qualities, they sell at a much lower price than real diamonds – mined and lab-created. 

Why lab grown diamonds?

More sustainable

Mining of any natural resource will have a significant impact on the environment, and so does the mining of diamonds. Large scale industrial mining displaces or degrades an estimate of 1.7 tonnes of earth for each 1 carat diamond. In addition, mining rises the risk of acids and chemicals flowing into our waters, making them unhealthy for many years.

Even though this impact has been recognized by the diamond mining industry and steps have been taken to reduce the negative effects on the environment, lab-grown diamonds are significantly more eco-friendly and ethical. Compared to  the traditional mining industry, lab-created diamonds are not impacting the waters, ecosystems or the environment in their process at all. Creating diamonds requires much less energy than mining them. Lab-created diamonds are therefore a more sustainable choice, with no exceptions in quality, size, colour or sparkling!

More ethical

Because of the history of the diamond mining industry, mined diamonds are sometimes referred to as blood or conflict diamonds. This is due to the extremely unethical practices that miners, their families and their society were exploited for. In addition, the diamond industry was often involved in funding violence and criminal practices. Luckily these practices were discovered and the situation is noticeably better than before.

Lab-created diamonds provide full certainty that the diamonds are conflict free – you know exactly the origin of your diamond. This peace of mind often can not be provided by mined diamonds.

Get more for less!

Using less energy and having a smaller impact on the environment also has a positive impact on the price of the lab-created diamond, since they often cost less than a mined diamond.

This does not mean that lab-created diamonds would not be valuable!

The main reason we can offer lower prices than mined diamonds is that mined diamonds have a long supply chain. To get a diamond from its raw form to a retail-ready gemstone requires miners, distributors, cutters, polishers, jewelry manufacturers, and retailers. Our lab-created diamond supply chain is much shorter by skipping the mining process. Simply put, a lab-created diamond touches fewer hands, making it ultimately less expensive.

In addition, we get our diamonds directly from the manufacturer, which means that we get the best possible price – which shows in our pricing compared to other jewelers.

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