Lab Grown Diamond vs Natural Diamond


It is a well-known fact that natural diamonds are expensive. However, there's an alternative to diamonds: lab-grown diamonds (aka synthetic), which are less costly and eco-friendly.


In the following paragraphs, we're going to have a closer look at both types of diamonds:


Q: What is a Laboratory-Grown Diamond?


A: A laboratory-grown diamond is a type of diamond created artificially in a laboratory. These lab-made gems are made from carbon using high pressure and temperature processes, which allows them to have the same chemical composition as mined diamonds.


Q: What are Some Other Terms for Laboratory Grown Diamonds?


A: Laboratory grown diamonds are also called synthetic diamonds, artificial diamonds, laboratory diamonds, lab-made diamonds, manufactured diamonds, lab diamonds, man-made diamonds, lab-created diamonds, lab-simulated diamonds, cultivated diamonds, factory diamonds, carbon diamonds, artisan diamonds, cultured diamonds, machine diamonds, etc.


Q: How Rare are Lab-Made Diamonds?


A: Lab-made diamonds are less rare than natural diamonds. A lab-grown diamond's creation entails a process that is easily repeated in a diamond lab, whereas extracting a natural diamond from the ground is very challenging and unlikely to happen more than once.


These artisan diamonds are, therefore, more affordable than mined diamonds.


Q: Are All Lab Diamonds Flawless and Perfect? 


No, lab-grown gems are not flawless, just like natural diamonds. Because artificial diamonds are made in laboratories by replicating natural conditions, lab-grown gems have the same color, clarity, and other characteristics as natural diamonds (the 4Cs).


Q: Where are Lab Diamonds Made?


A: Lab-created diamonds are made in highly controlled laboratory environments using advanced technological processes that duplicate the conditions under which natural diamonds form. Lab-created diamonds have virtually identical optical and physical properties to their natural counterparts, but they are produced at a fraction of the cost.


Because they are not subject to the same environmental pressures and forces as natural diamonds, you can recreate lab-created diamonds in various colors, including blue, green, red, yellow, orange, pink, and even black. While most natural diamonds are white or close to it in color, less than 2% of them exhibit intense and desirable hues. In contrast, you can produce nearly every lab-created diamond in a specific, highly-desired color.


Lab-created diamonds are also available in different cuts and clarity grades than natural diamonds, which means that you can find high-quality stones to suit your exact specifications. Whether you're looking for a square princess cut, an elegant round brilliant cut, or anything in between, you'll find the perfect lab-created diamond for your needs.


Q: How Long Does it Take to Create a Lab-Made Diamond?


A: The creation of a lab-grown diamond takes about six weeks. On the other hand, the time needed to create a natural diamond is unknown, but it surely takes billions of years.


Lab-made stones usually take around 7-10 days to develop a 1-carat lab diamond and about a month to create a 3-carat diamond.


If you try to grow lab stones faster, the diamond crystal will fracture or develop voids, producing a grown/gray color. Thus, there is a physical speed limit to how fast you can grow lab stones.

 

Q: Are Lab Diamonds Fake? What are Lab Diamonds Made Of?


A: No, factory diamonds are not fake. Lab-grown diamonds are chemically identical to natural diamonds. These lab-made gems have the same chemical composition (i.e., they consist of equal amounts of carbon atoms bonded together in different forms). The difference is due to uncontrolled factors such as pressure, temperature, and time during the cultivation process.


Q: How are Lab Grown Diamonds Made?


A: Surprisingly, creating cultivated diamonds is very similar to that of creating natural diamonds. The only difference is that one occurs naturally in the Earth over billions of years, while the creation of lab-made stones occurs in a diamond lab in weeks. But it's all the same in terms of science.


Carbon dioxide, intense heat, and extreme pressure are all required to form carbon diamonds. 


Q: How Long do Lab-Created Diamonds Last?


A: That's a question we get a lot, and it's not an easy one to answer. It depends on several factors, including how well you take care of your diamond and what kind of setting it's in.


Lab-created diamonds have the same composition as natural diamonds, so they should last just as long as natural diamonds. However, this doesn't mean that you can neglect them and expect everything to be okay. But, of course, you still need to take proper care of your diamond to remain sparkly and beautiful for many years.


Q: Do Lab Grown Diamonds Look Different?


A: Differentiating between lab-simulated diamonds and mined diamonds can be quite difficult because, in the end, they are almost identical. Both types of diamonds are typically cut and polished in the same way, with their only difference being how they are created.

 

Q: Can you Tell the Difference Between Lab Created Diamonds and Real Diamonds?


A: There is no discernible difference between the two sorts of diamonds to the human eye. However, highly trained scientists and geologists can employ techniques to determine a diamond's origin.


Q: Are Lab Diamonds Cheaper than Real Diamonds?


A: The price of lab-grown and earth-grown diamonds can vary tremendously. For example, cultured diamonds are usually less expensive than their natural counterparts because they lack the gemological value of being "real" or "natural." Laboratory-grown diamonds are generally 35% of the cost of a natural diamond.

 

Q: Is a Cubic Zirconia (CZ) the Same Thing as a Lab Grown Diamond?


No, diamonds are made only of carbon. Cubic zirconia, on the other hand, contains no carbon! CZs are much weaker than laboratory gemstones and have different light performance and patterning. A good jeweler will be able to spot the difference between a laboratory gemstone and a fake diamond simulant like CZ or moissanite with ease.

 

Q: Why are Lab Diamonds so Cheap?


Lab diamonds have increased in popularity over the years, and there is a good reason for this. These lab-grown diamonds are much cheaper than natural diamonds but offer all the same benefits. Here's why lab diamonds are so cheap:


1. Lab-grown diamonds use less expensive materials. Creating a lab-grown diamond starts with a small piece of carbon. This carbon is placed in a chamber subjected to intense pressure and heat. This process creates the rough diamond, which is then cut and polished into the beautiful gemstone we know and love.


2. The creation of lab diamonds takes place in a controlled environment. The conditions required for lab-grown diamonds are completely under the control of scientists and engineers, which makes it much easier to produce them consistently. By comparison, natural diamonds form deep underground and take millions of years to develop. This long development means a much greater chance of things going wrong when creating a natural diamond!


3. Lab-grown diamonds can be created much faster. Because lab diamonds are grown in a controlled environment, it is possible to make them much quicker than natural diamonds. This fast turnaround time means a much greater supply of lab diamonds on the market, which keeps prices low.


4. There is less wastage when growing diamonds in a lab. When mining a natural diamond, only a small percentage of the raw material ends up in the final gemstone. The rest is discarded as waste. However, there is very little wastage when growing diamonds in a lab because it is a controlled process. This little wastage means using more of the diamond, which keeps costs down.


Q: Are Lab Diamonds Ethical?


A: Yes, artificial diamonds are conflict-free stones. There are no human rights violations with laboratory diamonds.


Synthetic diamonds are an eco-friendly alternative to natural diamonds. Due to the manufacturing process, one single carat of a natural diamond can pollute up to two million gallons of water. However, the creation of manufactured diamonds is not perfect. Creating man-made diamonds requires large amounts of energy, generated mainly by burning non-renewable fossil fuels like oil or coal. Unlike machine diamonds, natural diamonds are already created by nature and require no additional energy.


Q: How to Tell if Diamond is Lab Created?


The only way to tell if a diamond is lab-created is to perform a laboratory test with advanced equipment. This testing involves analyzing the chemical and physical properties of the diamond or using advanced imaging or spectroscopy techniques to look for certain characteristics that are unique to lab-grown diamonds.


Is Diamonique a Lab Created Diamond?


No, Diamonique is not a lab-created diamond. Instead, it's a gemstone that is made artificially in a lab. This stone is known as cubic zirconia or CZ for short, and it's often used in jewelry instead of real diamonds due to its similar appearance and lower cost. While some people may try to pass off Diamonique as a real diamond, it's important to remember that it is not the same thing.


Why Not to Buy Lab Grown Diamonds?


When it comes to buying diamonds, many people are now turning to lab-grown diamonds instead of natural diamonds. While there are some benefits to this type of diamond, there are also some drawbacks that you should be aware of before making your purchase.


One of the biggest disadvantages of lab-grown diamonds is that they are not as rare as natural diamonds. While diamonds generally only make up one or two percent of the Earth's crust, you can typically produce lab-grown diamonds in large quantities using technology and controlled conditions. So while they are technically diamonds, they are not as rare or valuable as natural diamonds.


Another drawback is the resale value. If you ever decide to sell your lab-grown diamond, you will likely get less money for it than you originally paid. This price is because the market for lab-grown diamonds is still relatively new and not as established as the market for natural diamonds. So if you're looking for an investment, natural diamonds are still a better option.


Wrapping Up


So, which kind of diamond is better? It really depends on your needs and preferences. If you're looking for a cheaper and more eco-friendly option, lab-created diamonds are the way to go. However, earth-grown diamonds are probably a better choice if you want the "real" thing. But, ultimately, it's up to you to decide!