Natural vs Lab created diamonds

Know the difference between Natural vs Lab created diamonds

Purchasing a diamond requires a lot of research for days before actually buying the gemstone. Why? Diamonds are not just precious gemstones, it’s something that holds value to our lives and future. Whether it is a purchase of diamond ring earrings or any jewelry, a customer will always look for options before purchasing one. However, it is essential that customers not only look for the design but also have knowledge of the origin of their diamonds.

Whatever diamond you are going to purchase will either be a Lab grown diamond or a mined Diamond and you as a customer must know the vast difference between the two. So, before making a purchase and a lifetime investment, give some time to this article and decide what’s best for you.

What are lab grown diamonds?

Lab-grown diamonds are, as the name suggests, diamonds that are created in a laboratory, they are not mined from the earth’s crust. The process of creating lab-grown diamonds is known as chemical vapor deposition or High-pressure high temperature. Lab-grown diamonds have the same physical and chemical properties as real diamonds and therefore have equal value as natural mined diamonds.

Origin 

The main difference between natural diamonds vs lab-created diamonds lies in their point of origin. There is a huge misconception among people that mined Diamonds come from coal, which is not at all true. There is not just one specific method of the creation of diamonds naturally. The formation of diamonds can take place in four different natural ways.

Diamond from Earth’s Crust: Volcanic eruptions are the reason for the existence of this earth-mined Diamond. Under high pressure and temperature, the carbon atoms react with the gases present in the mantle to form mined Diamonds or organic diamonds. These diamonds deposit themselves on the earth’s surface through a volcanic eruption.

Diamonds from Subduction Zone: Studies show that the formation of these diamonds includes tectonic movements and seawater. The carbon from rocks like marble or limestone reacts with seawater due to tectonic movements that result in subduction diamonds.

Diamonds from Asteroid Impact: Asteroid Impact results in the formation of about 3% of Natural diamonds. The impact of asteroid results in high pressure and temperature that results in the development of diamonds.

Diamonds from Space: Scientists have found the presence of minute diamond particles from space that is also called Nano diamonds. Now, there are two processes through which a Lab diamond is grown.

Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD): In this process, the experts place a diamond seed inside a CVD chamber. Then they introduce gases in the container that are rich in carbon, allowing them to break down into atoms. 

The pure carbon atoms react with the diamond seed to form CVD diamonds. Laboratory-grown diamonds were originally referred to as synthetic diamonds during an earlier phase. 

High-Pressure High Temperature (HPHT): The method experts use to create diamonds is the same way we find diamonds in Earth’s mantle. Experts introduce carbon in a chamber under high pressure and temperature, producing HPHT diamonds.

In the diamond industry, simulant diamonds are characterized as stones made in a lab and they aren’t made exclusively of pure carbon compounds, as naturally mined precious stones and lab-grown jewels.

Although moissanite is not a precious stone, they do have its advantages and are the jewelry option of decision for some people. Produced using the mineral silicon carbide, Moissanite is normally utilized as a diamond simulant option in adornments because of its shining appearance, solidness, and lower sticker price. 

While cubic zirconia has a superb sparkle, it doesn’t generally keep up its tone and lucidity after some time. The substance synthesis is permeable, so the stone is defenceless against contamination or toxins in the climate. This will make the stone cloud and stain, gradually blur from splendid whiteness to a sloppy yellow or earthy color.

Time Taken

The development process of a Natural Diamond takes up to one billion to four billion years. Hence, all the natural diamonds we have present on Earth currently are older than dinosaurs! The process of deposition of new Natural Diamonds will take another billion years which means we only have a limited stock of these gemstones naturally. Laboratory-grown diamonds don’t take much time to develop because experts develop them under strict observation, and they also control the environment. So, it only takes up to 4 days or a week to grow the best quality of lab diamonds. Since experts can develop these diamonds in such a short period, we can produce an unlimited stock of diamonds synthetically.

Extraction process: 

The extraction process of Natural Diamonds includes mining by laborers. The mining process, in turn, requires a large amount of labor force. Since experts can grow Lab Diamonds, they don’t require the labor force as there is no need for mining it out of the Earth.

Quality control:

Natural mined Diamonds grow in an environment in which experts can neither control nor observe. So one cannot guarantee the quality of these gemstones. Experts reject a large number of Natural diamonds found because they don’t produce the desired quality or have too many cracks within them. Experts also find a lot of impurities in Natural diamonds making it very difficult to find this gemstone without any impurity. Lab-made diamonds also popularly known as cultivated diamonds can be better grown in an environment in which experts can easily control and observe.

So these diamond alternatives can always guarantee you a quality product. However, you can still find cracks in diamonds made via the HPHT method, but those diamonds are either not sold or sold at a lesser price. We, at fine-grown diamonds, grow these gemstones under expert supervision through the CVD method as it guarantees the premium quality of a real diamond. 

Natural and Lab diamonds both rate a 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness. So, if you are looking for a premium quality lab made diamond, then we can provide you with the one of your dreams. 

Uniqueness:

The fact that it takes billions of years for the formation of diamonds naturally without any outside interference, makes them the hardest substance present on our planet. Not only this, no diamond we find in nature will exhibit the same inclusions. This means each diamond we find naturally is kind of unique from the other. We cannot find such unique features in a Lab diamond as it is no longer a miracle of nature, but it’s the miracle of humans, US mankind to be able to create such a precious resembling gemstone. 

Real

One of the questions that revolve around every customer’s mind is: Are lab diamonds real? Hence, to clear all the theories and misconceptions about lab diamonds, they are one hundred percent real. They are as authentic as any natural diamond that you can purchase from stores. The chemical composition and nature of both lab diamonds and natural ones are the same, qualifying both of them as real diamonds.

Color

Another breakthrough difference you can find in lab diamonds vs natural is their color. Colorless Natural Diamonds are comparatively rare and expensive when a customer wants to purchase one. You can find almost all the natural mined diamonds with a slight tint of yellow or a darker shade of yellow. Most of these diamonds you go to purchase will be available in J or E color grade. You will scarcely find any Natural diamonds with a D color grade within an affordable range. The J and E color grade is almost colorless, but they have some impurities present, due to which there is a faint tint of yellow. 

D is the highest color grade of a diamond. If a diamond is in a D color grade, that means they are colorless with almost no impurities. The Colored Natural diamonds are available in colors like blue and pink, and they look stunning. However, Colored Diamond are top-notch and too expensive to afford. But, when it comes to lab colored diamonds, a wide range of color and colorless diamonds are available. Diamonds with D color grade are available in an affordable range. You can also buy colored lab diamonds without spending your entire fortune. Since these are grown in labs, experts can make colored as well as colorless diamonds easily in large quantities without compromising the price.

Customizable

If you want to customize a Natural Diamond, you will hardly find a shop that can customize it according to your needs. So, customers purchasing a natural diamond have to compromise somewhere when it comes to a particular cut. However, almost all the shops selling lab diamonds also known as cultured diamonds can easily personalize your gemstone according to your needs. As a customer, you can select your favorite design and style it further accordingly.

Future prospects and investments: 

Both Lab and Natural diamonds can prove to be a good investment. But are they an economical option? When you try to sell your Natural diamond in the future, you will get only half of its real value. Considering this situation, you will face heavy loss subsequently. In the case of a Lab Diamond, you can purchase them at a cheaper rate, and when you try to sell them in the future, the chances of incurring a loss are less. The lab grown diamond price is less for the same cut, color, and clarity in comparison to the natural diamond. So you can also prepare for a holiday even after purchasing a lab grown diamond engagement ring!

Marketing of diamonds: 

We are sure that you might have heard that diamonds are rare, and their quantity is limited. That is not the complete truth. The current deposition of rough diamond is indeed the only source of obtaining this gemstone naturally. However, they are not rare, and they are not on the verge of extinction. Customers are always fed with this fact to increase the demand for natural diamonds. In reality, the distributors control the supply of diamonds to increase the demand by informing the customers that they only have a limited edition of these natural diamonds.

As a result, customers fall into this trap and end up paying a fortune for a simple diamond engagement ring or diamond studs. Things are not the same when you purchase a lab grown diamond. There is no such demand-supply strategy when you buy a lab grown diamond. Hence, customers pay for the real diamond and not for the marketing strategy.

Environmental impact: 

The extraction of diamonds impacts the environment directly or indirectly.

1. Soil pollution: Diamond mining leads to the deforestation of lands which ultimately leads to soil pollution. lab diamonds, on the other hand, do not contribute to soil erosion as everything is processed under a laboratory.
2. Air pollution: Experts need a massive amount of temperature and pressure to create lab diamonds. The amount of air pollution by natural diamonds is significantly less although mining takes huge machinery processes for diamond mining.
3. Water pollution: At least 127 gallons of water are needed to mine one carat of a natural diamond. On the other hand, experts need only 18 gallons of water for the production of one carat of lab diamonds. While the usage of water is high in both the processes, lab grown diamond uses less water for production.
4. Noise pollution: In many cases, the mining of natural diamonds results in unavoidable noise pollution. The victims of this pollution are the people who live beside or near these mining grounds. However, there is no case of noise pollution during the production of lab made diamonds.

So, it is clear that lab diamonds are environmentally friendly in comparison to natural diamonds.

Ethics and Conflicts:

Naturally mined diamonds require diamond mines that, in turn, needs a labor force to back up for the mining. Labors in mining grounds risk their life and health to extract these mined stones for the customers. The payment that these labourers receive is not at all enough to support more than one person. Moreover, many times the villagers living near mining grounds are forced to evacuate their homes so that the distributors can extend their mining grounds.

Many distributors also employ child labour for the mined stone. These factors violate Human Rights, are cruel, and ethically incorrect. Fortunately, these man made diamonds do not require much labour work and none on mining grounds. Experts create these diamonds in a laboratory, so no labour’s life is at risk and zero involvement of child-laborers.

Price:

The marketing strategy and involvement of heavy machinery increase the overall cost of natural diamonds. So, natural diamonds are a bit costly. If you want to purchase a cheaper diamond crystal, then you have to compromise on the cut, clarity, carat weight, or color of the gemstone. There is an involvement of heavy machinery in lab diamonds, but almost zero requirements of the labor force.

Due to this reason, lab diamonds are cheaper than natural ones. So when you want to purchase a lab diamond, you don’t have to compromise on the cut, clarity, or color of the gemstone. So, any person can purchase a lab diamond without spending their entire salary on just a diamond engagement ring or any other jewelry. Whereas the purchase of a natural diamond might boost up the emotional value, but it would also cost you a fortune.

We hope that in this debate of natural diamond vs lab created diamond, you got to choose your favorable method. Though Natural diamond crystals are unique and wonder of nature, there are many disadvantages you can face while purchasing one. Lab-grown stone is not only a better option for anyone but also a better alternative for the environment and people who work on the creation of such gemstones. Ultimately, it is your decision. Whatever you decide to buy will be adding up to your emotional value.

However, if you decide to go for lab diamonds or diamond jewelry that are environmentally sound, conflict-free, and cruelty-free, then do check us out at finegrown diamonds , where you will find customizable, premium quality diamonds and get experts advice from our GIA graduate gemologist.

Type	Shape	Cut	Color	Clarity	Carat	Price
Lab diamonds	Round	Ideal cut	F	VVS1	1.00ct	$ 2016.00
Natural diamonds	Round	Ideal cut	F	VVS1	1.00ct	$7,635.60

Are Lab Diamonds Real?

One of the questions that revolve around every customer’s mind is: Are lab diamonds real? Hence, to clear all the theories and misconceptions about lab diamonds, they are one hundred percent real. They are as authentic as any natural diamond that you can purchase from stores. The chemical composition and nature of both lab diamonds and natural ones are the same, qualifying both of them as real diamonds.

We hope that in this debate of natural diamond vs lab-created diamond, you got to choose your favorable method. Though Natural diamond crystals are unique and a wonder of nature, there are many disadvantages you can face while purchasing one. Lab-grown stone is not only a better option for anyone but also a better alternative for the environment and people who work on the creation of such gemstones. Ultimately, it is your decision. Whatever you decide to buy will be adding up to your emotional value.

However, if you decide to go for lab diamonds or diamond jewelry that are environmentally sound, conflict-free, and cruelty-free, then do check us out at finegrown diamonds, where you will find customizable, premium quality diamonds and get expert advice from our GIA graduate gemologist.

FAQs:

Which Diamond Should You Buy?

If you want diamonds that are affordable and eco-friendly and have the same properties as mined diamonds then lab-created diamonds are perfect.

Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Good?

Yes, lab-grown diamonds are just as good as mined diamonds. Lab-created diamonds are 100 percent real. In fact, they have a higher cut, clarity, and fire than natural diamonds.

Are man-grown diamonds GIA-certified?

They come with the same GIA certification as natural diamonds. Lab-grown diamonds and natural diamonds both are graded by 4cs of diamonds.