Lab-Grown vs. Natural Diamonds
What is a lab-grown diamond?
It may come as a surprise, but a lab grown diamond is simply…a diamond. Both mined diamonds and lab grown diamonds, or LG diamonds, are comprised entirely of carbon and both varieties are as unique as you and me. LG diamonds are, you guessed it, grown in a lab. But they still develop different colors, blemishes, and clarity levels, just like the classic rock you know and love. Remember, they’re grown not built.
More Diamond for your Dollar
The main differences you’ll want to consider have to do with pricing. Mined diamonds not only boast a higher price point, but also will hold their value over time. Diamonds are formed when carbon deposits that exist up to 125 miles beneath the earth’s surface experience extremely high temperatures and pressures. Some diamonds can take millions of years to form, which makes them the rare and valuable commodity they are. Also, considering there are a finite number of naturally-occurring diamonds in the world, the rarity factor gives them a heftier price tag.
Since the market for LG diamonds is relatively new, the price points and resale values are constantly shifting, but are consistently more affordable than their naturally-occurring counterpart. So if you’re looking for the most sparkle for your buck, an LG diamond may be the way to go.
The Growing Process
The first LG diamonds were produced in the 50s, but it took nearly 60 years of experimentation to produce a diamond that rivals the mined gemstones available in the diamond district.
The most common way to create a LG diamond is through a process called chemical vapor deposition or CVD, where a tiny slice of a mined or LG diamond is placed in a vacuum. The slice is comprised of pure carbon and attracts more carbon molecules as it sits in the vacuum chamber. Once the diamond is grown to the desired size, it’s cut and polished, just like a mined diamond.
The Ethics of a Diamond
When it comes to diamonds, the mining industry has a sordid history — complete with civil warfare and human rights abuses. Luckily, the Kimberley Process was instigated in 2003. The initiative was put in place to eliminate the trade of conflict diamonds, which are defined as rough diamonds sold by rebel groups to fund war against governments.
It’s also worth noting that, while diamond mining does have an impact on the surrounding environments, lab-grown diamonds have their own drawbacks. The machines that grow the gems require a ton of energy to create the necessary high temperatures.
All of that’s to say that, when you’re shopping with Ring Concierge, there is no wrong choice. All of our mined diamonds are conflict-free and ethically sourced, while our LG diamonds sparkle just as much as their natural counterparts.