Are Lab Grown Diamonds Better than Natural Diamonds?

Lab-grown diamonds are a hot-button issue in the diamond industry, unlike natural diamonds. In recent years, there has been a lot of buzz around lab-created diamonds, both favourable and negative. When shopping for diamonds, you should at least give some thought to whether or not to choose lab-created or natural diamonds.

Natural diamonds 

Three billion years ago, natural diamonds originated in the Earth's crust under intense pressure and high temperature. The minerals were brought to the surface by volcanic activity and are now lying in kimberlite pipes, a type of volcanic rock formation that can be mined. Most of the natural diamonds are found in only 5% of the kimberlite pipes that are mineable.

Laboratory-Grown diamonds

In the 1950s, lab-created diamonds that could be used in industry were first created. However, it wasn't until the middle of the decade that colourless lab-grown diamonds were commercially viable.

Laboratory-created HPHT diamonds imitate the high pressure and high temperature conditions in the Earth that form real diamonds. This procedure results in a crystal of lab-grown diamond with a particular form.

Methane molecules are broken down into carbon and hydrogen atoms, which are then deposited on diamond seeds to form a square-shaped, tabular crystal. This process is known as "chemical vapour deposition" (CVD).

For most sizes, diamonds may be grown using either method in less than a month. Diamonds created by CVD must be treated with heat or irradiation in order to improve or modify colour.

Laboratory-grown diamonds have traditionally weighed no more than one carat, but as technology and procedures advance, larger stones are becoming available.

Difference between lab-grown diamonds and natural diamonds

Lab-grown diamonds must be identified because consumers need to know what they're getting, and because the price difference between them and natural diamonds might be significant. Lab-grown diamonds share many of the properties of real ones, therefore traditional gemological methods and "diamond detectors" are unable to distinguish them from each other. In order to distinguish them from natural diamonds, only a skilled gemological laboratory or advanced instruments can be used.

Are Lab-grown diamonds good?

Yes, generally speaking. Regardless of lab-grown diamonds or natural diamonds, a flawlessly cut, internally flawless diamond is extremely rare and valuable. Inclusions, like fingerprints, can be found in both lab-grown and natural diamonds, and are graded accordingly by authorised gemological labs. Inclusions that are visible to the naked eye may be present in lower clarity graded lab-grown or natural diamonds. Besides the carat weight and clarity, the cut and colour play an essential role in assessing the quality of a diamond.

Advantages of a lab-grown diamond

For a fraction of the price of a Natural Diamond, you can buy a much larger diamond and yet claim it is a genuine diamond. When comparing lab-grown diamonds to natural diamonds with the same properties of the 4 C's, the difference cannot be seen with the human eye. The physical and chemical qualities of lab-grown diamonds are identical to those of natural diamonds, so they will shine just as brightly. 

Drawbacks of a lab-grown diamond

There is a rarity factor to natural diamonds. Natural diamonds tend to keep their value better than lab-created diamonds since there is a limited supply of natural diamonds. As demand rises, especially when there is a limited supply, the price rises as well. However, even if grown diamonds can be created, their resale value may decrease as the market becomes saturated with them and their supply diminishes.

Which one to purchase?

This is a difficult topic to answer because the priorities of various consumers vary widely. It doesn't matter if a diamond is man-made or natural if its appearance is all that matters to you. If you don't tell anyone, no one will know.

When it comes to choosing between a lab-grown diamond and a natural diamond, there is no right or wrong answer. The decision is entirely yours. The most common factors to consider while making a decision include your budget, your significant other's preference, and whether or not you place a high value on the home's market potential.

Are lab-grown diamonds valuable?

The Rapaport pricing method is used to determine wholesale and retail prices for all diamonds, whether they are created in a lab or mined. This system uses the 4Cs to determine the price of diamonds, whether they are mined or lab-grown. Regardless of where the diamonds come from, the Rapaport price is used to set wholesale, retail, and resale pricing. Natural diamonds, on the other hand, often cost 30 percent more than lab-grown diamonds, so you'll likely receive more for your money in the long run.

 

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