The jewelry industry has been called out in recent years on concerns about the negative impact of gem mining on the environment and on human rights. Along with it is the increasing demand for ethically and responsibly sourced minerals that would allow consumers to shop for the jewelry that they want without feeling guilty about the way it was produced.
M consumers, or those aged 25 to 40 yrs. old, are top buyers of jewelry for personal use, for gifting to special someone, or as engagement or wedding rings. However, over 70% of them are now choosing lab-grown diamonds.
However, there are some misconceptions about lab-grown diamonds, particularly because they are not talked about that much. Here, we have listed down the important facts about lab diamonds that will help you make an informed choice,
They Are Fabricated
While natural diamonds are mined from underground, lab-grown diamonds are manufactured by scientists in a laboratory. Manufacturers of these cultured diamonds either use extreme heat and pressure or a chemical process to create the stones out of a fraction of a diamond, which is called the seed.
The process of manufacturing diamonds is quite rigorous and meticulous. But as a result, the diamond that is produced is the same as, or sometimes even better, than a natural one.
They Are Real Diamonds
Whether in terms of physical appearance or on its composition, cultured diamonds are not different from natural diamonds. The durability, clarity, and color also last for a very long time in lab-made diamonds.
Diamonds are known for being the hardest mineral available, and lab diamonds have this characteristic as well.
They are able to reach a score of 10 in the popular Mohs hardness rating, which measures a stone’s
They Are Pure and Untarnished
Diamonds have different qualities, and the rating ranges from Type IA to II B based on the diamond classification chart. This chart evaluates the stone in terms of color, clarity, and composition. It also identifies any imperfections, as well as trace elements like nitrogen or boron that can be found in the diamond.
In this classification chart, Type I diamonds are ones that contain nitrogen, with Type IA having them in clusters and Type IB in individual atoms. Natural diamonds are mostly classified as Type IA, with over 90% of them falling under this category.
Type II diamonds are purer as they have fewer amounts of trace elements. In terms of purity, Type IIA rates the highest as there are no measurable amounts of nitrogen or boron in them. Thus, they also appear to be brighter and clearer. Type IIB contains trace amounts of boron, turning its color into shades of blue or gray. Most cultured diamonds are able to achieve a Type IIA rating, while only 2% of natural diamonds fall under this classification.
They Are More Affordable Than Natural Diamonds
The resources needed to manufacture diamonds in a laboratory are much less than what is needed in mining.
Aside from the machinery and manpower needed to dig deep underground in a remote location, the stones have to be transported several times before they can get into the hands of jewelers. Because of this, jewelers are able to sell lab-grown diamonds at 40% to 60% lower prices than natural ones.
They Started More Than 50 Years Ago
This may come as a surprise if you have just recently discovered cultured diamonds, but they have actually been in the market for a few decades. They were first produced in a Swedish laboratory in the 1950s and eventually marketed by multinational conglomerate General Electronics (GE) as parts for electronic gadgets and machinery. Its use for jewelry came much later, which is also why you have not heard much about them until recently.
They Are Ethically Produced
The practices being implemented in the mining and transporting of diamonds are controversial topics that have been brought up by environmental and humanitarian groups for a long time now. Issues such as soil erosion, deforestation, child labor, slavery, and manpower exploitation have hounded the natural diamond industry for many years.
Some consumers believe that buying natural diamonds also means supporting the mining industry and all its unhealthy and inhumane practices. Meanwhile, lab-produced diamonds are not weighed down by such issues because the manufacturing conditions under which they are produced are not harmful to the environment, and they do not harm human rights in the process.
They Can Be Certified
If you are still, unsure about the quality and worth of cultured diamonds at this point, then this last part may give you more reassurance. Lab-grown diamonds can actually be certified as some reputable companies offer certification services to verify the authenticity of these stones.
This service is even being offered by the prestigious Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the acknowledged expert in gem grading in the jewelry industry. The GIA offers testing, grading, and certification of these man-made diamonds and will classify them in terms of their color, clarity, and composition. Once certified, the GIA will apply laser inscriptions of their report number so they can be easily identified.
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