LAB GROWN DIAMONDS
Diamonds are Unique
They are used to mark special occasions and to seal life-long bonds. A big part of why diamonds are considered to be so special is how rare the material is. It grows in the ground in only certain places around the world, and this rareness is reflected in its price.
However, there is an alternative to mined diamonds that cost much less, but are just as real in every sense. Lab grown diamonds have the exact chemical and physical properties of mined diamonds. New technology has allowed diamond producers to create diamonds in weeks, as opposed to billions of years for mined diamonds.
Manufactured diamonds are not like cubic zirconias or other synthetic diamond alternatives. They look and feel identical to mined diamonds, because they are exactly the same. Neither your friends nor an appraiser without the proper equipment will know the difference. They are real diamonds, and they can be just as special for your engagement.
Lab-Grown vs Mined Diamonds
Mined diamonds have formed over billions of years. They start as carbon dioxide that is trapped as much as 100 miles underground. The heat and pressure are so great that the carbon dioxide gets crystalized into diamonds. This all happens so far under the earth’s crust that there would be no way to extract them, except for a lucky phenomenon. There are volcanic explosions erupting deep in the earth’s core at all times. These eruptions push the diamonds up towards the surface, where they can be extracted by diamond miners.
Lab-grown diamonds are created in one of two ways: (HPHT) using extreme high pressure and high temperature, or (CVD) chemical vapor deposition. (Typically no visual difference between these two processes).
HPHT Process
A High Pressure-High Temperature diamond starts as a diamond seed that is implanted into carbon. It is then heated up to 1500 degrees celsius and the equivalent of 1.5 million pounds per square inch is brought down to bear on it. The carbon melts and and flows around the seed to form a diamond.
CVD Process
The Chemical Vapor Deposition process also starts with a diamond seed. It is heated up to approximately 800 degrees celsius, and exposed to a carbon gas. This gas is then transformed into a plasma material using a microwave technology, which causes the carbon to form around the diamond seed. Using either of these methods will produce diamonds that are exactly the same as the ones that formed billions of years ago.
Why Choose Lab-Grown Diamonds?
There are several reasons why you might want to choose a lab-grown diamond for your engagement ring or next jewelry purchase. One of the strongest reasons is Lab Grown diamonds tend to be less expensive. Since there is no mining process, lab-grown diamonds are less expensive to produce even at higher graded qualities. That means that diamond distributors and retailers can sell Lab Grown diamonds for significantly less. Estimates show that many times you can purchase a Lab Grown diamond for up to 50% less or more than a minded diamond.
Lab Grown diamonds are ethically sourced. Buying a Lab Grown diamonds means that you can rest assured knowing you are not supporting unethical practices.
There are many that believe Lab Grown diamonds are more eco-friendly than mined diamonds. Mining for diamonds can have a major impact on the environment, even with the measures that many diamond companies have adopted in recent years.
Lab Grown Diamonds
Frequently Asked Questions
You cannot tell the difference between the two types of diamond just by look or touch. All lab-grown diamonds have inscriptions that identify the certificate number and certifying lab, but that can only be seen using high powered magnification.
Most mined diamonds also have a number inscribed that identifies the diamond and its certifying lab. You can use that number to reference the diamond report online. Even a jeweler would not be able to tell them apart other than from an inscription without special training and equipment.
Even trained gemologists cannot distinguish them with the naked eye. Specialized equipment such as a DiamondView machine is required. The inscription on the girdle is the only practical identifier in a retail setting.
Lab-grown diamonds are synthetic (man-made) diamonds. The term synthetic can cause confusion and make lab-grown diamonds sound more like imitations such as cubic zirconia.
In reality, lab-grown diamonds have the same chemical, physical, and optical properties as mined diamonds. The difference is how they are created, not how they perform or appear.
The FTC updated its guidelines in 2018 to recognize lab-grown diamonds as real diamonds. They are not simulants like cubic zirconia or moissanite, which have completely different chemical compositions.
One of the bonuses of choosing to buy lab-grown diamonds is that you can choose different colors, such as the ever-popular pink, for your engagement ring.
Colored mined diamonds are exceptionally expensive and out of reach for many consumers, but lab-grown colored diamonds are much more affordable and look just as impressive.
Lab-grown colored diamonds are created by introducing trace elements during the growth process. For example, boron produces blue diamonds and nitrogen produces yellow. The same colors exist in nature but cost exponentially more as mined stones.
Lab-created diamonds are not as valuable as mined diamonds because mined diamonds are rarer and cost more to produce. However, diamonds in general are not ideal for investment purposes.
Buying a lab-grown diamond and pocketing the price difference to spend on your wedding or honeymoon can be a smart financial choice for many couples.
Lab-grown diamond prices have dropped significantly over the past several years as production has scaled. Mined diamonds also depreciate significantly from retail purchase price. The better frame for buyers is value, not investment.
You might think that a lab-grown diamond would look perfect since it is created in a lab instead of formed in the earth. However, they are manufactured by duplicating the same conditions that are found in nature.
Their color and clarity can vary from diamond to diamond. Lab-grown diamonds are graded just like mined diamonds.
In fact, some lab-grown diamonds have inclusions introduced during the growth process that are specific to the HPHT or CVD method. A trained gemologist with the right equipment can sometimes identify the growth method by the inclusion pattern, though not which type is superior.
In general, it can take 6 to 10 weeks to produce a lab-grown diamond, and longer for larger diamonds.
Polishing and finishing the diamond will add additional time before it is ready to be set in jewelry.
Larger stones above 2 carats can take significantly longer. After growth, the rough diamond goes through cutting and polishing, which adds several more weeks depending on the complexity of the cut.
Yes. Lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds in every sense of the word. They have the same chemical composition (pure carbon in a cubic crystal structure), the same physical properties, and the same optical characteristics as diamonds formed in the earth.
The only difference is origin. A lab-grown diamond was created in a controlled environment over weeks rather than billions of years underground. The Federal Trade Commission officially recognizes lab-grown diamonds as real diamonds, and they are graded by the same gemological laboratories that grade mined diamonds, including GIA and IGI.
Lab-grown diamonds are certified by the same gemological laboratories that certify mined diamonds. The most recognized certifying bodies are GIA (Gemological Institute of America), IGI (International Gemological Institute), and GCAL (Gem Certification and Assurance Lab).
Each certificate grades the diamond on the standard 4Cs: cut, color, clarity, and carat weight. The certificate also identifies the stone as lab-grown and notes the growth method used. At D&R House of Diamonds, we only sell certified lab-grown diamonds so you know exactly what you are getting.
D&R House of Diamonds is one of Las Vegas's leading sources for certified loose lab-grown diamonds. Located at Downtown Summerlin, we work with you by appointment in a private office setting, giving you direct access to thousands of certified stones at wholesale-competitive prices.
Dave and Rich bring over 50 years of combined diamond industry experience to every consultation. Whether you are looking for a lab-grown diamond for an engagement ring, a custom design, or a special occasion, call us at 702-758-3421 or book a free consultation online.
