At Diamond Wish, we recently started carrying lab-grown diamonds alongside our usual selection of natural diamonds. We believe that both lab-grown diamonds and natural diamonds can be gorgeous options for diamond engagement rings, diamond studs, and other types of diamond jewelry. So, we offer both options in order to allow you to choose the type of diamond that’s right for you.
Since we’ve begun carrying lab-grown diamonds, we’ve noticed that many people have questions about them. People often wonder if lab-grown diamonds are real, if they look like natural diamonds, why people prefer them, and so on. To answer all of our most commonly asked questions about this beautiful gem, we’ve put together some answers to the top 8 FAQ about lab grown diamonds.
1. Are lab-grown diamonds real diamonds or fake diamonds?
This classic solitaire engagement ring features a breathtaking 2 carat round cut lab-grown diamond.
Lab-grown diamonds are not fake diamonds– they’re laboratory grown diamonds. Lab-grown diamonds have the exact same chemical, physical, and optical properties as mined diamonds. They’re just as durable, hard, and beautiful as mined diamonds. The only difference between lab-grown diamonds and mined diamonds is how they form. Lab-grown diamonds are made by scientists under carefully controlled lab conditions, while mined diamonds form organically within the earth.
2. Can you tell the difference between a lab-grown diamond ring and a mined diamond ring by looking at them?
Nope! Since lab-grown diamonds and mined diamonds have the same chemical composition and optical properties, you can’t tell them apart by looking at them. Even expert jewelers and gemologists can’t tell the difference between lab-grown diamonds and mined diamonds by looking at them with the naked eye. Jewelers and gemologists can tell the difference between lab-grown and mined diamonds, but only with the use of specialized equipment.
3. Are lab-grown diamonds more affordable than mined diamonds?
Choosing a lab-grown diamond for your engagement ring can help you save big when you’re engagement ring shopping– or, it can help you fit a much larger diamond into your budget.
Yes! Lab-grown diamonds can cost up to 40% less than mined diamonds.
4. How are lab-grown diamonds made?
There are two methods used to create lab grown diamonds: High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD).
The HPHT process mimics the way diamonds naturally form in the earth. Diamonds form in the earth when carbon is exposed to immense heat and pressure. With the HPHT method, scientists replicate these conditions by subjecting carbon to intense heat and pressure within a lab, which causes a lab-grown diamond to form.
Then, the Chemical Vapor Deposition process uses natural gases to grow lab grown diamonds. With this method, scientists start with a diamond seed, which is a tiny piece of a diamond. This diamond seed is placed in a sealed chamber that is filled with hydrogen and methane. The chamber is then heated to a high temperature (generally through the use of microwave technology), which excites the gas and causes a lab-grown diamond to form around the diamond seed crystal.
5. Why choose a lab grown diamond over a mined diamond?
At Diamond Wish, you can design your own diamond stud earrings with lab-grown diamonds or with natural diamonds.
Some people prefer lab-grown diamonds over mined diamonds because of their price advantage, while other people prefer them because they do not have to be mined. Whether you prefer lab-grown diamonds or natural diamonds comes down to personal preference.
6. Are lab-grown diamonds diamond simulants?
Unlike diamond simulants, lab-grown diamonds have the same breathtaking scintillation as natural diamonds, since they share all the same properties.
No. The term “diamond simulant” refers to something that looks like a diamond, but doesn’t have the properties of a diamond. Some excellent examples of diamond simulants include cubic zirconia, moissanite, and white topaz.
7. Is a synthetic diamond the same thing as a lab-grown diamond?
Yes. You may see lab-grown diamonds described as “synthetic,” but that doesn’t mean that they’re fake diamonds or diamond simulants– the word synthetic simply means “made by a chemical process.” So, lab-grown diamonds are sometimes called synthetic diamonds. Some other terms used to describe lab-grown diamonds include man-made diamonds, cultivated diamonds, and cultured diamonds.
8. Are lab-grown diamonds graded by grading laboratories like the GIA?
Yes, lab-grown diamonds can be graded by diamond grading labs, including the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Some examples of other grading labs that grade lab grown diamonds include IGI, ECL, and GCAL. Since lab-grown diamonds can be graded, you can look at a lab-grown diamond’s grading report to assess its qualities just like you could with a mined diamond.
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