Diamonds: Natural vs Lab
Mined Diamonds
Mined diamonds, also known as natural diamonds, are diamonds that are extracted from the Earth through mining processes. These diamonds are formed deep within the Earth's mantle under intense heat and pressure over millions of years. Volcanic activity eventually brings them closer to the surface, where they can be accessed and mined.
Mining for diamonds is neither a quick nor an easy process, and it comes with significant costs. Modern diamond mining relies on high-tech and industrial equipment, all of which contribute to the overall cost of a polished diamond in the market.
Appreciating a natural diamond means acknowledging its inherent beauty and recognizing the expenses involved in extracting such a marvel from the earth.
Lab Created Diamond Jewelry
Creating a diamond is no easy task. It took millions of years for natural diamonds to form in the Earth, and the process of creating a lab-grown diamond is not as simple as mixing ingredients and baking for a few hours. The creation of a lab-grown diamond typically takes several weeks using two processes known as HTHP and CVD, which stand for high temperature, high pressure, and carbon vapor deposition. Among these processes, CVD is more commonly used due to its lower cost of production.
Lab-grown diamonds are also referred to as synthetic diamonds or cultured diamonds because they are created in a laboratory rather than being formed naturally deep within the Earth. Despite their different origins, lab-grown diamonds possess the same physical, chemical, and optical properties as mined diamonds. The main distinction lies in their creation process and the timeframe required for their production.
Diamond Education
Are lab diamonds real?
Both natural diamonds and lab-created diamonds are indeed diamonds; the distinction lies in their method of creation. Lab-created diamonds, crafted under controlled circumstances, offer higher clarity and color while maintaining a significantly lower price compared to natural diamonds. Moreover, lab-created diamonds are considered ethically sourced, in contrast to natural diamonds, which have a history of past unethical practices that are no longer in use. Since a lab diamond is still a genuine diamond, there is no need to question whether a difference can be observed.
The most prominent advantage of lab-created diamonds is that you can obtain a brilliant, beautiful diamond at an affordable price
Diamonds Grading
Natural and Lab created diamonds are evaluated and graded based on the famous "Four Cs" criteria: carat weight, color, clarity, and cut. Carat weight refers to the size of the diamond, with larger diamonds being rarer and more valuable.
Color & Clarity
Color ranges from colorless to various shades of yellow or brown, with truly colorless diamonds being the most valuable.
Clarity refers to the presence of internal or external flaws, known as inclusions and blemishes, respectively. The fewer and less visible the flaws, the higher the clarity grade. Finally, the cut of a diamond refers to its proportions, symmetry, and overall craftsmanship. A well-cut diamond maximizes its brilliance and beauty.