The Real Truth About Lab Grown Diamonds
A young couple, carrying a gleam of hope in their eyes, walks into a jewelry store, excited and exuberant, the thrill of the perfect engagement ring undoubtedly awaiting them. The jeweler, quite sophisticatedly, places two luxuriously dazzling stones on that velvet counter.
Brilliant as ever, simply aesthetic to the naked eye, these marvels of the finest artistry proudly exude unrivaled panache. The biggest differentiator between the two is their pricing; one costs thousands of dollars more than the other.
Upon the jeweler commenting on their costs, the awe-stricken couple asks why there is such a mammoth price difference. The most confusing yet heavily debated topic simmering in the jewelry industry today is the distinction between lab-grown and natural diamonds, which haunts everyone, from an avid enthusiast to a veteran collector.
How These Gemstones are Marketed
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), a government agency that protects consumers, has issued stricter guidelines governing how gemstones must be marketed. According to the FTC, using words like "real," "genuine," or "natural" to describe lab-grown or synthetic products is deceptive. Using these terms without a clear modifier—like "laboratory-grown" or "manufacturer-created"—can easily confuse the buying public.
NOTE:
The only stone that is rightly considered a diamond without the proper usage of any modifying disclaimers is the Earth-Mined diamond.
If you are navigating the vast yet vibrant gemstone and jewelry market in pursuit of shopping for an appropriately suited engagement ring, you would likely be overwhelmed by contradictory information. You are already on the hunt for an adoring token of love; however, you would always want to ensure that the investment in your symbol of love is a wise financial decision, too.
The articulative guide clears the air, delving deeper to highlight the key differences between lab-grown diamonds and their natural counterparts, giving you a clear roadmap to navigate the complex gem and jewelry market with ease.
Manufactured Value- Unprecedented Challenges
Authenticity is considered the most common concern when buying an engagement ring. Exuding finesse, artistic flair, elegance, luxuriousness, and sophistication, it is the ultimate token of love and compassion that your partner cherishes for a lifetime.
However, to their surprise, if they ever found out that what you exchanged as a symbol of love is a manufactured stone and not a natural one, the disturbing revelation could immediately attach to itself a negative emotional connotation with a sentiment that could hurt them every time they look at that treasured belonging of theirs.
With most buyers being unversed with the actual differences between a natural diamond and its lab-grown counterpart, not knowing how these would function differently and how the points of differentiation naturally impact their long-term value and resale, it is necessary to delve further to explore each individual.
Fine Natural Diamonds- Known for Maximum Value Retention
A top-end natural diamond is revered for its exceptional ability to retain maximum value and even appreciate with time. Not every Earth-Mined diamond can remain a flawless investment, particularly given inferior-quality stones with heavy indentations and visible inclusions; fine natural diamonds, by contrast, typically hold their value, particularly in the secondary market.
Lab-Grown- Virtually Zero Resale Value
Lab-grown diamonds, on the other hand, have virtually no resale value. Continued advancements in manufacturing technologies have led to a significant drop in the production costs of synthetic diamonds, saturating the market with abundant choices. The harsh reality is that if you purchase a lab-grown diamond today, you would receive only a fraction of its actual cost if you ever get the opportunity to resell it.
Unfortunately, many retailers apply exorbitant markups to lab-grown stones, inevitably disrupting the pricing balance and charging thousands of dollars for a gemstone that may have cost only a few dollars to produce. Having to pay mammoth premiums for manufactured stone can cause you to lose the prized investment in no time.
How are Diamonds Born
To clearly demarcate the gemstones from one another, you need to focus on how they came into existence. Planet Earth has led to the formation of natural diamonds under rigorous, highly specific external conditions. Between 90 and 140 miles beneath the Earth's surface, factors such as extreme temperatures and pressures force carbon atoms to form unbreakable covalent bonds.
The majestic formation took place in a period of one to three billion years before being pushed to the surface by volcanic eruptions. Demonstrating the outright statistical improbability that a natural diamond has survived the challenging multi-billion-year journey to become a centrepiece in your engagement ring is what makes it coveted, rare, and highly exclusive.
Lab-grown diamonds, on the other hand, are synthesized in factories under controlled laboratory conditions, with production spanning weeks. Manufacturers primarily use two methods: consumer-grade synthetic diamonds and High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD). It is a fact that lab-grown and Earth-Mined diamonds have similar chemical makeup, consisting of carbon atoms; both gemstones share unique crystal structures.
Earth-Mined diamonds, formed by Mother Earth, are often grown in enduring octahedral crystals. Factory-made crystals blossom from a seed or in flat sheets. Formed naturally over billions of years, natural diamonds have internal resonant cavities, uniquely developed to capture and amplify light.
Could Experts Spot the Differences?
The prevalent internet myth claims that lab-grown diamonds are virtually indistinguishable from natural diamonds. The statement, however, is false. With two appearing similar to the untrained eye, a gemologist, using specialized equipment, could easily spot the differences.
Lab-grown diamonds do not possess the same spectral signatures as their natural counterparts. After UV light testing, lab-grown diamonds often exhibit unnatural cross-shaped fluorescent patterns or abnormal phosphorescence. In addition, when viewed under a microscope, HPHT synthetic stones reveal opaque, curdy smudges signaling that metallic flux remains from the manufacturing process.
CVD-grown synthetics highlight darker, non-diamond carbon inclusions. An Earth-Mined diamond, by contrast, bears the fingerprints of our Mother Earth, featuring natural mineral crystals such as garnet or diopside. At the same time, a lab-grown gemstone has visible signs of its factory origins.
The Perfect Find that Completes Your Love Story
Your love story has to begin with a valuable gemstone, determined by three major factors: rarity, durability, and beauty. Lab-grown diamonds are durable and can mimic the innate hardness of natural diamonds.
However, because it was manufactured in abundance at the manufacturer’s discretion, the diamond lookalike is not virtually rare. The fact, though, does not in any way lessen the significance of an alternative gemstone, considering you have an in-depth knowledge about what you are going to pay for.
The choice of your gemstone depends entirely on your preferences, style, lifestyle, and budget restrictions. If you desire the ever-so-dazzling sparkly giant under a controlled budget, rarity and long-term financial value should never worry you. A top-quality alternative ought to be a captivating choice.
Uncompromised transparency with detailed insights when delivered with trust, with you having known your gemstone’s precise origins, creation method, and its aesthetic value, thereby helping you choose a gemstone signaling your commitment, acting as the ultimate gesture of love with your partner forever.
Trust Transparency and Skillful Craftsmanship
At LA Chic Jewelry, an informed client is a happy client. We are a Los Angeles–based jewelry manufacturer led by master artisans spanning three generations. With over 35 years of industry experience, we specialize in natural diamond jewelry, lab-grown diamonds, and high-quality AAA-certified cubic zirconia.
Because we proudly cater to a wide audience with our comprehensive range of offerings, we would never compel you to choose a stone that does not suit your purpose. Our keen emphasis on engagement rings indicates our unequivocal focus on educating you, taking you through the nuances of every stone.
We help you conduct in-depth research and analysis, enabling you to understand the investment value of your natural diamonds and the budget-friendly options in scintillating lab-grown stones.
Contact LA Chic Jewelry today to explore our stunning collections. Let our decades of master craftsmanship help you design a custom engagement ring that you and your partner will cherish for a lifetime.