Diamonds are a type of mineral that is found in the Earth's crust. Diamonds are composed of carbon and nitrogen, with small amounts of other elements formed when extreme pressure and temperatures cause the carbon atoms in the rock to join together into a hard, gem-quality gemstone. Diamonds occur in various colours, including yellow, blue, green, pink, and black. They are commonly used as diamond jewellery, such as diamond earrings and many more.
The quality of a diamond is based on its colour, clarity (how many blemishes or bumps), size (diamond weight vs carat weight), and symmetry (whether the diamond is cut perfectly in one direction).
What is a Natural Diamond?
A natural diamond is an earth-mined diamond from the earth. This means that the real diamond was not cut or polished. Natural diamonds come from crushed rocks or ore that has been mined from the ground. The most common way to cut and polish a mined diamond is to use a CVD (cold vapour deposition) process.
Where Do Natural Diamonds Come From?
Diamonds are found in many places on Earth, but they are most plentiful in Africa. The diamond industry is still dominated by Africa, but this is changing as more companies move to other parts of the world to find diamonds. Diamonds come from a variety of sources, but the vast majority come from natural mines. Some mines that produce diamonds use modern diamond mining methods, while others rely on more traditional methods.
What is a Lab Grown Diamond?
Lab diamonds or synthetic diamonds are grown in a laboratory under controlled conditions and are known as a good diamond alternative. Grown diamonds are composed of carbon and other elements, but they lack the natural defects that give diamonds their unique qualities. They are often less expensive than natural diamonds, but they may not be as durable.
How Are Lab Grown Diamonds Made?
Lab-grown diamonds have been around for a few decades now, but their popularity has recently surged due to the increasing demand for natural diamonds without any environmental impact.
Lab-grown diamonds are made by heating rough diamond seeds to extremely high temperatures and pressures, causing them to form a crystal lattice that is identical to that of a natural diamond. There are two methods of how a synthetic diamond is created, and they have their own advantages and disadvantages.
Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD)
First, CVD is used to help spur the growth of diamonds. A small diamond seed, also known as a "seed crystal," which is a very small diamond, is placed in a tiny chamber. That chamber is then filled with gases that are heated up until they turn into droplets and make a liquid film. Gases enter the chamber and interact with the seed crystal, which causes it to grow in size and form a square-shaped diamond crystal.
High-Pressure High Temperature (HPHT)
HPHT is a process that takes place in a steel chamber at high pressure and high temperature to replicate the earth's way of forming Natural Diamonds. Typically, diamonds are made using a large machine that crushes graphite with extreme pressure and temperatures. Under these conditions, the graphite turns into a diamond, and you can buy them in various sizes.
Comparing Lab Created Diamonds and Natural Diamonds
Colour
When it comes to diamonds, colour is one of the most important factors that consumers look for. Lab-grown diamonds are becoming more popular as they offer a wider range of colours than natural diamonds. However, there is still a lot of debate over which diamond colour is the best. In this article, we will explore the two main types of diamond colour and their respective benefits.
Natural diamonds are typically yellow or brown in colour. These colours are created when certain elements in the diamond's environment cause irradiation and diffusion of light through the diamond crystal lattice. This process can create different colours depending on how much radiation and diffusion takes place. For example, a yellow diamond will generally contain less radiation than a blue diamond and will therefore display a lighter hue when exposed to light.
Cut
There are a few things to consider when comparing the cut of lab diamonds vs natural diamonds. The height and depth of the cuts can significantly affect how a diamond looks, feels, and wears. A lab-created diamond may have a shallower depth than a natural diamond of the same weight, which can make it look more sparkly and less substantial. Conversely, a natural diamond may have a deeper cut that results in a more powerful look and feels. It's also important to consider what type of engagement ring you plan on wearing your diamond in - round or princess - as the height and depth of the cut will vary depending on the style.
Clarity
Natural diamonds are known for their high clarity, but lab-grown diamonds can also boast impressive clarity levels. So what is the difference between these two types of diamonds?
The main difference between natural and lab-grown diamonds is that the former comes from natural sources, whereas the diamond in a lab-grown diamond is created in a laboratory. Lab-grown diamonds are usually more affordable than natural diamonds, as well, because they require less labour and resources to produce. They also have a slightly lower fire rating than natural diamonds, which is why many consumers choose them over their naturally occurring counterparts.
Carat Weight
One of the biggest and most important factors is the carat weight. But what does that really mean? Diamonds are graded on a scale from 0.01 carats (about the size of coal) all the way up to 100 carats (the size of a diamond). The higher the number, the bigger and pricier the diamond.
One thing to keep in mind is that a "natural" diamond is not always 100% pure. In fact, about 2% of all diamonds are "lab-grown," meaning they are made in a laboratory rather than found in nature.
So which is better? A lab-grown diamond or a natural one? There can be no simple answer - it depends on what you're looking for in your diamond.
Price
The price of diamonds has been on the rise for the past few years, with many people turning to lab-grown diamonds as a cheaper alternative. However, despite their lower cost, natural diamonds still reign as the most expensive gemstone out there. So is lab-grown diamond really worth your money?
Lab-grown diamonds are made in a laboratory by heating diamond powder and then cooling it down. This process creates small, rough diamonds that can be cut and polished into any diamond shape or size. While they do have a lower price tag than natural diamonds, they don't always have the same quality.
Natural diamond is mined from the Earth and typically has a higher quality rating than lab-grown diamonds. Hence, natural diamonds are more expensive than lab-grown diamonds.
Durability
Diamond durability is typically measured in terms of how long a diamond can last before it starts to lose its shine and sparkle. Diamonds that are grown in a lab typically have a shorter lifespan than diamonds that are sourced from nature. In tests, lab-grown diamonds often only last for around two years before they start to show signs of wear. Natural diamonds, on the other hand, can last up to 50 times longer before they start to lose their shine. This means that a natural diamond would be able to last for 10 000 years!
How To Distinguish If a Diamond is Lab Grown or Natural
It can be difficult to tell the difference between these two types of diamonds, especially if you don't have a lot of experience looking at diamonds. Here are some tips to help you distinguish between a lab-grown diamond and a natural diamond:
1. Look at the colour of the diamond. Lab-grown diamonds typically have a yellow or brown colour, while natural diamond shades range from white to grey.
2. Check out the cut of the diamond. Natural diamonds tend to have more intricate cuts than lab-grown diamonds, which gives them a nicer appearance. Lab-grown diamonds usually have simpler cuts that are less noticeable.
3. Inspect the quality of light that reflects off the diamond.
Conclusion
When it comes to diamond buying, the options are endless. You can buy a lab-grown diamond or a natural diamond. Which is the best option for you?
The decision of whether to buy a lab-grown or natural diamond is really up to your personal preference and budget. Both diamonds offer their own unique set of benefits and drawbacks.
For example, lab-grown diamonds are often cheaper than natural diamonds. However, they may not be as durable or as sparkly as natural diamonds. Natural diamonds are often more expensive than lab-grown diamonds, but they tend to be more durable and have a higher sparkle factor. Ultimately, it's important to choose the diamond that is right for you based on your individual needs and preferences.
FAQS
What are the negatives of lab-grown diamonds?
Lab-grown diamonds are becoming more popular as they have a few advantages over natural diamonds. First, lab-grown diamonds are cheaper than natural diamonds. Second, they are less prone to environmental damage. Third, they do not require mining and may even be more sustainable. However, there are several disadvantages to lab-grown diamonds that should be taken into account before making a purchase. For example, they may not be as sparkly or attractive as natural diamonds. Additionally, they may have lower quality than natural diamonds. So while lab-grown diamonds have some advantages over traditional diamond production methods, it is important to consider all of the factors involved in making a decision about whether or not to buy them.
Do lab-grown diamonds lose their sparkle?
Lab-grown diamonds are becoming more popular, as they are said to be more sparkly and colourful than natural diamonds. But do lab-grown diamonds lose their sparkle over time?
According to some experts, lab-grown diamonds do, in fact, lose some of their lustres over time. This is because a diamond is a gem made up of carbon atoms arranged in a specific way. The arrangement of these carbon atoms gives diamonds their unique properties, including their sparkling shine. Over time, however, the arrangement can change, which can lead to decreased brilliance and colour in the diamond.
Despite this potential loss in shine, many people still choose to purchase lab-grown diamonds over natural ones.
Why are lab-grown diamonds so cheap?
Lab-grown diamonds are much cheaper than traditional diamonds because they are not mined. They are made in a lab by subjecting carbon to high temperatures and pressures, which forms diamond crystals. This process is more expensive than mining, but the cost of labour has dropped significantly over the past few years. Additionally, many diamond mines have been closed down, so the supply of traditional diamonds is low.
What is the meaning of GIA?
GIA stands for Gemological Institute of America. The GIA was founded in 1931 and is the oldest college of gemology in the United States. The institute offers programs, certifications, and services related to gemstone identification, appraisal, and valuation.
