Why Buy Lab-Grown Diamonds?
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Diamonds symbolize strength, beauty, and eternal love, making them the perfect gemstone for engagement rings. Their effortless brilliance makes every piece of jewelry more eye-catching. With updates in technology and the rising popularity of lab-grown diamonds, you no longer have to spend an arm and a leg on a diamond. Buying a lab-grown diamond instead is a worthwhile alternative for the following reasons.
4 reasons to consider buying a lab-grown diamond
- You’ll Save Money
The only difference between lab-created and natural diamonds is where they are formed; lab-grown diamonds are created and grown in a lab over the course of a few weeks whereas natural diamonds are formed in the Earth’s mantle over billions of years.
Natural diamonds were formed billions of years ago in carbon atoms found hundreds of miles beneath the Earth’s surface. Exposed to extreme heat and pressure, these tiny carbon atoms began to crystalize and eventually formed rough diamonds. They eventually make their way closer to Earth’s surface through volcanic eruptions where they can be mined and fashioned into polished diamonds.
Synthetic diamonds start as seed crystals that are exposed to heat and pressure in a controlled lab environment. As a result, it only takes a few weeks to create a full-grown diamond. Because the turnaround time is so fast and eliminates the expenses associated with mining, you could pay far less for a lab-grown diamond than its natural counterpart.
- Lab-Grown Diamonds are Diverse
Lab-grown diamonds are physically and chemically identical to mined diamonds, thus both are graded using the Four Cs: color, clarity, cut, and carat. A jeweler can help you find a lab-grown diamond within your budget that meets your specific criteria.
It’s also important to note that a diamond with a D, E, or F color grade is colorless, while those in the G to J range are near colorless. Conversely, trace elements can be added while a diamond grows. This will give the one-of-a-kind stone a specific tint, such as pink or yellow.
- Fewer Ethical Concerns
Although trading and selling conflict diamonds are already illegal in the United States under the Clean Diamond Trade Act, lab-grown diamonds offer consumers additional peace of mind. There is no fear of purchasing stolen diamonds or funding worker exploitation, both of which are still common practices in the mining and shipping industries in some parts of the world.
Mining for diamonds also depletes the earth of natural resources, while the heavy machinery pumps ozone-destroying fossil fuel into the air. If protecting the environment is a personal concern, buying a lab-grown stone will help reduce your carbon footprint and help decrease demand for resource-intensive mining.
- The Investment that Lasts Forever
Much like its natural, mined cousin, a lab-grown diamond is a jewel that will last forever. Because the stones feature the same chemical properties as natural diamonds, lab-grown diamonds also measure a 10 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness, the highest possible score. What does this mean? As long as you take the proper care of your diamond, your diamond won’t chip or break easily.
Whether you’re buying a diamond for yourself or a loved one, you have several available options. Lab-grown diamonds offer the same beauty and brilliance as their natural counterparts but at price points that are often more affordable for many consumers and sourced with ethical, sustainable practices.
