Lab-grown diamonds are more readily available today than ever before, but anyone considering buying these diamonds should make sure they know the difference between lab-grown and
natural diamonds.
At the most basic level, lab-grown diamonds are manufactured in a special facility using diamond seed crystals, while natural diamonds are mined directly from beneath the surface of our planet.
However, it’s important to keep a few more differences in mind when shopping for diamonds.
What is a Natural Diamond?
A natural diamond is one that is mined from the earth and may be cut to reveal its natural brilliance, but its chemical and structural makeup are natural and not manmade. Natural diamonds are formed with intense pressure and high temperatures beneath the surface of the Earth.
Even though diamonds are described as pure carbon by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), natural diamonds typically contain small amounts of other elements, such as nitrogen or boron, as well as small bits of materials that are trapped inside the diamond formation for millions of years before mining. These imperfections are known as inclusions.
What are the Benefits of Buying a Natural Diamond?
The benefits of any piece of jewelry stems from the personal attitudes and desires of the individual who purchases or wears the item. That said, buying a mined diamond stone does come with some historical and monetary benefits.
First, mined diamonds have a long history that simply doesn’t exist for manmade diamonds. It takes the Earth millions of years to create a diamond, giving it a story and provenance that cannot exist for a diamond made in a lab.
Furthermore, natural diamonds are typically more valuable than lab-grown diamonds because they are — and always will be, scarcer.
Why Are Natural Diamonds Considered More Valuable?
A natural diamond and lab-grown diamond with similar characteristics will differ in value. Natural diamonds are considered more valuable due to the laws of supply-and-demand. Because it takes millions of years to make a natural diamond, the supply is limited, and humans cannot simply make more or even speed up the process.
When fewer diamonds are available, the ones available will hold a higher value. As a result, a natural
diamond engagement ring will be worth more than its lab-grown counterpart, as lab-grown diamonds theoretically have an endless supply.
What is a Lab-Grown Diamond?
A lab-grown diamond is one that has been created in a laboratory environment using one of two main processes: high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) or chemical vapor deposition (CVD).
Both methods start with a diamond seed, then different levels of pressure and high temperatures (higher for HPHT than CVD) are applied to create a synthetic diamond. Lab-grown diamonds are sold for both use in jewelry as well as industrial uses.
Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Real?
The distinction between what is a “real” diamond and what is not can be somewhat subjective. However, there are differences between lab-grown and natural diamonds on a structural level. The
Gemological Institute of America (GIA) indicates that “in some cases, a trained gemologist can recognize these CVD/HPHT grown and treated diamonds by using standard gem-testing equipment. In other cases, identification requires testing the diamond using advanced scientific instruments.”
Although a non-professional may not be able to tell the difference between a lab-grown diamond and one mined from the earth, natural diamonds have a different internal shape and often have different coloring as well.
Misconceptions Behind Lab-Grown Diamonds
For those who are not diamond experts, the information available on lab-grown diamonds may seem confusing and can lead to a few common misconceptions.
Perhaps the most common misunderstanding about lab-grown diamonds is that it is inherently better for the environment than mined diamonds, which is not the case. In truth, lab-grown diamonds that use the HPHT method require a huge amount of energy to generate the same process that the Earth does over millennia in just a few weeks.
What is the Value of a Lab-Grown Diamond?
As with any diamond, the value of a lab-grown diamond depends on its size as well as other factors. A major difference in resale value often comes into play between lab-grown and mined diamonds. Mined diamonds typically hold their value quite well, while it can be more difficult to find buyers for lab-grown diamonds when owners want to sell their jewelry.
Speak with One of Our Diamond Specialists
The experts at Hannoush Jewelers have decades of experience in diamonds and can help to choose the perfect one for you that will bring beauty and value to your jewelry collection for years to come.
Call today and make an appointment with one of our diamond specialists.
