Quality and Beauty of Lab Diamonds: Debunking myths and misconceptions

What are Lab Diamonds?

Lab diamonds, also sometimes called, synthetic or lab-grown diamonds are created using advanced technology in a laboratory. Unlike natural diamonds which take millions of years to form and grow in the earth's mantle, lab-grown diamonds come from a controlled lab environment that stimulates the conditions of a natural diamond's growing environment, and can grow in a matter of weeks. Because of their specific growing conditions, it is possible to control the colour of  lab diamonds by adding trace elements, which can create a unique lab diamond engagement ring. 

Lab diamonds are often compared with natural diamonds and some even question if lab-grown diamonds are “real diamonds”. Unlike other diamond stimulants, lab-grown diamonds have the exact same chemical composition as natural diamonds and hence all the same properties. The only difference that sets the two apart is their origin.

Dispelling the Myth of Inferior Quality: Lab diamonds' identical properties to natural diamonds

Oftentimes lab-grown diamonds are misrepresented as being of lesser quality when compared to natural diamonds. However lab diamonds actually possess the same physical and chemical properties to natural diamonds making them almost indistinguishable, and creating a perfect opportunity to use lab diamonds in your next engagement ring, or any piece of jewelry you may desire.

In terms of chemical composition, both lab grown and natural diamonds are made of a crystal lattice structure of carbon atoms. Because of this they share the exact same chemical composition which gives them an identical elemental makeup. Lab diamonds also exhibit the same optical properties as natural diamonds. They both  reflect light in the same way and thus have the same brilliance and sparkle. With the proper cut, lab diamonds can be a beautiful center stone for your custom diamond engagement ring.

Another thing that makes diamonds perfect for platinum engagement rings, or any engagement ring or wedding bands for that matter is their incredible durability and hardness, with lab diamonds being no exception to this property. With the highest possible rating of 10 on the Mohs scale, lab diamonds are highly resistant to scratches and perfect for everyday wear, so you can show off your sparkle all the time.

With respect to their clarity and color, just like natural diamonds, lab diamonds can come in a variety of different shades and levels of clarity. What makes lab diamonds even more special is that oftentimes their colour and clarity can be controlled during their growing process, leading to a variety of beautiful  fancy colours including yellow, blue, pink and more. Even though lab-made diamonds do come in a variety of fancy colours, many people often choose to use colourless stones in their custom lab-made rings allowing the sparkle and icey look of the stone to be the star of the show.

Lab diamonds are also not exempt from certification and are held to the same standard that natural diamonds are. The Gemological Institute of America and other reputable gemological labs provide grading reports for lab diamonds, verifying their authenticity and detailing their quality characteristics, so that you can rest easy knowing that your lab-diamond engagement ring is the real deal. When grading, the same standards are used for both lab diamonds and natural diamonds. Often referred to as ‘the four Cs’, carat, cut, color and clarity all affect the quality and look of a diamond and allows for a continent evaluation of the stones regardless of where they originated. 

The Four Cs of Lab Diamonds: Carat, cut, colour, and clarity

Although lab diamonds use the same basic principles for the Four Cs as natural diamonds it is still important to understand what they mean as they can influence both the look and cost of your lab-grown diamond jewelry.

Cut influences the reflective qualities of the diamond. It is the facts and symmetry that affect the overall sparkle and each unique cut can make your custom lab-diamond engagement ring shine in its own way.

Carat simply is a unit used to measure the weight of the diamond. This is often one of the more visually noticeable qualities as larger carats usually means a bigger stone.

Colour refers to the colour, or usually lack of colour in a diamond. Clearer diamonds are usually more valuable and a preferred choice when deciding on a stone for any piece of lab diamond jewelry.

The clarity of a stone is determined by the inclusions and imperfections within the diamond itself. Usually microscopic, these imperfections rarely have an effect on the durability of the stone or impact the sparkle but with larger inclusions the risk of loss of structural integrity and poorer visual quality does increase. 

All of these factors play into both how your lab diamond will look and how much it will cost. It is important to take into consideration all of these factors so that you can make the right decision when choosing your perfect lab-grown diamond engagement ring.

A Brilliant Sparkle

It's essential to recognize that the physical properties and quality of a diamond are not inherently linked to its origin. Both lab-grown and natural diamonds can be of exceptional quality, and the choice between them ultimately depends on personal preferences, values, and budget considerations.