Fun Facts about Lab Grown Diamonds - Flawless Fine Jewellery

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Fun Facts about Lab Grown Diamonds

Since their breakthrough into the international jewellery market, lab grown diamonds – also known as cultured diamonds, have stirred up the conversation and given consumers the opportunity to choose whether they opt for a conflict-free diamond that has been created in a lab, or stick with a conventional earth mined diamond.

But with so much to consider, here are some surprising and fun facts about lab grown diamonds that you may not know:

1. LAB GROWN DIAMONDS ARE MORE COST EFFECTIVE

What you see is what you get from your LAB GROWN DIAMOND ENGAGEMENT RING – a real quality and pure diamond simply produced in a laboratory. It does not require a substantial industry to prop and mine it from the ground up. Therefore, it is simply sold for what it is – a real diamond that works out to be up to 40% cheaper than natural diamonds. For a new generation of millennials struggling with debt and the looming horrors of the climate crisis, this is likely to be a very welcome cost saving.

2. LAB GROWN DIAMONDS ARE AN ERUPTION OF A DIFFERENT KIND

Earth diamonds are mined from eroded extinct volcanoes after being coughed up with other chunks of rock from the mantle in giant explosive eruptions called ‘kimberlites’. And since the last confirmed kimberlite was recorded some 30 million years ago, the number of natural mined diamonds on the market is limited and expensive. However, as lab diamonds can be created by humans without harming the earth’s natural resources, they have literally erupted on to the market, offering consumers a sustainable alternative that can be created in abundance without harming our environment.

3. LAB GROWN DIAMONDS ARE ECO-FRIENDLY

It is well known that the process of mining diamonds from the earth is resource intensive and creates environmental concerns with air pollution. Large scale mining operations, especially those using open-pit mining techniques, can result in significant deforestation. Forest clearing and the construction of roads and settlements created during the mining process is the biggest factor. Furthermore, when a diamond mine has been completely cultivated, the extracted material and minerals are not always replaced, so you’re left with an ecosystem that is unable to regenerate itself. This can lead to water pollution and land that is unsuitable for farming or other uses, and one that is susceptible to severe erosion and flooding. A diamond mine also leaves behind an enormous hole in the earth’s surface that is so big, it can be clearly seen from space. In contrast, lab diamonds are created in regulated laboratories and hence, they’re an eco-friendly alternative to earth-mined diamonds.

4. LAB GROWN DIAMONDS ARE EQUALLY GRADED USING THE 4C’S

To prove their authenticity and purity, lab created diamonds like their earth-mined diamond counterparts, are also graded based on the 4C’s – cut, clarity, color and carat. So, when you buy your LAB GROWN DIAMOND ENGAGEMENT RING, you can find out the diamond grade used for that particular stone. A diamond grader will judge how well the diamond has been cut down from its raw form into the jewel and assess the size and how flawless and clear it is. As such, every lab diamond comes with a certificate from an accredited laboratory.

5. LAB GROWN DIAMONDS ARE ALSO FOREVER

The chemical composition between a lab grown diamond and an earth mined diamond is identical so it will last forever. In recent years, more and more consumers have turned to lab grown diamonds as the sustainable alternative for their eternal HIDDEN HALO ENGAGEMENT RING because aside from its origin, it is no different in its form from the earth mined diamond. A diamond is a diamond regardless of how or where it is made – whether it comes from the earth, or whether it is created scientifically in a lab. And, since lab grown diamonds are made of the same material as natural diamonds, they exhibit the same optical and chemical properties.

6. LAB GROWN DIAMONDS ARE CREATED IN WEEKS NOT CENTURIES

Lab diamonds are created in a matter of weeks, not formed deep underground over centuries. The carbon structures between lab grown and earth mined diamonds are the same. It’s just that the process is sped up in a controlled lab environment. This process starts with a carbon seed that is placed into a chamber where the heat, pressure, and gases make the diamond grow. Altogether this process takes between 6 and 10 weeks. Once full crystallization takes place, the diamonds are cut and polished. That means the process for choosing your perfect forever diamond is easy – simply choose the type of diamond you want and you’ll see it before your very eyes before you know it.

7. LAB GROWN DIAMONDS ARE A TECHNOLOGICAL REVOLUTION

The American physical chemist, Tracy Hall created the first diamond manufactured in a laboratory in 1954. Today, there are two ways to grow a diamond in a lab. The first method uses high pressure and high temperature (HPHT) growth to recreate the conditions in which carbon crystallizes into diamond. The second method is chemical vapour deposition (CVD) which uses hydrocarbon gases injected into a growth chamber. Microwave plasma energy is used to break apart the bond of the hydrocarbon, allowing free carbon atoms to shower down on a plate of diamonds. Atom by atom, this gradually grows a diamond vertically so you end up with the same high purity and high quality diamonds as earth-mined diamonds. The ability to grow diamonds in a laboratory has revolutionized the diamond industry, making diamonds more accessible and affordable to a wider group of consumers but most importantly, it has sustained access to diamonds for future generations.

8. LAB GROWN DIAMONDS ARE ALSO SUSCEPTIBLE TO NATURAL TINTS OF COLOUR AND FLAWS

Lab grown diamonds are made from the same chemical compounds as earth mined diamonds and are therefore susceptible to the same natural tints of colour and flaws. This makes lab grown diamonds equally authentic to the diamonds found in the ground that are shaped and coloured according to the formation of the rock, and equally superior to look at. This makes them no less desirable to the modern day environmentally conscious consumer.

9. LAB GROWN DIAMONDS ARE ETHICALLY PRODUCED

Lab grown diamonds have become the more ethical way to say ‘I do’. The mining of diamonds in Africa led to a human rights disaster and there are also broader claims that diamond mining has been used to fund military action in war zones. With the added pressure over the climate crisis growing, a new generation of diamond consumers is looking to lab grown diamonds as the ethical way to cement their relationships through wedding rings.

10. LAB GROWN DIAMONDS ARE IDENTICAL TO EARTH MINED DIAMONDS

You cannot tell the difference between a lab created diamond and an earth mined diamond. In fact, many jewelers can’t see it with their loupe either! Chemically, physically, and optically, lab grown diamonds are identical to earth mined diamonds ones. That’s why they’re classed as ‘real diamonds’ – they have the same crystal structure and beautiful sparkle, however they are just a bit easier on your wallet.

LAB GROWN DIAMONDS UK

Whether you’re shopping for a lab grown HIDDEN HALO ENGAGEMENT RING or an earth mined stone, Flawless Fine Jewellery has a selection of stunning and bespoke designs that are certified and graded by leading organisations including the International Gemological Institute (IGI) and the GIA. Speak to our team of JEWELLERS IN HATTON GARDEN .