Everything You Need to Know About Natural and Lab Grown Diamonds
Trends come and go, but one that continues to dominate is the use of diamonds in engagement rings. They’re popular for many reasons – their sparkle, brilliance, image, and they are strong enough to withstand what life throws at them through daily wear.
In recent years, lab grown diamonds have entered the market. They are visibly indistinguishable from natural diamonds and generally at a more affordable price point. However, cheaper isn’t always better. There are many factors to consider before deciding which is the right choice for you.
Whether you prefer natural or lab grown diamonds, you always want to be sure you choose reputable and quality jewelry stores in Toronto when you’re shopping for a diamond in Toronto. Read on to learn the similarities and differences between lab grown and natural diamonds.
Where They Come From
The most significant difference between the two diamonds is how they’re formed. Natural diamonds are formed in the Earth’s mantle at extremely high temperatures and intense pressures before making their way to the Earth’s surface from deep-source volcanic eruptions.
Similar extreme heat and pressure are used to create lab grown diamonds. In this case, it’s done in a lab, and the diamonds are made in a couple of weeks rather than the billions of years it takes natural diamonds to form.
Despite the difference in how they’re made, they have the same chemical and physical properties, and both are classified as “real” diamonds by the FTC.
Cost
A massive difference between the two diamond types is how much they cost. There is a limited supply of natural diamonds, making them rare and correspondingly expensive. There’s no limit to the number of diamonds that can be created in a lab, and as the supply has increased, prices have dropped. If you want your diamond to retain its resale value, natural is the better choice.
Sustainability
As lab grown diamonds started hitting the market, they were considered a more ethical choice because they don’t have to be mined by workers. People assumed they weren’t as harmful to the environment. It didn’t help that some companies actually marketed their lab grown diamonds this way without being able to back up their claims.
It takes a tremendous amount of energy to create diamonds in a lab, and there is little comparable data on each kind of diamond’s carbon footprint. As for humanitarian concerns, there are ethical choices for natural diamonds. Many are mined under international regulations that track them from the mine to the marketplace.
Knowing the differences and similarities between lab grown and natural diamonds is important as you shop for an engagement ring. Ultimately, the choice is a personal one, dependent on what factors are most important to you. An engagement ring is about your relationship and your commitment to one another, and the only opinions that matter are yours.
Image by Stefan Kuhn from Pixabay