Lab Grown or Mined Natural Diamonds? 5 Factors to Help You Decide
Are you debating between lab-grown or mined diamonds? With the rise of lab-grown diamonds, they have become a popular option. What makes them more desirable is that they are composed of carbon atom structures that share the same chemical and visual characteristics as natural diamond crystals. With competitive prices, gorgeous aesthetics, and less trickling impacts on the environment, it's no wonder one might consider lab-grown diamonds instead of mined diamonds.
The 4 Cs: Color, Clarity, Carat, and Carat Weight
Color
Ranging from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow or brown), mined diamonds exhibit a wide range of colors. Trace elements that interact during their creation deliver results that produce color variations. While lab-grown diamonds are not a by-product of nature, they are graded on the same color scale as mined diamonds and typically showcase a more consistent color that is nearly colorless. Colorless diamonds are highly sought after and are held in high value. You must weigh whether or not color is a factor in your decision.
Clarity
Depending on what you are looking for in your diamond, you may prefer imperfections that show off its natural qualities. In lab-grown diamonds, you'll tend to find a lesser amount of inclusions when compared to natural diamonds, and that's because natural diamonds form in the earth under immense heat and pressure, making it susceptible to environmental conditions. When comparing the two, you might consider whether you're attracted to those unique imperfections or prefer little to none. In most instances, the naked eye will find it difficult to make out differences in clarity.
Cut
Diamonds are the hardest materials on earth. Only a diamond may cut another. Diamond shapes you find in jewelry are typically cut for jewelry settings. A cut determines a diamond's brilliance and fire. Diamonds with a poor cut will not refract light and deliver that iconic sparkle that only a diamond can deliver. Of all factors, the cut of a diamond should be taken seriously. A good cut is a starting point and if you want something very dramatic, move up to very good or excellent cuts.
Carat
The weight of a diamond is based on carats. Large diamonds start around 0.5 and go to 2.0 and above while the smallest go to about 0.05 carats and lower. Carat weight is 100% preference. Do you prefer a páve style (diamonds set very closely together) or a single diamond that stands all on its own? Maybe you prefer a combination? If you're unsure, chances are you'll know it when you see it. If you're a fan of larger diamonds, lab-grown diamonds will be a more cost-effective.
Environmental Impact
Besides the 4Cs, one factor you might weigh when choosing lab or mined diamonds is environmental impact. To this day, mined diamonds still require a lot of energy to find. Digging hundreds of meters into the earth, diamond mines create large pits in the earth and can devastate natural environments and ecosystems. On average, it takes about 250 tons of mining the earth for each carat.
Comparably, lab-grown diamonds require an immense amount of energy to create. The average one-carat diamond releases about 511kg of greenhouse gases, three times more than a mined diamond. While they do create more greenhouse emissions, it is important to note that they do not impact local environments as heavily as mined diamonds.
At Maui Divers Jewelry, we offer stunning lab-grown diamonds and mined natural diamonds. A high level of transparency ensures that our natural diamonds provide a sustainable future for the environment. Our diamonds come from sources that ensure the best possible conditions for workers and communities. Through sustainable management of precious natural resources, our diamond miners also practice sustainability in many ways, which include:
- Implementing water and energy efficiency strategies.
- Sound waste management.
- Preserving local land's biodiversity.
- Ensuring that communities have sustained access to local resources.
They also put people at the heart of their operations by investing in residents' livelihoods through economic and structural development, creating value for future generations, and a path to social and financial inclusion for women.
In the end, the choice between lab or mined diamonds is personal. Weigh the factors that are most important to you and let them be part of your final decision.
Looking for a particular diamond? Special requests are able to be made through our customer service team. We're happy to help you find the lab-created or mined diamond you're searching for with proper certification.
Call or text us at (808) 946-2929 or email us at [email protected]
Sources:
- https://agicerts.com/diamond-grading-chart/
- https://www.diamonds.pro/education/lab-created-diamonds-prices-value
- https://www.diamonds.pro/education/cuts/
- https://www.gemsociety.org/article/sustainable-alternative-to-diamond-mining/
- https://www.gia.edu/gia-news-research/difference-between-natural-laboratory-grown-diamonds
- https://museumsvictoria.com.au/article/how-do-diamonds-get-their-colours