Lab-Grown Diamonds Explained: Are They As Strong As Organic Ones?

These days if you’re shopping for sustainable fine jewelry, you might hear that lab-grown diamonds are inferior to naturally formed ones. However, this simply isn’t the case. At näas Jewelry, all of our sustainable jewelry pieces feature diamonds that are just as strong and beautiful as any natural stone.

Here we want to put the argument to rest, so here are some reasons why lab-grown diamonds make such a great investment!

Lab-Grown Diamonds Are Exactly the Same as Natural Ones

As mentioned above, you might have heard that lab-grown diamonds and gemstones are inferior in quality to traditionally mined diamonds, but this isn’t the case at all: the two are identical. Not only are lab-grown diamonds impossible to identify by the naked eye, but both organic and lab-grown diamonds also bear the very same chemical and optical properties; even trained geologists won’t be able to tell the difference. The only key differences are that lab-grown diamonds are cheaper and cause much less damage to the environment and native communities.

What Exactly is a Lab-Grown Diamond?

Although lab-grown diamonds and gemstones have existed for quite a time, they’re now becoming much more popular due to their sustainable properties and the fact that they cause much less environmental damage and help protect the native communities in which traditional gemstones are mined.

Unlike traditionally mined diamonds, which are pulled from deep inside the Earth, lab-grown diamonds are created in a lab using a seed, replicating the natural process by subjecting them to highly-pressurized carbon gasses and temperatures.

But in case you’re still not convinced, let’s compared the two methods: creating diamonds in a lab vs. extracting them from the Earth.

What’s the Major Difference Between Lab-Grown & Organic Diamonds?

Traditionally mined diamonds bear a crystalline structure and so do lab-grown diamonds. This structure is undetectable to the eye and requires a trained expert to identify whether a diamond has been grown in a lab or taken from the Earth. There are two primary methods of creating lab-grown diamonds, both using a diamond/carbon seed. The first is the High-Pressure, High-Temperature (HPHT) method. There is also the Chemical Vapor Deposition Method (CVD), which relies on highly-pressurized gasses that collect around the seed to form a larger diamond.

Are Lab-Grown Diamonds the Same as Moissanite or Cubic Zirconia?

Moissanite, which has grown popular in years as a diamond substitute, is actually from meteorites, making it entirely different from lab-grown diamonds. Moissanite isn’t even labeled as a substitute for a diamond, although it does bear some resemblance, this compound is doubly-refractive whereas traditionally mined or lab-grown diamonds are singly-refractive. The result of a doubly-refractive compound results in a sort of disco-ball effect when light hits it.

Like moissanite, cubic zirconia is also not the same as an original or lab-grown diamond for several reasons, the first being that the former is made from zirconium dioxide, a completely different mineral. Unlike lab-grown or organic diamonds, cubic zirconium will slowly turn yellow over time, something which high-quality lab-grown or organic diamonds don’t do. Both lab-grown and organic diamonds bear a much higher resale value than either moissanite or cubic zirconia.

Lab-Grown Diamonds vs. Organic Diamonds for Engagement Rings

When purchasing an engagement ring many wonder whether to choose an organic diamond or a lab-grown one for their ring. Well, we’re here to tell you that at the end of the day, lab-grown diamonds are equal in hardness, quality, durability, and appearance. Although many might choose to invest in an engagement ring with organic diamonds, for those looking for a more environmentally-friendly option and socially conscious engagement piece, one with lab-grown diamonds is the way to go.

Let’s take a look at how lab-grown diamonds and organic diamonds compare when it comes to engagement rings:

Cost Differences: As mentioned previously, lab-grown diamonds are much cheaper than organic diamonds, but identical. You can save up to hundreds or thousands of dollars on an engagement ring with a lab-grown diamond.

Appearance: It will be impossible to tell whether your engagement ring diamond has been grown in a lab or mined organically. However, every lab-grown diamond will come with a detailed report outlining the diamond’s grade on all counts, including carat weight, cut, color, and clarity to ensure you get what you pay for.

A Few More Things Before You Go...

• Do Lab-Grown Diamonds Get Cloudy? Lab-grown diamonds do not grow cloudy over time due to their durability and crystalline structure. They can also be easily cleaned in soap and water should a film buildup upon them.

• Do Lab-Grown Diamonds Test as Real Diamonds? As mentioned above, since they’re chemically and structurally identical to organic diamonds, they will test positive on a diamond tester since they’re grown with real carbon.

• Are Lab-Grown Diamonds as Hard as Real Diamonds? Yes! According to the Mohs Hardness Scale used to measure the hardness of a substance, lab-grown diamonds are as hard as real diamonds and as strong and durable.

• Why Choose Lab-Grown Diamonds? There are many different reasons, as illustrated above to invest in a lab-grown diamond engagement ring. Primarily, they’re conflict-free, durable, and side-by-side when compared with organic diamonds they’re exactly alike.

Contact us today to learn more about lab-grown diamonds and recycled gold!

To learn more about our sustainable fine jewelry collections made with recycled gold and lab-grown diamonds, we’d be happy to answer any questions you may have. In addition to our rings, näas Jewelry also has fine collections of necklaces, bracelets, and more.

To buy or order your lab-grown diamond jewelry online, contact us online today or call 6199883993.