Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Real Diamonds?
Can a Diamond Tester Detect Lab-Created Diamonds?
Can a Jeweler Tell the Difference Between Lab-Made and Mined Diamonds?
Isn't a Lab-Created Diamond Just a Fake Diamond?
What if I Want to Leave my Jewelry as an Heirloom?
Do Lab-Grown Diamonds Get Cloudy?
Chemically, physically, and optically, lab-grown diamonds are identical to natural ones. They're real diamonds with the same crystal structure and beautiful sparkle as natural diamonds. Lab-grown diamonds also have the same famous Mohs hardness of 10. They're just as durable as natural diamonds, but they're a bit easier on your pocketbook.
Lab-made diamonds have the same thermal and electrical conductivity as mined diamonds. So, they will pass a diamond tester exam.
Since a lab-grown diamond appears identical to a mined diamond, jewelers won't be able to tell the difference. The only way to be certain is to send it to a gemological laboratory.
Lab-grown diamonds are a far cry from fake diamonds. Historically, fake diamonds were typically glass. Glass is much less durable and has a lot less sparkle than a well-cut diamond. Other diamond imitations, like synthetic cubic zirconia and natural zircon or topaz gems, are likely to chip with wear. Lab-created diamonds have none of those issues. They're just as durable and sparkly as any natural diamond.
Even as heirlooms, lab-made diamonds aren't bad options. Odds are, your children and grandchildren will want your jewelry because it was yours. Where the stone came from will just be an afterthought. Whether lab-made or mined, your diamond will certainly last long enough for your heir to enjoy it.
Lab-made diamonds typically have good clarity. Like a high-quality natural diamond, lab-made diamonds won't get cloudy.
Ethical diamond mining has become a hot topic, and the easiest way to avoid unethically mined diamonds is to choose a lab-made one. Diamonds grown in a lab are never "blood diamonds" and have a smaller environmental footprint than mined diamonds. That makes lab-made diamonds a more environmentally sustainable option, too.
The colored diamond option is a major "plus" for lab-grown diamonds. Fancy colored diamonds can be some of the most expensive gemstones — but also some of the most remarkable. Pink diamonds, in particular, are always in demand, but getting one in a nice size for an engagement ring just isn't an option for most budgets. If you're interested in a fancy colored diamond for your engagement ring, a lab-grown stone might be your best option for a nice color, cut, and size at an affordable price.
