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- Buying a Lab-Grown Diamond Engagement Ring
- Answers to Your Engagement Ring Questions
- Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Fake Diamonds?
- Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Cheaper than Natural Diamonds?
- Will Lab Diamonds Lose Their Value?
- What is the Difference Between Lab-Grown Diamonds and Mined Diamonds?
- Are Lab Diamonds Better Than Mined Diamonds?
- Is a Natural Diamond Engagement Ring More Romantic?
- Should I Buy a Lab-Grown Diamond Engagement Ring?
- Why You Should Choose a Lab-Grown Diamond Engagement Ring
Buying a Lab-Grown Diamond Engagement Ring
Are you starting to look for an engagement ring? And are you considering getting a lab-grown diamond engagement ring? Engagement ring shopping is an exciting time, and a diamond engagement ring is one of (if not the) most important jewelry purchases that you’ll ever make.
Engagement rings have a lot of significance for both the giver and the receiver. It represents your commitment to each other, as well as the symbol of your love. So naturally, you want to get the perfect ring for the love of your life.
The Shift From Mined Diamonds to Lab-Grown Diamonds
Diamonds are the most popular gemstone for an engagement by far. However, many people are increasingly becoming aware of the ethical issues with mined diamonds. That’s why more and more people are now buying lab-grown diamond engagement rings. The popularity of lab-grown diamonds is growing because of the eco-conscious and ethical mindsets of the millennials.
Lab-grown diamonds are now both cheaper to produce and cheaper to buy for consumers than mined diamonds. But that is not the only benefit of lab-created diamonds. In fact, lab-grown diamonds have numerous advantages over mined diamonds.
If you are considering buying a lab-grown diamond engagement ring, keep reading. In the following, we’ll walk through the main benefits while also listing some of the potential drawbacks that you should be aware of before buying a lab-grown diamond engagement ring.
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Answers to Your Engagement Ring Questions
Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Fake Diamonds?
Lab-grown diamonds are not fake in any way, and they are absolutely real. They are 100% chemically, physically, and optically the same as mined diamonds. They are graded by the same standards known as the 4Cs: cut, color, clarity, and carat, and by the same laboratories.
Read more in our intro to lab-grown diamonds.
Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Cheaper than Natural Diamonds?
Yes, lab-grown diamonds are cheaper than their mined counterparts. Lab-created diamonds are actually 60-80% cheaper than diamonds extracted from the earth because mining is costly, and mined diamonds’ production and supply chains are extraordinarily long. That means that you can get a lab-created diamond that is much larger than a mined diamond for the same price!
Will Lab Diamonds Lose Their Value?
Lab-grown diamonds, like mined diamonds, are likely to lose value. This is because lab-grown diamonds have only recently become widely available to the mass market. Unlike mined diamonds, which have somewhat predictable and consistent costs, the cost of creating lab-grown diamonds might decrease further. And because the re-sale market for “used” diamonds is untested, it’s uncertain what prices they can hold.
In general, we do not recommend investing in diamonds. Instead, appreciate diamonds for what they are: magnificent pieces of jewelry!
What is the Difference Between Lab-Grown Diamonds and Mined Diamonds?
Real Diamonds with a Key Difference
Lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds, just like their mined counterparts. The only difference lies in their origin and the processes used to create them.
1. Creation Process
- Lab-Grown Diamonds: Manufactured using advanced technology in controlled environments, lab-grown diamonds undergo processes that significantly reduce costs and energy consumption. They are created within weeks, providing a more sustainable and ethical option.
- Mined Diamonds: Formed naturally over billions of years deep within the Earth’s mantle, mined diamonds are extracted through extensive mining operations, which can have significant environmental impacts.
2. Ethical Considerations
- Environmental Impact: Lab-grown diamonds have a lower ecological footprint, eliminating the negative effects of mining on local ecosystems and communities.
- Human Rights Concerns: With mined diamonds, there is no guarantee that they are free from human rights violations. The mining process can involve exploitative labor practices, and there is no way to know where your mined diamonds came from.
3. Conflict-Free Assurance
While lab-grown diamonds are guaranteed to be conflict-free, there is no way to ensure that a mined diamond is conflict-free. This distinction makes lab-grown diamonds a more ethical choice for consumers who value transparency and social responsibility.
Are Lab Diamonds Better Than Mined Diamonds?
Lab-grown diamonds are better than mined diamonds since lab-grown diamonds are conflict-free and do not carry the same potentially severe adverse effects as mined diamonds on mining countries and their people. Plus, lab-grown diamonds have clear and documented environmental benefits over mined diamonds.
Read about the reasons you should buy a lab-grown diamond.
Is a Natural Diamond Engagement Ring More Romantic?
Natural diamonds, also called mined diamonds, are not more romantic than lab-grown diamonds. Unfortunately, legacy diamond mining companies are spending billions of dollars on advertising in an attempt to create a narrative in which mined diamonds are “natural” and lab-grown diamonds are inferior to mined diamonds. That, of course, is not true, as lab-grown carats are 100% identical to mined diamonds. And that’s why mined diamonds are not more romantic than lab-created diamonds.
There’s nothing remotely romantic about a “natural” diamond that was dug up from the ground using forced labor, violations of human rights, exploration of local communities, disruption of wildlife, and possibly benefiting abusive armed forces.
Should I Buy a Lab-Grown Diamond Engagement Ring?
Ultimately, it’s your choice whether you decide to buy a lab-grown or mined diamond engagement ring. However, if the environmental and societal impact matters to you, then we absolutely think you should buy a lab-grown diamond engagement ring.
Why You Should Choose a Lab-Grown Diamond Engagement Ring
1. Affordability
Lab-grown diamonds are 60-80% cheaper than mined diamonds. That means that you can save a huge chunk of your money or get a bigger and better diamond.
2. Sustainable and Ethical Choice
Lab-grown diamonds are guaranteed conflict-free! They are the sustainable and ethical alternative to natural diamonds. Since they are not mined, you help the environment while avoiding potential harm to local communities, workers, animals, and funding conflicts and warlords.
3.Exactly Like Natural Diamonds
Lab-grown diamonds are not an alternative to moissanite; they are real diamonds. They possess the same chemical, optical, and physical properties as mined diamonds, making them indistinguishable to the naked eye. Here’s what sets them apart:
- Identical Composition: Both lab-grown and natural diamonds are made of carbon atoms arranged in the same crystal structure. This means they exhibit the same brilliance and sparkle.
- Grading and Certification: Lab-grown diamonds are graded and certified by the same reputable institutions such as the International Gemological Institute (IGI) and the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). This guarantees that you receive a high-quality product, just like you would with a mined diamond.
If you’ve decided that a lab-grown diamond engagement ring is the right choice for you, then read our guide to buying a lab-grown diamond engagement ring online.
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