The availability of man-made diamonds as an alternative to mined diamonds might only just have appeared on your radar, but they’ve actually been on the scene for quite a while now.
This is significant because they’re finally enjoying the attention they deserve, and are quickly rising through the ranks to become a sought-after addition to off-the-shelf as well as custom jewellery pieces.
At a glance and even up-close, lab-grown gems are truly jaw-dropping in terms of the glitz and glamor that they offer. So what’s behind their sparkle, and will their prestige continue to increase with time?
How to Choose Jewellery Made from Lab-Grown Diamonds
Choosing the perfect diamond jewellery is a daunting task. It can be overwhelming, given all of the options available, so having a strategy in place before you start is sensible.
First and foremost, you want to make sure that you are picking from pieces offered by a reputable brand. VRAI is a great example, as it is a jeweller that provides an entire line-up that’s exclusively stocked with man-made gems. This really takes the hassle out of the process, since you won’t need to constantly check every product page to ensure that you are indeed looking at a lab-grown option, rather than mined gems.
The rest is really down to your personal style and preferences. That’s the underlying beauty of lab created diamonds, because they are available in all sorts of cuts, shapes and configurations, so by choosing them over mined gems you aren’t having to make any kind of sacrifice.
What Makes Lab-Grown Diamonds Special?
Lab-grown diamonds are created using advanced technology that replicates the process of diamond formation that happens underground. This means they possess the same chemical and physical properties as mined jewels, making them indistinguishable to even experts!
But what really sets lab-grown gems apart is their origin story. These man made beauties were not born millions of years ago and then dug up in some faraway mine, but rather grown through human ingenuity in a laboratory setting. How cool is that?
Well, in a literal sense it’s not cool at all, because man made diamonds are effectively forged in a foundry, with very high temperatures and pressures applied to raw materials. As mentioned, this is our way of recreating what happens when diamonds form beneath our feet, except sped up significantly. That way new diamonds are made in a matter of weeks, not millennia.
Are There Any Environmental Benefits with the Choice of a Lab Grown Diamond?
Choosing lab-grown diamonds is not only good for your bank account, but one of the main benefits is that it is also beneficial to our planet. Unlike mined jewels, these man made gems are grown in a foundry that produces zero net emissions, and of course they don’t require deep excavation or mining.
It’s not just the energy expenditure that gives mined diamonds a problematic place in the market today. There’s also the negative impact on the environment that comes from large scale diamond extraction activities, such as blasting rocks using high explosives.
This is an appealing explanation for why the prestige of man-made gems is on the up at the moment. Modern consumers are trying to be greener in the decisions they make, and lab-grown diamonds let them do this without compromising whatsoever.
What About Inclusions?
If you know a thing or two about diamonds, you’re probably aware of inclusions, which are those little imperfections that occur in mined diamonds and help to give them their personality and character.
So with lab-grown gems, the question is whether or not there are still inclusions on the table. Well the good news is that this is very much the case, since once again the production techniques used mean that inclusions and all other features you’d expect are present and correct.
That’s yet another example of why the market is shifting. You cannot tell the difference between mined and man made diamonds, because there isn’t one, and they are truly identical.
Different Lab-Grown Diamond Shapes and Cuts to Appreciate
When it comes to choosing a lab-grown diamond, you’re not limited in terms of shape or cut. Just like mined jewels, these man made sparklers come in many different finishes that can be tailored for any preference!
Here’s an overview of some popular options available:
The Round Brilliant Cut is the most traditional choice – its facets create a unique firework effect when light hits it from all angles, making this timeless yet modern style stand out amongst the rest.
If you’re looking for something more sophisticated then why not opt for an Emerald Cut? This rectangular shaped jewel has fewer facets than others, yet still manages to draw attention with its stunning array of glimmering reflections.
For those who prefer a vintage look, the Cushion Cut is a great option, with its prominent shape and rounded corners bringing out an old-world charm.
The Oval Cut has been gaining in popularity over recent years. This elliptical shaped diamond gives off an extra sparkle due to its elongated profile, and so it’s ideal for showpiece jewellery, engagement rings, and even if you’re planning a wedding.
No matter which one you opt for, lab-grown diamonds are sure to shine just as brilliantly as their mined counterparts. And we’ve only scratched the surface in terms of the shapes and cuts you can choose between.
Wrapping Up
Hopefully you now appreciate that the eye-catching appeal of lab-grown diamonds is more than skin deep. They are every inch as gorgeous as mined jewels, and manage to outshine them in terms of their other features as well.
There will always be people out there who are disparaging about man-made diamonds, but this is a vanishingly small group thanks to the amazing work that is being done with lab created jewellery right now. So this is a trend that’s set to shake up the market more and more as time passes, and consumers get clued into the advantages of diamonds grown in a lab.
