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They say diamonds are a girl’s best friend. What about so-called “lab grown” diamonds? Are these diamonds legit, or a scam?
Lab grown diamonds are chemically and visually identical to traditional mined diamonds. They offer some benefits over traditional diamonds, as well.
In this quick guide, we’ll cover what lab grown diamonds are, how they are produced, and why you might want to consider them for your next jewelry purchase.
Lab grown diamonds are simply diamonds that are produced in a laboratory setting, using specialized equipment. The final product is identical to a standard diamond; the only difference is how they are produced (and the price tag!)
To understand fully, let’s look at the two different “types” of diamond: Lab grown diamonds, and earth made diamonds.
Earth made diamonds (traditional mined diamonds) are produced over millions of years through a natural process. Carbon atoms buried deep underground are put under intense pressure and temperature, forcing atoms to bind together into dense, crystalline deposits. These deposits are then mined, often under less-than-ideal workplace conditions (modern-day slavery and worker abuse is unfortunately rife in the diamond industry). They are then cut, polished, and distributed around the world to become the diamond jewelry we all know and love.
Lab made diamonds are produced in a laboratory setting using advanced equipment. The process starts with a diamond “seed”, which is a very small diamond that’s either mined or made in a lab. From there, one of two processes is used to grow the diamond further. One is called Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD), and the other is known as High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT). The process generally takes a few months to produce a diamond rough, which is then cut, polished, and used in jewelry.
Absolutely. Lab grown diamonds are visually identical to real diamonds. Even more impressive, they are chemically identical, meaning that even many jewelers using specialized equipment won’t be able to tell the difference between a traditional mined diamond and a lab grown diamond.
You can think of the lab grown diamonds like vegetables grown indoors in a hydroponic farm. Take a carrot, for example. Carrots are traditionally grown outdoors, in the dirt, using water, sunlight, and minerals from the earth. Hydroponic farms grow carrots using water, light from LED lights, and minerals from plant food supplements.
The end result is the same: A delicious carrot that is nutritious and flavorful. The only difference is the process used to produce it.
Yes, lab grown diamonds are substantially cheaper than mined diamonds. This is primarily because of their supply chain. Traditional diamonds are literally millions of years old, and must be mined using a lot of heavy equipment, labor, and fuel. Plus, the industry is tightly controlled by a few companies.
Lab grown diamonds, on the other hand, can be produced in matter of months. It still requires very specialized and expensive equipment, but the diamonds can be produced at scale, lowering their costs substantially.
How much cheaper depends on where you purchase your diamonds. If you’re in the Seattle area, Bellevue Rare Coins has a fantastic deal: A free lab-grown diamond when you purchase any ring, earring or necklace setting. That means that you just pay for the jewelry itself, the diamond is on us!
Now you know the answer to what are lab grown diamonds. Now, should you buy one?
This is a personal decision, of course, but the reality is that lab-grown diamonds have a ton of benefits and essentially no drawbacks. They are real diamonds, just cheaper and more eco-friendly. What’s not to like!
Keep in mind that the resale value of diamonds in general, whether lab grown or natural, will be substantially less than you paid. But if you’re buying to keep it, lab grown simply lets your money go further, while you can enjoy the exact same brilliance, shine and durability of a traditional diamond.
Seattle-area residents can shop a wide variety of lab grown diamond jewelry at Bellevue Rare Coins. We have locations in Bellevue, Lynnwood, Issaquah and Tacoma, and we’ve been the PNW’s trusted coin shop and jeweler for more than 40 years. Stop by today!
