Lab Raised Diamonds – Cheaper, More Environmentally Friendly and More Versatile Than Natural Diamonds

In the jewelry world, lab raised diamonds are quickly becoming a popular choice. They’re cheaper, more environmentally friendly and more versatile than mined diamonds.

Lab diamonds are grown in a lab using a process called Chemical Vapor Deposition, also known as CVD. The process duplicates the natural way diamonds are formed in the earth.

1. They are more affordable

Lab raised diamonds are a great way to get a beautiful diamond for an affordable price. As their production costs continue to drop, they’re becoming more and more popular as a budget-friendly alternative to mined diamonds.

They can be up to 30% cheaper than natural diamonds of the same quality. In fact, it’s expected that prices will continue to fall since the technology behind growing lab diamonds is improving so quickly.

This makes them an excellent choice for many millennials who are environmentally aware and want to make a positive impact on the world. However, there are some important things you should know before making a purchase.

First, it’s crucial to understand how lab diamonds are made. They use a high-tech process to mimic the extreme conditions of natural diamonds. This requires expensive machinery and creates more waste than other diamond simulants, like moissanite or white sapphires.

Another factor that contributes to the cost of lab-grown diamonds is the labor. Miners, distributors, cutters, polishers, jewelry manufacturers, and retailers all have to be paid for their time and services, so they can produce lab-grown diamonds.

In addition to labor, the cost of energy also plays a major role in the manufacturing process. Compared to mined diamonds, which are produced with expensive machinery, the energy used to grow lab diamonds is significantly less.

These savings can be passed onto the consumer, allowing them to afford higher-quality diamond jewelry. And they can also buy smaller stones or higher carat sizes, which can help to reduce the overall cost of their piece.

Additionally, they are certified to be of gem quality. This adds hundreds of dollars to the cost of their piece, but it is still worth it in the end as most lab diamonds will retain their value better than other alternatives.

A final factor that can influence the cost of a lab diamond is its shape, size, and cut. While round cut diamonds are the most popular and also the most expensive, oval and asscher cuts are also very popular. They can be more affordable than round cut diamonds but will usually have less brilliance and sparkle.

2. They are more environmentally friendly

Lab raised diamonds are a more environmentally friendly alternative to mined diamonds. This is because they require less water, energy and emit fewer carbon emissions than their natural counterparts.

Lab diamonds are created in a laboratory using technology that mimics the natural process of growing a diamond from its “seed” (a flat slither of another diamond). The two main ways of creating diamonds in the lab are Chemical Vapor Deposition and High Pressure High Temperature, or HPHT.

In both methods, the diamond seed is inserted into chambers filled with carbon-rich gas that’s heated to high temperatures. The gases start to “stick” to the diamond seed, slowly forming a diamond atom by atom.

But the process can have a serious impact on the environment, especially when producing diamonds for jewelry. This is because the production of a diamond requires huge amounts of electricity, which is not only expensive but also releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

According to a recent report from Trucost, lab grown diamonds produce 510kg of CO2 per polished carat, while mined diamonds create 160kg of CO2. This is why more and more consumers are opting for lab diamonds as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional gems.

Additionally, lab diamonds are often used in industrial applications to disinfect polluted water. This is because they are doped with the mineral boron, which can be used to turn organic pollutants into a biodegradable form.

In addition, the materials needed for lab diamond manufacturing are more readily available than in the mining industry, meaning that lab diamonds are generally more environmentally sustainable.

Despite these advantages, many people still prefer to buy mined diamonds because they are more affordable and look stunning on jewelry items. However, as awareness grows about the environmental and ethical costs of diamond mining, more and more consumers are turning to lab-grown diamonds for their beauty and durability.

For instance, actress and environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio, who starred in the movie “Blood Diamond,” became so horrified about the conflict-torn regions of Africa where diamonds are mined that he invested in one of the largest diamond laboratories. Moreover, millennials are increasingly aware of their carbon footprint and the social and ethical implications of mined diamonds.

3. They are more durable

If you’re looking for something that’s more durable than natural diamonds, lab raised diamonds are a great choice. They are ten times harder than mined diamonds, meaning they can resist wear and tear better.

They are also more environmentally friendly as they do not require a huge amount of energy to grow, and they do not need to displace large amounts of earth, so they have a much smaller impact on the planet’s ecosystems. In addition, they are often used in industrial applications to disinfect polluted water sources, as well as to conduct electricity.

Another benefit of lab diamonds is that they are easier to recycle than mined diamonds, so there’s less waste. For example, lab diamonds can be used to replace other diamonds in semiconductors, which reduces the energy wasted by the heat generated when electricity is transmitted from the power plant to your mobile phone as it charges.

The same is true when it comes to the environment, as lab diamonds can be used to disinfect polluted water sources. They can be doped with the mineral boron to make them more effective at conducting electricity, and this can help oxidise toxic organic chemicals in contaminated water.

For all of these reasons, it’s no surprise that lab raised diamonds have become a big deal among millennials and Generation Z, who are more concerned about sustainability and ethics than older generations. They can also be more affordable, making them an attractive alternative to traditional diamonds for a variety of consumers.

In fact, many companies are introducing lab raised diamonds as an ethical alternative to natural diamonds in their jewellery, with the idea that it can help promote responsible and sustainable shopping habits. For instance, the Leonardo DiCaprio-backed Diamond Foundry in the US is carbon neutral and uses only renewable energy.

The main difference between lab and naturally mined diamonds is that natural diamonds are mined from the ground, while lab diamonds are grown in a laboratory. In order to be a lab diamond, the “seed” (a flat slither) of another diamond needs to be placed inside a chamber that is filled with carbon-rich gas and heated to 800C. After that, the gases begin to bond with the seed and grow a diamond atom by atom. This process, called Chemical Vapor Deposition or CVD, has been refined over decades of research and development.

4. They are more versatile

Lab raised diamonds are becoming more popular as a way to create engagement rings and bridal jewelry. Signet, the world’s largest jewelry company (which owns Zales and Kay Jewelers), said it expects lab-created diamonds to be a “fast-growing” category in 2021.

While they may not have the whiteness and icy clarity of natural diamonds, lab-created stones can still be a great choice for couples who want to save money without sacrificing the sparkle. They are available in many carat sizes, colors and clarity levels.

They are also a more affordable option than mined diamonds because of their shorter supply chain. Rather than traveling 20 times from the mine to your local jewelry store, lab-grown diamonds trade hands in their production process only two or three times. This short-distance trade can help cut the overall cost of a piece, as it eliminates travel expenses and markup.

Another benefit to lab-grown diamonds is their environmentally friendly nature. The mining industry is known to cause a lot of damage to the earth, including the destruction of habitats and the killing of wildlife. Luckily, it’s also become easier to buy ethically produced diamonds thanks to the Kimberley Process, which ensures that diamonds are not sourced from conflict regions.

Moreover, lab-grown diamonds are not subject to the same types of pressures and heat that mined diamonds go through during the production process. These processes often result in scratches and abrasions, which can affect the beauty of a piece.

This can be avoided with lab-grown diamonds, as they are created through a chemical deposition process called CVD, which mimics the environmental conditions that naturally occur during diamond formation. This process uses a vacuum chamber filled with gas, which is then broken down by microwaves to pile up carbon atoms on a diamond seed crystal.

The resulting synthetic diamond is then shaped to look like the shape of a natural one. This process can take up to two months, but it’s cheaper than the time and energy involved in creating a natural stone.

In addition, lab-created diamonds are more versatile than other gems because they can be used to make a variety of items. For example, a thin film of diamond can reduce friction in moving mechanical parts, such as windmills and cars. It can also be applied to jewelry, as it helps create a more durable, scratch-resistant material.

Lab Raised Diamonds – Cheaper, More Environmentally Friendly and More Versatile Than Natural Diamonds