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Lab-grown, or lab-created, diamonds have been a part of the engagement ring universe for almost a decade now but they are only just now starting to soar in popularity.
How Lab-Grown Diamonds are Formed
If you read our previous blog about lab-grown diamonds, The Truth about Lab-Grown Diamonds, you might remember that lab-grown diamonds are produced in a laboratory under conditions meant to mirror how natural diamonds are formed. If you’re in need of a refresher, carbon atoms are exposed to high pressure and high temperature. For this reason, they are inherently eco-friendly and ethically sourced—an appealing factor to many consumers. But remember, even natural diamonds are now subject to the Kimberley Process to ensure their sourcing method.
The Devil is in the Details…
Most people believe lab-grown diamonds are synthetic or fake—this is simply not the case! Lab-grown diamonds are just as real as natural diamonds but are created in a different environment. With this, lab-grown diamonds and natural diamonds are exactly the same… minus their value.
Price
Due to the formation process being faster than that of a natural diamond (weeks vs billions of years), lab-grown diamonds are less costly to produce at scale. Additionally, the costs associated with mining a natural diamond are removed.
Recently, diverging factors have also led to a wider gap between the price of lab-created and natural diamonds. The technology for creating lab-grown diamonds has improved while the number of manufacturers has increased thus bringing forth a steady drop in prices. On the other hand, natural diamonds have rapidly increased in price as supply constraints and inflation have caused disruptions within the industry. There is now a wide enough gap between the price of lab-grown and natural diamonds to make it an extremely attractive alternative from a price perspective. What used to be a 30% price difference several years ago has now ballooned to about 70-80%.
2.00 Carat Round Lab-Grown Diamond
F Color | VS1 Clarity | GIA Certified
$6,000
Though some are concerned prices will continue to fall, we feel that the best time to purchase a lab-grown diamond is now as prices have seemed to stabilize. Furthermore, there are fixed costs associated with creating a lab-grown diamond that cannot go lower such as factory, cutting/polishing, importing, and certification.
Appearance and Durability
Because lab-grown diamonds have the same chemical makeup as natural diamonds, they also possess all of the same physical properties that make natural diamonds so sought after.
When cut and polished into a finished diamond, they will have the same refractive index that gives natural diamonds their trademark sparkle. Lab-created diamonds also score a perfect 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness—the same as a natural diamond. Since both natural and lab-created diamonds are the hardest gemstone, they are very resistant to breaking or scratching, making them the perfect stone to be worn every day and cherished for a lifetime.
2.20 ct Lab-Grown Radiant Diamond Solitaire Ring
2.5 ct Radiant Cut Diamond Solitaire Engagement Ring
Quality and Size
During the growth process, color hues and inclusions can be introduced into a lab-grown diamond. However, because this is a controlled environment, higher-quality stones are easy to produce which in turn causes less of a premium for the consumer to pay. You can opt for a colorless or near-colorless diamond with minimal inclusions and not break the bank.
In addition to near-perfect quality, size might be the most appealing factor to many prospective buyers. Unlike natural diamonds, as lab-grown diamonds increase in size, their prices do not increase exponentially; you can scale up the size and still stay within a reasonable price point. A 2 carat natural diamond of very good quality will start at around $18,000 while a top-quality lab-grown diamond will start at around $6,000.
2.01 Carat Emerald Natural Diamond
E Color | VS2 Clarity | GIA Certified
$18,360
2.02 Carat Emerald Lab-Grown Diamond
D Color | VS1 Clarity | GIA Certified
$6,290
Cut
Because natural diamonds are so expensive, the diamond cutter’s main objective is to preserve as much of the rough diamond as possible. This can often force them to polish a stone that is poorly cut but maintains a certain carat weight. Conversely, for lab-created diamonds, this is not a concern and they will often cut the stone to maximize its beauty and face-up appearance. For this reason, you will be able to get perfectly cut stones in any shape that have larger than average face-up dimensions and beautiful faceting patterns.
Why Lab-Grown Diamonds
At Lauren B, we offer our clients both natural and lab-grown diamonds as center stone options for their engagement rings. Each diamond we sell has been thoroughly inspected to ensure not only its origin but the quality and visual beauty of the stone. Besides, who wouldn’t want the biggest and most perfect diamond they can get; you don’t need to compromise quality or size to create the diamond ring of your dreams.
You can browse our entire loose stone inventory to find the perfect center stone for you.