Lab-grown diamonds have increased in popularity over the past 10 years. We’ve also seen a big jump in their quality.
Things We Like About Lab-Grown Diamonds
Budget-Friendly
Lab-grown diamonds are definitely more budget friendly.
They’re Still Diamonds
You are still getting a diamond with lab-grown diamonds and they follow the four C’s (see below). Lab-grown diamonds also come with their own certification. There’s no difference to the naked eye.
Socially & Environmentally Responsible
Lab-grown diamonds are often grown in the United States and you are not contributing to the destruction of forests and natural habitats. We all saw Blood Diamond. Lab grown diamonds are conflict free.
Things We Like About Mined Diamonds
Value
One concern with lab-grown diamonds is that they will bring the value of mined diamonds down, but for now, mined diamonds are highly valued. Mined diamonds are also the going preference for heirloom jewelry.
They’ve Got History
There’s something really magical and beautiful about the process of naturally forming a diamond. Even the imperfections and variations add character and personality.
Unique
We love that mined diamonds are all so unique. The rise in rough or raw cut diamond jewelry shows that you can create something edgy and truly unique with any diamond.
How Throwing Stars Jewelry Designs with Diamonds
A lot of people come to us with mined diamonds for their redesign and custom jewelry design projects. Until recently, we primarily worked with mined diamonds. In the last 2 years we have been working with more and more lab-grown diamonds. We love being able to offer our customers more affordable options.
Amy works with lab-grown, mined, and rough cut diamonds.
Four C's: Cut, Color, Clarity, Carat
1) Cut
A well-cut diamond can enhance its color and clarity. It can also give the stone extra brilliance and sparkle. Cut has three components: brilliance (the total light reflected from a diamond), fire (the dispersion of light into the colors of the spectrum), and scintillation (the pattern of light and dark areas and the sparkle created as a diamond or light source is moved).
2) Color
Diamonds come in many colors—yellow, blue, brown, and even pink! Colorless diamonds are rare, which means they tend to cost more than colored diamonds. Color is graded on a scale that begins at D for colorless and travels down the alphabet to describe lighter tints or shades of yellow or brown.
Lab-grown diamonds also come in a variety of colors.
3) Clarity
Diamonds are graded on a scale with 11 categories based on visible flaws under magnification. These flaws are called inclusions, while tiny surface imperfections (which do not affect internal beauty) are called blemishes.
4) Carat weight
This refers to the actual weight of a diamond and its size. Generally speaking, as carats increase in size, so does the price.
The 4 C's are an industry standard used to evaluate diamonds in terms of beauty and value; they're also an essential tool when determining if a stone is real or fake.
Do Not Buy Diamonds Online without Certifications
While it may seem like an easy and inexpensive way to get your hands on jewelry, buying diamonds online without certifications is not safe. Many companies will sell you real diamonds online, but in reality, they're selling you fakes. To ensure that you aren't purchasing fake gems, buy only from companies with GIA (Gemological Institute of America) or EGL (European Gemological Laboratory) certification.
Real vs Fake Diamonds
With diamonds being one of the most valuable gemstones on the market, it's essential to know how to tell if you're looking at a real diamond or not. Fake diamonds, also known as cubic zirconia (CZ), are chemically similar to their real diamond counterparts. Because of this, looking at them with just the naked eye can fool many people into thinking they're real.
Luckily, there are many ways to tell if you're looking at real or fake diamonds before buying them. Whether it's an engagement ring or just some costume jewelry you picked up from the local dollar store, remember the four C’s while vetting diamonds.
Conclusion
The best way to avoid getting ripped off at a jewelry store is to educate yourself. Know what you're looking for, learn how the different terminology applied to diamonds impacts the price, and understand what you're paying for.
Shopping for diamonds can be really overwhelming. Need some help? Schedule a call with Amy today: book a call.