Benefits of Lab Grown Diamonds

In recent years, lab grown diamonds have emerged as a popular alternative to natural diamonds with customers seeking out these beautiful man-made-gems for their affordability, high-quality and ethical production. In this article, we will explore the benefits of lab grown diamonds and reveal how lab grown diamond jewellery is shaping the future of the diamond jewellery industry.
Before we get into detail about the benefits of lab grown diamonds, let us first give you a brief introduction on the difference between lab diamonds and natural diamonds. Lab-grown diamonds, also known as synthetic or cultured diamonds, are diamonds that have been grown in a laboratory rather than being mined from the Earth. Despite being created differently, lab diamonds have the same chemical composition, physical properties, and crystal structure as natural diamonds and so are real diamonds in every way. Because of this, people often ask whether lab grown diamonds are better than natural diamonds and truthfully, the answer depends on the factors you consider to be important. Here are some of the key advantages of lab grown diamonds and lab grown diamond jewellery:

One of the main benefits of lab grown diamonds is that their production process allows for a greater degree of control over their characteristics such as their size, colour and clarity. Since natural diamonds are mined from the Earth’s mantle, their quality and size is unpredictable and it is easier for dirt and imperfections to be rooted within them. Cultured diamonds also have less strain applied to their crystal structure so are more likely to have fewer flaws. This means lab grown diamonds can be produced with a higher clarity grade than natural diamonds, making them whiter, brighter and generally better in quality. This is one of the reasons lab created diamonds have become a more reliable choice for diamond jewellery buyers who are looking for specific characteristics.

Since lab grown diamonds do not require mining, the issues surrounding unethical mining practices do not apply. The origins of natural diamonds can sometimes be vague, with those sourced from conflicted regions possibly having a history with child labour, poor working conditions and human rights violations. “Blood diamonds”, named as such for their dark backgrounds, are also linked to civil disturbances and war. Thankfully, the Kimberley Process established in 2003 has since helped alleviate the trade of conflict diamonds. Countries participating are required to deliver a certificate that verifies that their natural diamonds are conflict-free. Lab grown diamonds on the other hand are conflict-free as standard. They are created within a laboratory without the use of forced labour, and their supply chains are generally more transparent.

Another benefit of lab grown diamond jewellery is lab grown diamond prices. Synthetic diamonds are considerably cheaper than natural diamonds despite their identical levels of quality. Mining natural diamonds is an expensive and time-consuming process since it involves a large number of employees, heavy machinery and transportation across the globe. Meanwhile, lab grown diamonds are formed more efficiently within a controlled laboratory environment taking less time, people and equipment. Because of this, lab diamonds are typically between 30 and 40% cheaper than natural diamonds which allows customers of lab diamond jewellery and lab diamond engagement rings to purchase larger gemstones in their budget.

We don’t always think about the effect diamond mining has on our earth, but it requires huge amounts of fossil fuels and large machinery to extract the gemstones from the ground. As well as creating large manmade holes in the earth, natural diamond mining is believed to generate 160 kilograms of greenhouse gases for every polished carat of mined diamond. Lab grown diamonds also use up a lot of energy, but many laboratories source this energy through greener methods such as solar panels or wind turbines. For this reason, lab created diamonds are considered more sustainable and eco-friendlier.
Once you understand the benefits of lab created diamonds, it’s easy to see why consumers are choosing lab grown diamond jewellery over their natural counterpart. However, it's also worth noting that natural diamonds have their own advantages, such as their rarity and emotional significance. Ultimately, the choice between lab-grown diamonds and natural diamonds will depend on your personal preferences and priorities.