What to Avoid When Buying Lab Grown Diamonds

Lab grown diamonds are gaining huge favour amongst environmentally conscious consumers, offering the same brilliance and durability as natural diamonds but avoiding the impact of traditional mining. Additionally, these alternative diamonds are appealing to budget-conscious individuals wanting to stretch their budget even further.

But just like their mined counterparts, there’s still important things to consider when purchasing lab grown diamonds. In this article, we’ll be taking a closer look at what to avoid when buying lab grown diamond jewellery so you can make an informed and responsible purchase. Let’s begin…

Not all diamonds are created equal, and sometimes it’s easy to forget that. All diamonds, mined and lab grown, are defined by the 4C’s, a term used to describe four key characteristics that determine the value and quality of a diamond. Many buyers of diamond jewellery focus largely on carat, the weight of the diamond, to govern its value but there are three other important features to take note of. The 4C’s include carat, clarity, cut and colour.

Carat – A diamond’s carat refers to the size of the gemstone. It does not relate to height or width, despite what some might think, but the weight of the diamond. One carat equals 0.20 grams. Larger diamonds are typically more valuable, but other factors play into this too including its cut, colour and clarity.

Cut – The cut of a diamond indicates how it has been shaped and faceted which affects how the gemstone sparkles. Cut is not a reference to the overall shape of the diamond, but quality of the cut’s precision, symmetry, and polish. The GIA (Gemological Institute of America) grades diamond cuts on a scale from Excellent to Poor.

Colour – Most know diamonds as being colourless, but in fact these gemstones can come in a range of colours including shades of yellow and brown. The GIA grades diamonds depending on their colour from D (colourless) to Z (light yellow or brown). As you’d imagine, colourless diamonds are the most rare and valuable.

Clarity – A diamond’s clarity relates to the presence of internal and external imperfections or inclusions in the stone. These imperfections are graded when the diamond is viewed under 10x magnification from Flawless (no inclusions or blemishes shown) to Included (inclusions and/or blemishes visible to the naked eye).

It is important to take into consideration these four factors when determining a diamond’s overall quality and price. They can help you make an informed decision that aligns with your personal preferences and budget.

One easy mistake to make when purchasing lab grown diamonds is not obtaining a certificate. Every mined and lab grown diamond should be graded and certified by official institutions like GIA (Gemological Institute of America) or IGI (International Gemological Institute). These independent labs are the strictest in the industry and grade every diamond based on their carat weight, colour, clarity, shape, cut, polish, symmetry, fluorescence levels, and inclusions.

As well as demonstrating the quality of your lab grown diamond, diamond certificates verify the authenticity of the gemstone. A certificate from a reputable gemmological laboratory serves as an objective and expert assessment of the diamond's identity. It confirms that you are indeed acquiring a genuine diamond rather than a simulant or a lesser-quality stone. This also gives you complete confidence and validates you are purchasing through a reputed lab grown diamond retailer.

Should you wish to ever sell or insure your diamond jewellery, a diamond certificate will likely be required for this. It offers documentation of the diamond's quality and characteristics and will facilitate the appraisal process and help you obtain a fair price when selling or insuring the diamond.

It’s easy to be caught up in the excitement of buying diamond jewellery, but don’t make the mistake of purchasing a gemstone you don’t understand the origin of. For example, there’s a big difference between naturally mined diamonds and lab grown diamonds.

Mined diamonds are naturally formed deep within the Earth's mantle over millions of years. They are then brought to the surface through volcanic eruptions or geological processes. Meanwhile, lab grown diamonds are created in a controlled laboratory environment using advanced technological processes. They are also known as synthetic or man-made diamonds. They are real diamonds in every way, just created in a laboratory.

Historically, lab grown diamonds are less expensive than their natural counterparts but still boast the same levels of quality and brilliance. Lab created diamonds are generally considered more environmentally friendly too since there is no need for large-scale mining practices which can lead to habitat destruction and other environmental concerns.

Before you purchase diamonds of any kind, it’s important to consider these differences and how they align with your own preferences, beliefs, and budget.

One of the main things to avoid when buying lab grown diamonds is unknown, unauthorised retailers. When you’re spending large amounts of money on diamonds, you don’t want to risk these special gems being counterfeit or of less quality than you paid for. Instead, do your research and find a reputed lab grown diamond retailer that has been in the industry for several years and guarantees an official diamond certificate with every purchase.

Reputed lab-grown diamond retailers will offer high-quality diamonds that adhere to industry standards. These diamonds will be certified by recognised gemological laboratories, providing assurance about their quality, cut, color, and clarity. This will be confirmed by official certification and grading reports from gemological institutions, such as the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) or the International Gemological Institute (IGI).

Well-regarded jewellers and lab grown diamond retailers will also be transparent about their practices and prices. They can trace the origin of their diamonds to ensure the stones are conflict-free and ethically produced. They will also offer consumer protection such as return and exchange options, warranties and customer service support.

Finally, never be afraid to ask questions when buying lab grown diamonds. If you’re ever unsure about anything, whether it be about the diamond’s 4C’s, the certificate or the origins of the diamonds, be sure to make your concerns clear to the retailer. A reputed lab grown diamond retailer will have no problems answering your queries and be able to give you complete confidence that you’re making the correct decision.

Here at Labgrown.Diamonds, our talented team of diamond specialists are always on hand to help you find the perfect lab grown diamond for your jewellery. Should you have any questions about our range of jewellery, or you’d like some advice choosing from our vast collections of engagement rings, wedding rings, eternity rings, necklaces or bracelets, simply get in touch with our team.