Lab-Grown Diamonds: Debunking the Biggest Myths

Diamonds are some of the most sought-after gemstones in the world, and mining for these precious stones is no small task. However, in recent years, with the surge of ethical and sustainability concerns involving the traditional diamond industry, lab-grown diamonds have been pitched as a more sustainable, ethical, and budget-friendly alternative. However, there are still many myths and misconceptions surrounding lab-grown diamonds that have prevented people from fully accepting them.

Jewellers use and integrate high-quality lab-grown diamonds in making our collection of diamond engagement rings and diamond wedding bands. In this post, we hope to set the record straight and put to rest some of the biggest misconceptions involving lab-grown diamonds.

Myth 01: Lab-grown diamonds are fake diamonds

Arguably the biggest misconception involving lab-grown diamonds is that they are fake and are imitations of real diamonds. This is simply not true. Lab-grown diamonds are not fake diamonds; they are as real as the ones mined from the earth.

The only differences between real and lab-grown diamonds are the price and method of creation. Diamonds are formed when carbon is subject to extreme heat and pressure. The ideal temperature and pressure for the formation of natural diamonds can be found around 150 miles below the earth’s crust.

On the other hand, lab-grown diamonds are formed when carbon is subjected to the same temperature and pressure with the help of advanced laboratory equipment. Natural and Lab-grown diamonds are virtually identical and cannot be easily differentiated without the use of laboratory equipment.

It must be made abundantly clear that lab-grown diamonds are not diamond imitations. Diamond imitations are materials that are made to look like diamonds but have different chemical and physical properties. The most common diamond imitations are made from materials such as glass, zirconia, strontium titanate, and moissanite.

Myth 02: They are cheaper because of their inferior quality

Consumers tend to associate a higher price point with higher quality; this is known as the “price-quality relationship.”. In terms of lab-grown diamonds, since their prices are significantly lower compared to mined diamonds, many believe they are of inferior quality.

Lab-grown diamonds are not cheap due to their inferior quality. Even though these diamonds are man-made, they still need to comply with the same quality control standards as mined diamonds. One of the reasons that lab-grown diamonds are cheaper is because of the elimination of heavy mining costs typical of the traditional diamond industry.

Myth 03: They are graded differently compared to real diamonds

Whether it be natural or lab-grown, all diamonds are graded to the same standard by gemologists based on the “4Cs” international diamond grading system. The 4Cs stand for Colour, Cut, Clarity, and Carat and were introduced in 1953 by Robert M. Shipley, the founder of the Gemological Institute of America.

Myth 04: They change color over time

As we mentioned earlier, lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds. As such, they are chemically stable and have the same physical, thermal, and visual properties as mined diamonds. Therefore, lab-grown diamonds will not change color over time.

Myth 05: They are not environmentally friendly

Lab-grown diamonds have been promoted as a sustainable alternative to mined diamonds. However, sceptics disagree and argue that high amounts of energy that are used to create these diamonds require the use of fossil fuels, making them unsustainable.

While the creation of lab-grown diamonds is energy intensive, experts in the field have also pointed out that the extent of the environmental impact will depend on the source used to produce the energy required. On the other hand, mined diamonds are collected through large open pits, underground, and marine mining that disrupts ecosystems, damages water supplies, and releases large amounts of greenhouse gases.

A Clean Origin study compared the environmental footprint of mined and lab-grown diamonds, and it claimed that one carat of mined diamonds equated to 100 square feet of disturbed land and 6000 pounds of mineral waste. At the same time, one carat of lab-grown diamond only disrupted 0.07 square feet of land and 1 pound of mineral waste.

Therefore, it could be argued that the environmental impact of lab grown diamonds is far less significant compared to mined diamonds.

Conclusion

Do not let the lower price throw you off; lab-grown diamonds are not fake, not low-quality, and definitely not inferior to mined diamonds. Lab-grown diamonds have the potential to offer the same brilliance, durability, and timeless beauty as real diamonds with the added benefits of ethical sourcing, sustainability, and affordability.

We are proud to say that we have and will continue to use high-quality lab-grown diamonds in making our trademark diamond rings and wedding bands.

Author Profile

Adam Regan: Deputy Editor

Features and account management. 3 years media experience. Previously covered features for online and print editions.

Email Adam@MarkMeets.com