What are Lab Grown Diamonds?
In today’s diamond market there are two different types of diamonds, underground diamonds and aboveground diamonds.
Underground diamonds are those that are mined traditionally, and aboveground diamonds are those that are created in a lab.
A lab grown diamond ring and other jewellery can come in both CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) and HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature) forms.
- CVD lab grown diamonds are type IIA (most-purest diamond). When tested with a diamond tester, they test as a diamond. CVD Diamonds do not have fluorescence.
- HPHT lab grown diamonds are also grown in a lab, but they are of lower quality and will not always pass as a diamond with a diamond tester.
All diamonds above 0.30ct will either have an IGI (International Gemological Institute) or a GCAL (Gem Certification & Assurance Lab) certificate. All lab grown diamonds are also laser inscribed with LG (Lab Grown) on the girdle to avoid any confusion with a mined diamond.
It takes approximately 500 hours to grow a 1ct CVD lab grown diamond.
About Lab Grown Diamonds
Lab grown diamonds are not a new thing. Since the 1950s diamonds have been grown in labs, but they were used for industrial purposes due to them not being gem quality.
Much progress has been made in the last decade with lab grown diamonds. Scientists have now been able to grow gem grade quality diamonds that can be used in the jewellery industry, such as for a lab grown diamond ring.
There are two ways to create a lab grown diamond for a ring and other jewellery: the CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) method and the HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature) method.
The CVD method grows a diamond from a type IIA seed, whereas the HPHT method creates a diamond from a metal catalyst.
CVD lab grown diamonds have the same chemical composition as underground mined diamonds; they are identical. No human can determine the difference between a lab grown diamond ring and mined diamond ring – they would need to be tested by machinery.
According to the FTC (Federal Trade Commission), CVD lab grown diamonds are diamonds.
Sustainable and Conflict-free
The lab grown diamond ring and other jewellery have become a popular alternative to the mined diamond for a couple of reasons:
- They are conflict-free; we know the origin of the diamond.
- Lab-grown diamonds are eco-friendly. The energy used to create the diamonds mostly comes from wind turbines and no earth is displaced to extract diamonds from the ground.
Which One is Better: Mined or Lab Grown Diamonds?
At Stelios Jewellers, we are believers in educating our clients about what is available on the market. The choice between a lab grown diamond ring or other jewellery and those with mined diamonds is a personal one.
Lab grown diamond positives:
- Eco-friendly
- 30 – 40% cheaper than a mined diamond
- Conflict-free – we know the origins
Mined diamond positives:
- Natural resource – every diamond is unique and has been formed by the earth over millions of years.
Lab grown diamond negatives:
- As technology and science become more refined, the stones will devalue as the supply will become saturated.
Mined diamond negatives:
- Impact on the earth
- Conflict diamonds – although all diamonds sourced by Stelios Jewellers are conflict-free
Create a Lab Grown Diamond Ring or Jewellery Piece Today
At Stelios Jewellers, we can offer both an ethically mined diamond and lab grown diamond ring or other jewellery piece. For further information on our lab grown diamonds in Perth, please feel free to make an appointment at our Mt Hawthorne studio with our jewellers and sales staff to discuss your requirements. Alternatively, you can call us now on (08) 9481 0548.