Lab Created Diamonds

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What are Lab Created Diamonds?

Lab created diamonds are grown using technological processes that replicate the conditions under which diamonds naturally develop in the earth. They have the same physical, chemical, and optical characteristics as mined diamonds. In addition, they are less expensive than mined diamonds. Lab created diamonds are a type of “ethical diamond,” which means they are produced without exploiting workers or the environment to the extent that traditional diamonds, or “conflict diamonds” do.

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Want a hot take?

You may think that in order to create the conditions under which a diamond can grow in a lab takes a lot of energy, and you would be right. However, the energy required to create a lab-grown diamond is actually half of what it takes to move all the earth for a mined diamond.

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Are Lab Created Diamonds “good”?

It’s hard to say if they’re “good”, but in many ways, they’re better than traditionally mined diamonds. While growing diamonds in a lab does require quite a bit of energy (the process involves extremely high temperatures and pressure) it doesn’t nearly stack up to the energy required to move all that earth in traditional diamond mining. In a 2014 study done by consulting company Frost and Sullivan, it was found that lab-grown diamonds require less than half of the energy of mined diamonds, and about 15% of the water. It’s difficult to compare the carbon footprints of lab created versus mined diamonds because most mines don’t keep track of detailed environmental data, but their energy, water and human wellbeing impacts are generally less significant than those of traditionally mined diamonds.

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What kind of products are made with Lab Created Diamonds?

Lab created diamonds can be used in any product that would use a mined diamond. Many companies like Diamond Foundry, Brilliant Earth, and Frank Darling have their own lines of lab grown jewelry.

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Are there certifications I should look out for?

According to Brilliant Earth, lab grown diamonds are certified in the exact same way that mined diamonds are: they are sent to an independent gem lab to be certified by an expert. It is nearly impossible to tell the difference between lab grown and mined diamonds with the naked eye, though very specialized equipment can be used to test them. One tell-tale way of knowing if a diamond is grown or mined is the price, since lab-grown diamonds are more affordable than natural diamonds of the same size and quality.

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