What You Should Know About Lab Grown Diamonds
When it comes to buying a diamond, the normal process is to begin with a budget and to then consider the 4 C’s - cut, clarity, colour and of course carat. Next, you might consider the polish, quality of cut and even whether the diamond contains fluorescence.
What if we told you to throw out the rule book and go back to the very beginning of that process?
Step 1: Choose your diamond type. Mined Diamond or Lab Grown Diamond?
DESTELO are paving the way for online customers who are looking for an alternative to traditional, mined diamonds and instead offering a collection set solely with lab grown diamonds. Let’s talk a little more about that...
WHAT ARE LAB GROWN DIAMONDS?
A diamond is pure crystalised carbon - whether grown in the earth or in a lab, a diamond is a diamond.Full stop. Lab grown diamonds are real diamonds that have been manufactured in a lab instead of being mined from the earth. They are not synthetics, knock-offs or substandard alternatives. Lab grown diamonds are not cubic zirconia, clear crystals, moissanite or anything else of the sort. They are real, legitimate diamonds.
To be very scientific “Carbon crystalized in the isometric system with a hardness of 10 on the mohs scale, a specific gravity of 3.52 and a refractive index of 2.42 produced through a manufacturing process is a real diamond, not a fake synthetic.” - Forbes online, 2018.
Probably the most important take away for the consumer is that according to a report released by the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) in 2018, Lab grown diamonds are chemically identical to their mined counterparts. They also, luckily for the consumer, cost about 30% less.
WHERE DO LAB GROWN DIAMONDS COME FROM?
Unlike mined diamonds which are mined in specific geographical locations - Russia, Canada, Botswana, Siberia to name but a few - lab grown diamonds come from labs which can be located in almost any country in the world. Some of the largest manufacturers in the world are located in the USA and China for now, but as this exciting industry grows, so will the geographical spread of manufacturers.
HOW DO THEY STACK UP AGAINST MINED DIAMONDS?
Lab grown diamonds have absolutely identical properties to mined diamonds. They are comprised of the same material (ie carbon), have the same chemical make-up, require the same cutting, polishing and grading as mined diamonds. A mined diamond is a naturally occurring crystalised carbon piece which over many many years forms a diamond beneath the earth's surface. A Lab grown diamond begins its life as a tiny piece of carbon which is crystalised in a manufactured greenhouse type environment over the course of, normally 4-12 weeks.
“KBH: To mine about one carat stone, one has to dig down upwards of 1,700 tons of soil. They have to go down the equivalent of ten city blocks into the Earth for one carat. Environmentally, to have to unearth 1,700, almost 2,000 tons of soil for one carat, is not sustainable.”
Mined diamonds are not renewable and rely on heavy mining of the earth in order to extract the gems. Mining has had a huge impact on environmental sustainability in many regions all over the world. Deep pit mines that have been dug and abandoned or closed over the past 50+ years, leaving behind empty, uninhabitable pits and stretches of land. There is also the the humane aspect of diamond extraction in that working in these enormous mines itself is dangerous and that working conditions are poor, even in non-conflict diamond mines.
Lab grown diamond manufacturers do not dig large mines in the earth. The process does not require mining the earth’s surface, digging tunnels metres deep into the ground and no need for piping for the same reason.. Lab grown diamond workers work in labs and factories, not mines. Lab grown diamonds come from a renewable source and a process that can be repeated time and time again with carbon seeds.
It could be argued, validly, that lab grown diamonds are a sustainable, renewable and ethical alternative to mined diamonds. And we are delighted with that! Oh, and did we mention that lab grown diamonds are on average 30% less expensive than mined diamonds?
ARE LAB DIAMONDS CERTIFIED?
Just like mined diamonds, Lab diamonds are certified by some of the best known gemological institutions in the world, like IGI (International Gemological Institution) and GIA (Gemological Institution of America). The diamonds we use are graded in the exact same way as any other diamond and is certified as such. The lab diamonds colour, cut, clarity and carat weight as well as polish and quality of cut are all graded and certified.
It is virtually impossible to tell the difference between a mined diamond and a lab grown diamond as there is no defining, chemical or scientific difference.
WHY ARE DESTELO USING ONLY LAB GROWN DIAMONDS?
As if you even need to ask after reading all of this thirst quenching information! DESTELO are committed to providing our customers with sustainable diamonds from a renewable and completely traceable source. We want our customers to be comfortable in the choice they have made, that the diamond they have chosen has a significantly reduced carbon footprint and comes from a provably ethical source. Finally, we want to offer value (approx 30% less expensive than mined diamonds) and quality to every customer without compromising on price.