What is a lab grown diamond?
Lab grown diamonds and natural diamonds are identical to each other in every way whether it is about their chemical or physical properties. The only difference between them and the natural ones is that of occurrence and formation. While natural diamonds take years to grow naturally under heat and pressure, lab grown diamonds are grown manually using diamond seed. The composition of real Diamonds is almost entirely pure carbon. Lab diamonds are made with similar compositions due to which they have the exact same physical properties as that of the mined diamonds. The process to replicate natural diamonds to craft lab diamonds is the same as the process that forms earth grown diamonds. The only difference is that they cost up to 40% less and come to life a lot faster as compared to naturally occurring diamonds.
Are lab grown diamonds real?
Even though it is a myth some people often refer to lab created diamonds as “fake diamonds’, imitation diamonds or even simulant diamonds. Both lab created diamonds and natural ones share similar chemical and physical properties. The similarity is so close that it is almost impossible to distinguish between the two. But while you make a purchase and choose between the two kinds, you could differentiate between the two based on which is more expensive or eco-friendly.
Are lab grown diamonds valuable?
Lab grown diamonds are products of years of research and development, therefore are most definitely valuable. A lab grown diamond is not just more accessible but also is at par with the quality of that of a natural diamond. An army of scientists and engineers who put in their time, efforts and expertise are the reason behind achieving exemplary results to produce high quality diamonds that today are almost as valuable as naturally occurring diamonds.
What’s the difference between a lab grown diamond?
As stated above, lab grown diamonds and natural diamonds are identical to each other in every way whether it is about their chemical or physical properties. The only difference between them and the natural ones is that of occurrence and formation. The process to replicate natural diamonds to craft lab diamonds is the same as the process that forms earth grown diamonds and hence both are almost identical, chemically and physically. While there is a negligible difference between the two, lab grown diamonds are more accessible than the ones that are naturally mined and therefore much less expensive. Not just that lab diamonds are ethically sourced and are sustainable.
Is a lab grown diamond a real diamond?
Yes, as discussed earlier, Lab diamonds are just like real ones and come with the same chemical and physical properties. The carbon-based chemical composition of lab diamonds makes them Real Diamonds and cannot be called fake. The lab grown diamonds are made by a process that replicates the process by which the natural diamonds come to life. The only difference is that the replication of the process is done in a way that it reduces the time consumed in the same.
Are lab grown diamonds the same as moissanite?
Moissanite, also known as a diamond simulant is also lab-created but is not composed of carbon atoms, and therefore it cannot be called a real diamond after all.
Moissanite does not have the same brilliance and sparkle as a real diamond would. The refractive index of a diamond is 2.2 vs. 2.42 while the refractive index of moissanite is higher than diamond i.e. 2.65 – 2.69. Due to such a high refractive index, moissanite gives off a vibrant coloured reflection that differentiates it from a real diamond.
Talking about other factors like the score on Moh’s Scale of Hardness, Diamonds score a perfect 10, while moissanite is between 9-9.5 and unlike lab made diamonds, Moissanites are lower in value and make for a poor investment.
Are lab diamonds as strong as natural diamonds?
The hardness of gemstones is measured on the Moh’s Scale of Hardness. Both Lab diamonds and natural diamonds score a 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness making the lab diamonds as strong and as hard as the naturally occurring ones.
Can a jeweller tell if a diamond is lab-created?
With the naked eye, it is almost unlikely for a jeweller or an expert to determine if a diamond is lab created or has been naturally mined. Only a highly experienced gemologist with a specialised set of equipment may be able to tell the difference by identifying the minute inclusions that a lab-created diamond has.
Will lab diamonds pass a diamond tester?
Yes. Lab diamonds are made from pure crystallised carbon and are equivalent to real diamonds. Due to the above lab diamond qualifies as a real diamond and would hence and will pass all such tests.
Do lab diamonds shine like natural diamonds?
There is no difference between the composition of the lab diamonds and the natural ones other than their creation process. Due to the same, lab diamonds have the same shine, colour, clarity and sparkle as the mined ones.
What is the difference between a lab-created diamond and a cubic zirconia?
A lab-created diamond is a real diamond because of the similarity of their chemical and physical composition, whereas cubic zirconia is not. Cubic zirconia is a simulant that does not contain carbon and therefore does not qualify as a diamond. A jeweller can easily point out the difference between cubic zirconia and a lab created diamond. Unlike a lab diamond which has the same look and physical properties as a natural diamond, Cubic zirconia is less hard and does not look quite the same to the naked eye.
