Should You Prefer Lab

Nov 13, 2023

The debate between natural and lab-grown diamonds has been ongoing for some time now. The lab-manufactured diamonds seem to be winning the debate here. Experts say that lab-grown diamonds are here to stay and have brought new hopes and energy to the diamond market.

Lab-grown or synthetic diamonds are available in many offline and online jewellery stores. However, the individual store will have only a limited variety of stones. On the other hand, a ring marketplace like Rare Carat lists a wide range of lab-grown diamond rings from multiple sellers.

With the growing popularity of lab-grown diamonds, it is essential to consider the pros and cons of each option. This article will explore why you should or should not prefer lab-grown diamonds over natural ones on the Rare Carat Marketplace. We will discuss the differences, the environmental impacts, and the cost. By the end of this article, you should better understand which option is best for you.

Here are some reasons to buy a lab-grown diamond.

Lab-grown diamonds are still a relatively new product. If you’re used to seeing one kind of diamond, it can be a bit confusing when you encounter something else. But there are some major differences between lab-grown and mined diamonds that make them worth knowing.

Lab-grown diamonds have been around since the 1950s, but they’ve only begun gaining traction in the last decade. They’re not the same as traditional diamonds. They don't come from mines but grow in controlled environments under heat and pressure.

The process involves putting carbon into an oven with high temperatures, which results in graphite forming on electrodes inside two electrochemical cells connected by wires. These wires create an electric current that heats the graphite until it melts into liquid carbon at around 2200 degrees F., then cools down slowly over many hours to form crystals below 500 microns wide.

As you might imagine, no diamonds are mined from the earth to create a lab-grown diamond. This means there's no need for harmful chemicals like cyanide or other chemicals to be used in their mining.

Additionally, lab-grown diamonds are considerably more eco-friendly than natural diamonds since they don't have to be transported across oceans and continents to get from one place to another. In addition to being better for your wallet, our planet's lab-grown diamonds are also less likely than their natural counterparts to cause mining accidents.

However, they are not as sustainable as they might sound. Although they don't impact the environment through mining, they require energy to be produced. This means they indirectly impact the environment as energy production release greenhouse gases. However, they still don't affect the environment to the extent of natural diamond production.

Moreover, each diamond will have a different level of eco-friendliness. If it had been created legally, it would have been less harmful, otherwise more. Hence, you must always check a diamond's certificate to know the authenticity of the diamond. This will also eliminate the chances of fraud.

When buying a natural or lab-grown diamond, always select a seller or platform that offers only certified diamonds. Diamond ring platforms like Rare Carat can be trusted here as they show you the certification and offer unbiased gemologist input. Additionally, you can also read Rare Carat reviews to gain trust on the website.

One of the most obvious reasons to choose lab-grown diamonds is that they are much cheaper than their natural counterparts. This is because they are not as rare and don't need to be mined from the earth, which can be expensive.

The more you know about diamonds and how they’re made, the more you’ll realize there isn't a difference between using your money on either one. If you have $1,000 saved up for an engagement ring purchase and plan on spending it on either option, go right ahead. The resale value is virtually nonexistent with both kinds, so don't worry about losing out if something unfortunate happens.

Lab-grown synthetic diamonds can be 50%-70% cheaper compared to natural diamonds. You can compare the prices of both diamonds on Rare Carat or any other website that sell them. For instance, the price for 1 carat Asscher cut diamond starts at around $1,750. On the other hand, lab-grown 1-carat Asscher cut diamonds cost only around $930.

Lab-grown diamonds are also ethical. While natural diamonds are mined, lab-grown diamonds are grown in a lab. This means no harm is done to the environment or people involved in getting them. Also, since they don't require mining, they aren't associated with all the negative environmental effects and labour issues accompanying traditional mining.

Mining can be a dangerous occupation. According to a recent Reuters article, around 6 people died in a Congo diamond mine. Such incidents are common, as fatal accidents can happen anytime inside a mine. Lab-grown diamonds eliminate all such hazards and improve the safety of workers.

While there are many reasons to opt for lab-grown diamonds, here are some reasons to think otherwise.

Lab-grown diamonds can be made in every shape, cut, and colour imaginable. You can view all lab-grown diamonds on the Rare Carat website and understand that almost every shape, size, and colour of natural diamond has a similar lab-grown diamond counterpart.

However, the thing is that although looking similar, natural diamonds have unique properties. But lab-grown diamonds come out of a machine instead of the earth. Hence, there's no variation from one diamond to another, no surprises.

This means you won't have to worry about getting an irregular-shaped stone or one that's off in colour compared to what you ordered online. But it also means that your lab diamond will be nothing unique.

There's no secondary market for lab-grown diamonds, and they have no resale value. You’ll likely never need to sell your jeweller's choice cut stone.

This means that while you’ll pay less upfront for an equivalent stone in some circumstances, over time, those savings may disappear if it costs more to re-cut and reset your custom creation when selling it later on down the road compared with selling an original piece made from mined gemstones.

In conclusion, lab-grown diamonds are a great choice. They’re just as beautiful and durable as natural diamonds, but they come with several other benefits that make them more environmentally friendly and less expensive than their mined counterparts. Contact us today if you have further questions about whether this is right for your budget or style preferences.