Lab Created Diamonds Or Natural Diamonds?
When searching for the right diamond for you or your fiancé, you’ll have lab grown and natural diamonds to choose from. Choosing which diamond is for you is a personal decision, but we want you to have all the facts.
Are lab grown diamonds real?
Lab grown diamonds are real diamonds in every way. Lab grown diamonds share identical chemical properties with diamonds and it is impossible to tell them apart with the naked eye. Only specialized equipment can tell them apart and both diamonds have the same sparkle and reflect light exactly the same brilliant way.
How lab grown diamonds are made
Lab grown diamonds, which are also referred to as engineered or cultured, are created using high pressure, high-temperature machines and take up to three months to produce. Learn more about how lab grown diamonds are made.
Natural diamonds at Juneau are ethically mined deep from the earth’s mantle. They are incredibly rare, making them a bit more expensive than lab-grown diamonds. At Juneau, we also follow the Kimberley Process to ensure our diamonds are always conflict free.
Lab grown vs natural diamonds
When you’re doing a side-by-side comparison of lab grown diamonds and natural diamonds, you may be swayed by the fact that lab grown diamonds look identical but cost much less. Those who have a set budget are often pleased they can get a larger total carat weight for less money when they select lab grown diamonds.
Still, for some, the rarity of natural diamonds is what makes them so special. They’re attracted to the romanticism of a diamond that was produced as one of earth’s amazing treasures. It’s truly up to each individual to decide what is most important to them.
How to choose a lab grown diamond
For both lab grown and natural diamonds, our recommendations for how to choose a diamond are the same. You’ll want to think about the four C’s, your budget or payment plan options, and the shape of the diamond you prefer. You may also think about the metal and metal tone you want to pair your diamond with, and how you might pair it with other jewelry pieces (such as pairing an engagement ring and wedding band). In the end, it all comes down to what makes the wearer feel loved.
How are lab grown diamonds made?
In nature, diamonds are formed deep in the earth’s crust where temperatures and pressure are very high. These diamonds only become available for mining when volcanoes erupt and bring the diamonds within 100 feet of the surface.
The effort to mimic this process in nature is not new. Scientists began a rudimentary version of recreating diamonds beginning in 1954 and other gemstones, such as rubies, were replicated well before that. We have come a long way since those early days and we are now able to create diamonds that cannot be differentiated from natural diamonds with the naked eye.
While there are several variations for each of these processes, lab grown diamonds are produced in one of two main ways, Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) and High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) manufacturing.
Hpht diamonds
When using the HPHT process, pure carbon and a tiny piece of diamond referred to as a starter seed, are placed in a high pressure, high temperature chamber. As the carbon in heated, it melts around the starter seed and a diamond is created. At this time, the HPHT process makes it possible to create much larger diamonds than the CVD process.
Cvd diamonds
A diamond made using CVD begins with a narrow slice of diamond seed and places it in a sealed chamber. By filling the chamber with hydrocarbon gas mixtures and ionizing them into plasma using lasers, microwaves and other techniques, the molecular bonds in the gases are broken and the pure carbon sticks to the diamond seed. This process does not require high pressure and the temperatures, while still high are nowhere near what is required for HPHT.
Timeless lab grown diamond jewelry
Juneau’s Light Heart™ and ALTR™ lab grown diamond jewelry collection offers you an alternative choice in fine jewelry. Generating the earth’s natural conditions, sophisticated technology raises the temperature of a tiny diamond seed to grow a diamond with identical chemical makeup to a traditional diamond. Light Heart™ and ALTR™ lab grown diamonds are indistinguishable from earth grown diamonds to the naked eye. With expert scientists monitoring the growth process from beginning to end, every Light Heart™ and ALTR™ lab grown diamond meets Juneau’s quality standards. Stunning diamonds with classic and timeless design and detailing add up to a consistently beautiful result. Shop everything from rings, earrings, necklaces & pendants, and bracelets. Find the lab grown diamond that suits your style at Juneau Diamonds.
Lab grown diamond jewelry makes wonderful gifts. Understated diamond jewelry offers outstanding versatility from casual to the workplace or an evening out, items such as diamond studs and simple dangle earrings are the perfect go-to. Bracelets, necklaces and pendants are time-honored ways to celebrate life milestones and achievements. Now you can give your loved one a lab grown diamond piece that blends tradition, modernity and budget.