Why Consider a Lab-Created Diamond?
Lab-created diamonds are becoming increasingly popular for their exceptional quality, stunning sparkle and minimal environmental impact. For couples who are looking for a more affordable, eco-friendly alternative to traditionally mined diamonds, lab-grown gems are a great option. But is it right for your special someone? Here’s what you should know.
How Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Made?
Just a few decades ago, it would have seemed unimaginable to create lab diamonds with the same properties as mined diamonds. Now, innovative technological advances have made this vision a stunning reality.
Lab diamonds are created in dedicated facilities that leverage highly specialized equipment, technology and responsibly sourced raw materials. By studying the natural process that leads to diamond creation, technicians are able to effectively recreate the environment in which diamonds develop within the earth.
There are two basic methods for modern lab diamond creation: CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) and High-Pressure High Temperature (HPHT). For high quality, wearable gems, CVD is the preferred process. With that said, both processes rely on extreme pressure and very high heat as catalysts for diamond creation. For an exceptional gemstone, the temperature in a pressurized chamber can reach as high as 2000° Fahrenheit.
While the process is scientifically complex, the results are breathtakingly simple, natural and stunning. Lab-grown diamonds are the same as mined diamonds—pure crystallized carbon within the isometric cubic system. Lab-grown diamonds have the same optical, chemical and physical properties as mined diamonds. Using modern equipment and scientific know-how, technicians can grow them using similar conditions found in nature (temperature and pressure) in a controlled environment.
Lab-Grown vs. Real Diamond
The 'Four Cs' (cut, color, clarity, and carat weight) have always dictated diamond value. As the decades have passed, these standards are still how all diamonds are measured. Lab-grown diamonds are held to the same unyielding standards as naturally mined diamonds. They must also be cut and polished by master cutters to form beautifully faceted gems.
One of the greatest advantages to a lab-grown diamond is that, to the naked eye, it is indistinguishable from a mined diamond. Even the most seasoned diamond-detectors cannot identify a lab-grown diamond because they are identical both chemically and optically to mined diamonds. The only real difference is that lab-created diamonds include microscopic inscriptions. Without highly specialized equipment, however, it’s not possible to know whether a diamond was naturally mined or grown in a lab.
This means that your family, friends and acquaintances will never know the difference. You can still get that engagement ring of your dreams, with all the shine, fire and sparkle without concerns over the environmental impact of purchasing a mined diamond.
Should I Get a Lab Grown Diamond?
Not every jeweler maintains John Atencio’s unwavering integrity and adherence to the most stringent ethical and social standards, which include complying with the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), a global effort aimed at stopping the trade of "conflict diamonds" used to finance human trafficking, war and other harmful activities.
Mined diamonds are often associated with concerns over human rights and environmental impact. They also require substantial energy to extract them from the earth. Given that lab-created diamonds are made in a controlled environment, these ethical issues simply don't exist. Lab diamonds also typically cost about 30% less than natural diamonds of comparable quality and size.
Choosing lab-grown diamond jewelry eliminates concerns over the environmental and human toll of mining diamonds. Simply put, a John Atencio lab-grown diamond is the new standard of responsible ethics and environmental stewardship in the diamond trade. John Atencio’s lab-created diamonds are just as stunning as the finest mined diamonds, differentiated only by origin. They also carry the John Atencio name, meaning they represent the very finest lab-grown diamonds available.
If you're searching for an affordable, eco-friendly alternative to traditionally mined diamonds, John Atencio lab-grown diamonds are the ideal choice. And, when one of our lab-developed diamonds is paired with a superior John Atencio setting, it results in a breathtaking artistic expression of luxury and beauty unlike anything else. Explore our lab-created diamond search or make an appointment at one of our locations, where our attentive team will provide a personalized approach to help you find the exact right diamond for your special someone.
