Natural Diamonds compared to Lab-Grown Diamonds.Â
After billions of years of natural crystallization, natural diamonds are mined from the Earth's crust. Lab-grown or synthetic diamonds are created in a laboratory in just a few weeks.
Which should you choose? There’s no wrong answer, but there are some facts you should know!
Similarities:
Appearance:
Both natural diamonds and lab-grown synthetic diamonds look the same to the naked eye. They are both carbon compositions but with different crystalline structures. We have a machine that can instantly differentiate one from the other.
Durability:
Both types of diamonds score a 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness, making them equally durable and suitable for everyday wear.
Variety:
Both options are available in a wide range of shapes, sizes, and qualities.
Differences:
Origin:
Lab-grown diamonds are created in weeks to months, while natural diamonds are formed by nature, naturally, over billions of years. Lab-grown diamonds are synthetic - human-made to appear like a natural process.
Cost:
Lab-grown diamonds cost typically 20-40% less than natural diamonds of comparable size and quality. At Vanscoy, Maurer and Bash Diamond Jewelers in Lancaster, PA, we’re here to meet you where you are and find the best piece for your budget, so the price difference can be an important factor.
Rarity:
The major difference between natural diamonds and lab-grown synthetic diamonds is their rarity. Natural gem-quality diamonds are very rare when compared to all the diamonds mined each year. Lab-grown diamonds are created in any quantity to meet the demand. The larger the natural diamond, the more rare it is. Not so with Lab-grown synthetic diamonds.
Environmental Impacts
Sustainability has become an increasingly important factor in buying behavior, and diamonds are no exception. Lab-grown diamonds use a tremendous amount of energy to create the heat necessary for their manufacturing process. The carbon footprint created by lab-grown synthetic diamonds is approximately 3x that of an earth-mined natural diamond. Earth-mined natural diamonds are much more eco-friendly as De Beers uses strict restoration guidelines to improve the natural landscape during the mining process, leaving it better than how they found it after the mine has been exhausted of rough diamonds.Â
The Four C's of Choosing a Diamond
When selecting a diamond, understanding the four C's — of Carat, Color, Clarity, and Cut. — is essential:
Carat:
Carat is the unit of weight for diamonds. Simple enough, just put the diamond on a scale and a carat is one-fifth of a gram. The larger the diamond, the more rare it is, and therefore the more you pay for it. Price is a function of how rare the diamond is.
Clarity
Clarity measures the presence of internal or external characteristics, known as inclusions. Diamonds with fewer inclusions are more rare and therefore the more they cost. However, Clarity is the least important of the four C’s once the diamond appears ‘clean’ to the naked eye. You only notice the inclusions of an ‘eye-clean’ diamond with the use of a jeweler's loupe or microscope.
Color:
Diamond color ranges from completely colorless (most rare) to noticeable tints of yellow or brown. Color is one of the four C’s you can see at arm's length. Of course, if the diamond has a very intense yellow, then it is really rare and very desirable if it is a natural diamond. Lab-grown diamonds can also offer fancy colors, like pink and blue, at a more affordable price.
Cut:
This is the most important of the four C’s because it is what truly gives diamonds their fire and sparkle. It is what you see from across the room! The cut is the engineering of the diamond and how well the diamond cutter did its job and brought out the beauty that was in the piece of rough diamond. It is a measure of the symmetry and polish of the diamond which has a major impact on how the diamond gathers light, reflects it internally, and returns it to your eye in the form of that dazzling sparkle you can immediately see. We always seek to find the best cut diamonds.
Which Diamond is Right for You?
Choosing between a natural diamond and a lab-grown synthetic one comes down to personal values, budget, and priorities. If budget is a key factor, a lab-grown diamond might be the perfect choice. If rarity and tradition are more important, a natural diamond could hold special appeal.
It’s important to note that lab-grown diamonds are not eligible for our diamond trade-up policy, meaning they cannot be traded in toward a larger diamond in the future as we offer with our natural diamonds.
Learn more about our Diamond Trade-Up Policy.
Ready to get started?
Regardless of your choice, our friendly team of diamond experts at Vanscoy, Maurer and Bash Diamond Jewelers in Lancaster, PA is here to help you understand the journey and quality of your diamond and ensure you get a diamond you can cherish for a lifetime. We invite you to make an appointment or visit us in-store today.
