Is a diamond produced in a lab still really a diamond? The answer to that question, luckily, is very straightforward: yes. Diamonds are essentially just the proper combination of carbon, heat, and pressure. Regardless of whether they were formed underground over a billion years ago or created less than a week ago, lab grown diamonds are identical to their naturally occurring counterparts. If you look under a microscope at a diamond, you’ll be unable to distinguish whether or not it originated in a lab. And because the process is highly regulated in a lab setting, lab diamonds contain fewer flaws overall.
There's a reason engineered diamonds are called "lab grown," and it's only partly due to marketing. Lab diamonds are started from tiny diamond seeds - actual slivers of diamond that contain the chemical structure laboratories are trying to replicate. The same way that cultured pearls are formed in a controlled environment and made by inoculating mollusks with tissue grafts, diamonds are inoculated inside a highly pressurized and heated chamber. Unlike pearls, which come from and are formed by living organisms, diamonds are not subject to the same genetic variation. Although lab diamonds are not without flaws, the result of years of scientific research is a quality product with replicable results.
Lab grown diamond engagement rings are surging in popularity as a beautiful, affordable, and more sustainable approach to mined diamonds. When you choose to purchase a created diamond for your partner, you have just as many options for ring settings and diamonds but all at a better price. Diamond engagement rings are still a precious tradition that says "yes, forever," but with created diamonds there's no need to sacrifice quality for the sake of a budget. Whether it's a large, flawless solitaire or an intricate double halo, you can give your partner the engagement ring of their dreams without any sacrifice.
Regardless of whether you use the term lab-grown diamond, engineered diamond, cultured diamond, man-made diamond, or lab-created diamond, these created diamonds are still optically and chemically identical to natural diamonds. The terms synthetic and artificial are misnomers, because lab diamonds are not fake in terms of structure or composition. Man-made stones are just as durable as natural ones and contain the same elements. Created diamonds are equal if not superior to natural stones; growing in a lab gives scientists and gemologists time to perfect their process to exclude flaws and increase clarity. The next time someone says “artificial diamond” you can be confident in knowing there is no such thing.
The next time you’re in the market for a new piece of diamond jewelry, stop by Diamonds Direct in the St. Petersburg area and ask about our selection of lab grown diamonds. From rings to earrings, pendants, bracelets, and everything in between, we have an exquisite collection of pieces featuring created diamonds that are sure to please you, your wallet, and the environment.
