Lab Grown Diamond Necklaces Vs. Natural Diamond Necklaces - Which One Should You Choose?

As you're browsing for diamond necklaces, there are two terms you're bound to hear - lab diamonds and natural diamonds. Lab diamond popularity has skyrocketed in recent years as they're more accepted and sought after for their benefits. Keep reading to learn more about these two diamond options so you can see which is best for you!

Composition and Origin

The most significant difference between lab and natural diamonds is where they're made. Lab diamonds are created in a lab environment, and natural diamonds are within the Earth's crust. Both diamonds have the same physical and chemical composition, so they'll have the same brilliance, fire, and hardness in your diamond necklace. You can't spot the difference between the naked eye. Sometimes, microscopes are used by professionals to distinguish between the two. Lab diamonds don't have nitrogen, but natural diamonds do.

According to the GIA, natural diamonds form 100 miles (161 km) or more beneath the Earth's surface from extreme temperatures and high pressure. High temperatures and pressure bond carbon atoms with one another. Temperatures are more than 2100oF (1150o C), and pressures are 45,000 times greater than at sea level. Over billions of years of heat and pressure have allowed crystals to form, creating the hardest natural mineral on Earth, diamonds.

Lab diamonds recreate the pressure and high temperatures within the Earth but in a lab environment. Two methods invented in the 1950s, Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) diamonds and high temperature (HPHT), are still used today, but the processes continue to improve per GIA. Lab diamonds take about 6 to 10 weeks to create, and between six and seven million carats of lab-grown diamonds were produced worldwide in 2020, per the Global Diamond Report 2020-2021.

Environmental Impact

Digging for diamonds has environmental impacts, such as deforestation, ecosystem disruption, and the release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. On average, mining companies move 250 tons of Earth per carat of mined diamond, per the International Gem Society (IGS).

While creating lab diamonds impacts the Earth less than mining, it still requires resources to run the lab and create the lab grown diamonds. Fossil fuels are needed to create the high temperatures and pressures required to grow lab diamonds. Some labs are implementing solar power to make the process more environmentally friendly.

Ethical Considerations

More consumers are more aware of the ethical impacts of diamonds, and many want to know the origin of their diamonds. Mining in some areas also highlights the treatment of the workers. Some workers face brutality and are denied access to basic human rights.

One of the reasons that lab made diamonds are more affordable is the streamlined supply chain. Offering a transparent supply chain and cutting out some of the intermediaries saves the consumer money.

Cost

According to the IGS, lab grown diamonds can cost 40 to 50% less than natural diamonds of the same size and quality. The cost difference is higher for larger carat weights and fancy colored diamonds because natural and colored diamonds are even rarer.

A few reasons allow lab diamonds to be lower cost, including more diamond choices, no mining costs, and a streamlined supply chain. Having more lab grown diamond options means you have more options at more affordable prices. The costs to create a lab made diamond cost less than the high cost of mining. Cutting out the mediators in the production process also saves money. The supply chain is more direct, and the savings of not having as many processes in the supply chain means you save money.

Quality and Characteristics

The quality and characteristics of natural and lab diamonds are the same. A colorless lab diamond will look the same as a colorless natural diamond. Regardless of what type of diamond you're selecting, you'll need to determine what quality meets your personal preferences and your budget. You may stretch your budget by selecting a lab grown diamond and getting a higher-quality, larger diamond for the same price you planned to spend.

One common misconception about lab grown diamonds is that they aren't “real” diamonds. That's false because lab and mined diamonds are the same chemically, physically, and optically.

Market Trends

The market for lab grown diamonds continues to increase and will likely continue on that upward trend. It's reported that $10.8 billion was spent on lab grown diamonds in 2022, and this market will reach $20.6 billion by 2032, according to a report. As lab diamonds have become more popular, they're also more accepted for their sustainable and ethically sourced advantages.

Personal Preferences

Selecting a diamond is a personal choice that comes with plenty of other options. You'll need to pick your budget and quality options. And you'll also need to weigh your ethical considerations and environmental concerns. You'll have to prioritize your preferences so you can be content with your purchase.

Conclusion

Shopping for diamond necklaces is all about the options. You can choose the quality, type of diamond, and how much you like to spend. Today, you have even more diamond options between natural and lab grown diamonds. Lab and mined diamonds are the same - only one is made in a lab, and the other on Earth.

Lab grown diamonds aren't going anywhere - they're here to stay as a diamond option, and their popularity will continue to increase. As more consumers consider the ethical and environmental impacts of their purchases, some people choose lab grown diamonds because they're sustainable and ethically sourced. Selecting the perfect diamond for a diamond necklace is a personal decision, and you'll have to weigh the options to discover what works best for you.