Lab Grown vs Mined Diamonds - Which is best?
Below we look through the key differences and similarities between Laboratory (Lab) Grown and Mined Diamonds, what are the relative pros and cons and which is the best option for you...
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So, Lab Grown Diamonds vs Mined Diamonds, what are the differences, which is better and which should I go for?...
Well the answer is dependant on the person or couple that are choosing their diamond engagement ring or diamond jewellery.
Firstly, we will answer the question we are most commonly asked:
Q: Lab Grown Diamonds vs Mined Diamonds - are they the same?
A: Yes, visually, chemically and atomically they are the same, the main difference being their origin and how they were produced. One over millions of years within the Earth, the other over weeks and months in a laboratory. The other main difference from a consumers perspective is their price. Lab grown diamonds being considerably cheaper than mined diamonds. There are some very minor difference in trace elements, such as photoluminescence, but these are not visible to the naked eye and can only be judged in Lab conditions using specialist equipment. Natural Mined Diamonds are generally considered a better investment (we will discuss this further below) but don't expect to make a return immediately. Whether or not the recipient thinks they are the same is the most important question to ask. Would they like the knowledge that their diamond is naturally grown within the earth over many Millenia, or would they rather the larger more visually pleasing option knowing it has been grown in a Lab?...
Q: Lab Grown vs Mined: How much cheaper is a Lab Grown diamond than a Natural Mined diamond?
A: It depends on the size of the stone, but a Lab Grown diamond can be 20 x cheaper than its mined counterpart. The reality is that due to the fixed costs of manufacturing, cutting/polishing and certifying of the Lab Grown diamonds, the larger the stone you opt for the greater the disparity in price. If looking for a 0.30ct diamond the price will be in the region of 40% of the cost of their mined counterpart. When looking at a 1ct the Lab Grown diamond will be in the region of 20% the cost of the equivalent mined diamond; whereas when looking at a 3ct+ for example the Lab Grown will be around 5% the cost of the mined equivalent. The rarity of large natural mined diamonds mean they command a significant premium, wheres with a Lab Grown diamond you can theoretically produce an infinite number of them, meaning they don't command nearly the same premium.
Q: Lab Grown vs Mined: How can you tell whether a diamond is a Lab Grown or Mined Diamond?
A: The two main ways to tell whether a diamond is Lab Grown or Mined, is by checking the laser inscription (assuming the diamond is certified by a reputed authority such as the GIA (www.gia.edu) or IGI (www.igi.org)), or by scanning the stones with a Lab Grown CVD/HPHT diamond tester. While many diamantaires claim they can, it is not possible for an expert, or a layman to tell whether a diamond is Lab Grown or a Natural Mined diamond without specialist equipment.
Q: Lab Grown Diamond vs Natural Mined Diamond - Which is a better investment?
A: Mined diamonds have been renowned for generations to be a great store of money and will gradually increase in value over time. As resources and stockpiles dwindle the price of mined diamonds is expected to continue to increase, giving mined diamonds their reputation for being a good investment. However, with the price of Lab Grown Diamonds having dropped considerably over the last 5 or so years, it is argued in some quarters, that while Lab Grown diamonds will be extremely unlikely to increase in value, or retain much value at all, due to their considerably lower purchase price, and being indistinguishable from a mined diamond, your money can be better invested by purchasing one. As a rule however, our company policy is always to advise against purchasing a diamond solely for investment purposes as the markets can move down as well as up and there are certainly better investments out there for both making a quick profit, or for long term gain. We recommend buying a diamond for its symbolism, enjoyment and as an heirloom an any financial gain potentially made on it is an added bonus.
Q: Lab Grown vs Mined - Are Lab Grown Diamonds Real?
A: Yes, Lab Grown Diamonds are real diamonds. They have the same chemical composition, visual and physical characteristics and only differ in a few indistinguishable ways. While Lab Grown diamonds tend to have specific types of inclusion which may allude to which type of diamond they are, it is not possible to ascertain whether a diamond is a Lab Grown Diamond or Natural Mined diamond without testing the diamond, or looking at it's laser inscription under a microscope. Some organisations who promote natural diamonds are trying to insist that a Lab Grown diamond isn't a diamond as it wasn't produced naturally in the earth; however there are many counter arguments against this. A strange but possibly insightful comparison is that to a test tube baby for example. Its not produced in the same way, but the end product is indistinguishable. The answer to this question will continue to be debated but the answer will generally depend on which side of the fence you sit on.
Q: Lab Grown vs Mined Diamonds - Where do the best Lab Grown Diamonds come from?
A: Ultimately, the country of origin of the diamond doesn't make a difference to its properties or characteristics. However, it does tend to be that specific countries will use different types of energy to produce their Lab Grown diamonds, and this will have an impact on their price and green credentials. Many of the Chinese and Indian factories producing Lab Grown diamonds use fossil fuels to power their factories, which helps to keep their prices lower than companies who choose to use renewable energy, but these would certainly not have the green credentials many consumers are wanting from their purchase. Many of the American, and some European companies have embraced the green potential of Lab Grown diamonds and use Solar, Hydroelectric and Wind turbines to produce their Lab Grown diamonds, making them a more eco-friendly option. Lab Grown diamonds produced using renewable energy are the strong preference at Daniel Christopher Jewellery and we will always be happy to ensure your selected diamond is sourced from a reputable, certified ecologically minded company should you wish.
Q: Lab Grown Diamonds vs Natural Mined Diamonds - Are Lab Grown Diamonds an Eco-Friendly, ethical option? Are Lab Grown Diamonds better for the environment?
A: As alluded to above, if sourced from the appropriate company producing Lab Grown diamonds using renewable energy they can be considered a 'green(er)' option and better for the environment than their Natural Mined counterpart. However, if using fossil fuels to produce them this lowers their green credentials, potentially making a mined diamond the more environmentally friendly option. The diamond mining industry has worked tirelessly to ensure HSSE (Health, Safety, Social and Environmental) practices are enforced improving both practices and the reputation of the industry. Many extinct mines are returned to their original condition and money made from the mining enterprises is re-invested into local and regional enterprises, working to improve the lives of those affected by the diamond mine.
Q: Lab Grown vs Mined Diamonds - Where is best to purchase a Lab Grown Diamond from?
A: The answer to this question comes down to the retailer that you select to purchase your diamond from. Transparency and education is key, select a jeweller who discloses to you the full facts about the relative pros and cons of both Lab Grown and Mined diamond options, allowing you to make an informed and educated decision. The diamonds (both Lab and Mined) are priced in USD and sold/sourced internationally, so other than the sales tax in the country of purchase, prices should be comparable in whichever country you decide to purchase from. We would however always recommend ensuring you receive a full money back guarantee with your diamond, which in the UK is the standard practice. There is no right or wrong option when deciding between and Lab Grown or Mined diamond, it is a case of selecting which is the best option for you, or the recipient of the diamond.
Q: Lab Grown Diamonds vs Mined Diamonds - Do they need to be certified and what type of certificate should I choose?
A: Yes, always ensure your diamond is certified, whether it be a Lab Grown diamond or a traditional earth mined diamond. The specific company that certifies your diamond is also very important and always ensure it is certified by an independant authority and definitely not by the company you are purchasing the diamond from. There are many companies out there who certify diamonds but we choose to only sell Mined Diamonds certified by the GIA (Gemological Institute of America - www.gia.edu). The GIA are the worlds foremost authority on diamonds, they invented the diamond grading scale as we now know it, and have conducted more research than anyone else into diamonds and how best to grade them. They are amongst the hardest graders (meaning your diamond will not slip through and be graded as better than it is) and have built a reputation as being un-influenceable, ensuring diamonds are graded anonymously by different graders. Due to the GIA's reluctance to initially certify Lab Grown diamonds the vast majority of Lab Grown diamonds are certified by the IGI (International Gemological Institute - www.igi.org) who are an internationally recognised, independant organisation. If you have a preferred authority you would like your diamond to come certified by, let us know and we will source this for you specifically.
Q: Lab Grown versus Mined Diamonds: What are the differences between Lab Grown Diamonds and Natural Diamonds?
A: Many of the main differences we have alluded to above so to re-cap:
Source: Earth Mined Diamonds are naturally formed within the earth over millions of years; Lab Grown Diamonds are created in a Laboratory over days and weeks.
Physical Characteristics: While there are minute chemical differences, both Lab Grown and Earth Mined Diamonds have the same physical characteristics. They have the same Chemical Composition (Carbon), the same Refractive Index (2.42), the same Dispersion (0.044) as well as the same hardness (10).
Price: Earth mined diamonds are more expensive than their Lab Grown counterparts.
Investment: Mined diamonds are generally considered a better investment than their Lab Grown Diamond counterpart.
Q: Lab Grown versus Earth Mined Diamonds: What to look for when purchasing a Lab Grown Diamond vs an Earth Mined Diamond?
A: There are many factors to consider when purchasing a Lab Grown diamond, with many of the the same as when buying a traditional mined diamond. The differential in cost can be huge, meaning many customers opt for a considerably higher specification of the 4 C's than when selecting a mined diamond. We find that the most common specification for a mined diamond tends to be F colour and SI1 clarity (so high colour with sacrifices made in the clarity of the diamond, which usually isn't visible to the naked eye) whereas customers selecting Lab Grown Diamonds tend to opt for a D/E colour and VS1+ clarity, meaning an almost perfect colour, and no visible inclusions, even if viewed with a Loupe (by a layman).
The way the Lab Grown Diamond has been produced will also be a factor. For some customers in particular the green credentials of the diamond is paramount so to ensure the diamond has been produced using renewable energy can be an important factor.
Q: Lab Grown vs Mined: Are Lab Grown Diamonds as good as Natural Mined Diamonds?
A: Again this comes down to the individual and for what reason they are being purchased. While opinions vary throughout the trade, my preference if purchasing an engagement ring would be towards a mined diamond for both its timeless allure and what it represents, but also for the superior store of money (they are less likely to depreciate over time). If I was considering purchasing a pair of earrings, a necklace or a dress ring, the more favourable price point would lead me to consider opting for a Laboratory Grown Diamond; and I cold potentially purchase all 3 items for the same price as I could purchase 1 with the mined diamond counterpart.
We have however seen a huge interest in Lab Grown Diamond Engagement Rings, with around 3/4 of customers over the last year considering them, and close to half of our customers in the last year opting for a Lab Grown Engagement ring.
Q: Lab vs Mined Diamonds: Are Lab Grown Diamonds Real Diamonds or Fake?
A: This will depend on who you ask! Anyone involved in solely the mined diamond industry, from mining itself through to polishers, merchants and even jewellers, will insist they are not real diamonds and shouldn't be classified as so. Anyone working in the Lab Grown Diamond industry will insist they are real diamonds, have the same chemical and molecular structure as mined diamond, are indistinguishable without specialist testing equipment and are 'Real Diamonds'.
As a jeweller who has colleagues in the mining industry and has traditionally only sold mined diamonds, I was initially reluctant to sell Lab Grown Diamonds until having seen and compared them to mined diamonds. They clearly are a different product to a mined diamond, based on their origin, however as they are indistinguishable property wise, I don't personally see them as 'fake'; purely another product or offering we can provide to our customers, some of whom will chose and benefit through them, whereas others won't. As with selecting the desired combination of the 4 C's, it is an individual choice and will differ from one individual to the next.
Q: Lab Grown vs Mined Diamonds: Are Lab Grown Diamonds as Hard as Natural Mined Diamonds?
A: Yes, both have a hardness rating of '10' on the Mohs Scale of Hardness, the highest rating.
Q: Lab vs Mined: How do you identify a Lab Grown Diamond from a Natural Mined Diamond?
A: You can identify a Lab Grown Diamond from an Earth Mined Diamond either by using a microscope to read the laser inscribed certificate number on the girdle of the diamond; or by putting the diamond into a Lab Grown Diamond tester, however these are expensive and only a viable option for someone working within the trade.
Q: Lab Grown vs Mined: Do Lab Grown Diamonds look different?
A: No, to the naked eye Lab Grown Diamonds are indistinguishable from Mined Diamonds. They have the same refractive index and dispersion, as well as the same chemical and molecular composition. It can be possible to make an educated guess based on the type of inclusions within the diamond as some Lab Grown Diamonds tend to have the same type of inclusions, however these are not limited to Lab Grown Diamonds and can be seen within mined diamonds also.
Q: Lab Grown vs Mined: Why do people buy mined diamonds when they cost more?
A: Traditional Mined Diamonds, Earth Grown Diamonds or Natural Diamonds, however you refer to them, maintain an unmatchable allure thorough the millions of years they have taken to form, the extensive process of extracting them from mother earth and the many processes they go through before being set into your diamond engagement ring, to be worn for the rest of your life and likely passed down through generations.
In the past, mined diamonds have received negative press for their connections to conflict in some African countries in particular, now Russian; and the negative impacts diamond mining can make to the environment and communities surrounding the mines; but the industry has worked tirelessly through a series of incentive schemes, sustainability legislation and community projects to help alleviate the previous negative impact that tainted the diamond mining industry.
Q: Lab vs Mined - Which is better financially?
A: When purchasing a diamond engagement ring many customers are concerned with the retained value within their diamond and how it will work as an investment for them and the generations to follow. While there is a strong argument that there are far better investments than a diamond, mined diamonds are certainly a better investment than a Lab Grown Diamond. Due the the finite nature of a Mined Diamond (there are only so many diamonds within the earth and while there are large stockpiles of natural mined diamonds, there hasn't been a new diamond mine discovered in around 70 years) as the number of available diamonds reduces and demand continues, their price has historically (and is expected to continue to do so) increased over time; whereas with a product such as a lab Grown diamond where you can in theory produce infinite numbers, they do not retain a value and while they will not be worthless, they are not expected to increase in value. That said, with Lab Grown diamonds being up to 20x less for an equivalent diamond (the larger you choose the greater the disparity in price) there is a counter argument that they are in fact a better investment, when you can pay so much less for what is in effect a visually identical product.
