7 reasons to buy lab grown diamonds (Complete Version)

Why should I buy a lab grown diamond?! If you thought you couldn’t afford diamonds or that the clarity, color, carat weight or cut of your dreams was out of reach, think again – and think lab grown diamond.

The first thing to note is that lab grown diamond is a diamond like any other. It has the same physical and chemical makeup as diamond formed over millions of years underground and uses the exact same process – only a lot, lot quicker. 

1. Are lab grown diamonds as good as natural diamonds?

Yes. Lab grown diamonds are graded in the same way as natural diamonds, with the 4 Cs (cut, color, clarity and carat weight) determining their quality. As they go through the same formation process as natural diamonds, lab grown diamonds are equally susceptible to inclusions, so you should use the same criteria when looking to buy lab grown diamonds as you would when buying natural diamonds.

The differences between lab grown and natural diamonds are not visible to the naked eye and even an experienced gemologist would need to use specialized equipment to tell them apart.

2. Are lab grown diamonds environmentally friendly?

In short, yes. Growing a diamond in a laboratory requires significantly less energy than removing one from the ground. Mined diamonds use 538.5 million joules of energy per carat. Lab grown alternatives use 250 million joules per carat, but that is renewable energy. grown gemstones are renewable. 

1. Lab grown diamonds emit just 6lbs of carbon per carat, compared with 125 lbs of carbon produced by mining. 
2. Each carat of mined diamond requires 100 square feet of land being disturbed and the creation of nearly 5800 lbs of mineral waste. 
3. Lab grown diamonds produce 1 lb of mineral waste and disrupt less than a single square foot of land.

3. Are lab grown diamonds conflict-free?

The market for conflict-free diamonds has grown in recent years and, although 99% of naturally-grown diamonds are certified conflict-free, you will still find the occasional story in the press or online about spurious practices in diamond mining. Much of this is down to the fact that rough diamonds can pass through so many hands on their journey from the mine to the jewelers and they can be difficult to trace. The Kimberley Process, introduced in 2000, was brought in to prevent the trade in blood diamonds (and Canadian diamonds are certified conflict-free via a government vetting scheme).That’s why Arctic Fame Diamonds follows the Kimberly process and sells Canadian Diamonds. 

4. Are lab grown diamonds cheaper?

Lab grown diamonds are significantly more affordable than mined diamonds so you will get a bigger, better diamond for the same price if you choose to buy lab grown. If you are buying a diamond purely for the bigger look and more clean to eye clarity, this is generally your best choice.

Lab grown diamonds are relatively new to the market and early indications are that there is very little resale value in them. This should not affect your decision on purchasing lab grown diamonds unless you are buying an investment piece. For lab grown diamond engagement rings or any other piece of jewelry that you expect to keep forever and hand down as an heirloom, lab grown diamonds are just the same as naturally grown diamonds.

5. Are lab grown diamonds sought after?

Lab grown diamonds are sought after predominantly for ethical reasons. The trade in blood diamonds and concerns over some diamond mines financing insurgents, dictators and civil wars, naturally made some people think twice about buying diamonds. It tarnished the industry but took nothing away from the sparkle and brilliance of diamond jewelry. 

The solution was lab grown diamonds with all the benefits of wearing the finest gemstone on the planet, but none of the guilt about how it was sourced. 

6. Are lab grown diamonds all the same?

Absolutely not! Lab grown diamonds are not manufactured, they are the result of the conditions required to produce diamonds naturally being recreated. This means that, just like naturally produced diamonds, each lab grown diamond is unique too. When you own a lab grown diamond, you own a one-of-a-kind gemstone.

7. Can you get colored lab grown diamonds?

Hell yeah! And they’re a helluva lot cheaper. When it comes to naturally produced diamonds, colored stones are 10,000 times rarer than white diamonds. Colored diamonds make up less than 1% of the global diamond market, hence their price. In a laboratory, colored diamonds can be produced to order simply by adding trace elements as part of the growing process. The color is determined by the quantities of trace elements added. 

Diamonds are widely regarded as the most stunning gemstones on the planet. While other stones go in and out of fashion, diamonds have been a mainstay for centuries owing to their unique sparkle and brilliance. 

When you see a diamond set against precious metal, it oozes elegance and sophistication. It looks luxurious and it’s easy to see why it commands the respect and price that it does. Lab grown diamonds have taken nothing away from the market for mined diamonds. But they have made genuine diamonds more affordable and therefore available to more people.