When it comes to choosing a sparkling gem, the decision often boils down to one crucial factor: natural or lab-grown diamonds? For centuries, natural diamonds have been held in high regard, symbolizing love, commitment, and luxury. In contrast, lab-grown diamonds are relatively recent players in the fine jewelry industry. As we dive into the fascinating world of these glimmering stones, let’s explore the key differences between natural and lab-grown diamonds.
Formation Process
The significant differences between these two types of diamonds start from their formation process. Natural diamonds were formed approximately 90 million-3 billion years ago, deep within the Earth’s mantle under conditions of intense heat and pressure. They are brought to the surface by deep-source volcanic eruptions and later mined.
On the other hand, lab-grown diamonds, also known as synthetic or cultured diamonds, have been around since the mid-1950’s but were too small for jewelry. They were originally manufactured by GE for drill bits and are still used for industrial purposes today. Production of large gem quality diamonds begin in the mid-1990’s. Today they are produced in a controlled environment by replicating the conditions that form diamonds naturally. Two common methods are High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD). The HPHT method mimics the natural formation process, whereas CVD as the name suggests involves depositing carbon vapors onto a diamond seed.
Visual and Physical Properties
Interestingly, both natural and lab-grown diamonds share the same physical, chemical, and optical properties. They both are made of carbon atoms arranged in a cubic crystal structure, contributing to the hardness and high refractive index that diamonds are known for. To the naked eye and even under a jeweler’s loupe, it’s virtually impossible to differentiate between the two.
Environmental Impact
Environmental impact is where the significant differences lie. Traditional diamond mining can have a considerable environmental footprint. It often involves shifting large volumes of earth, which can result in soil erosion, deforestation, and habitat destruction. There’s also the issue of energy consumption and the release of greenhouse gases.
On the contrary, lab-grown diamonds have a lower environmental impact as they require less land and resources. However, they are not entirely ‘green’. The energy-intensive process required to create these diamonds also contributes to carbon large carbon footprint.
Price
Finally, let’s talk about the price point. As of now, lab-grown diamonds are typically more affordable than natural diamonds of similar size and quality. This is because the cost of production is comparatively lower and doesn’t involve the complexities of research, mining, transportation, and assorted taxes.
Resale Value
The resale value of natural and lab-grown diamonds differs significantly. Generally, natural diamonds tend to have a higher resale value compared to lab-grown diamonds. This is due to a couple of key reasons:
- Market Demand and Perception: The market for natural diamonds is well-established with a strong demand. Consumers have traditionally perceived natural diamonds as more valuable due to their rarity and the romanticism attached to their natural formation process, which can take billions of years.
- Scarcity: Unlike lab-grown diamonds, natural diamonds are finite in nature, but the perceived scarcity adds to the allure and value of natural diamonds.
Lab-grown diamonds, however, are relatively new to the market but are becoming increasingly popular due to their lower cost. However, lab grown diamonds are produced in almost every country and can be produced on demand. Therefore, they lack the scarcity element of natural diamonds, which can affect their resale value. Furthermore, as technology improves and becomes more accessible, the cost of producing lab-grown diamonds is expected to decrease, potentially further reducing their resale value.
As always, the value of any diamond—whether natural or lab-grown—can also be influenced by other factors, such as the quality of the diamond (its cut, color, clarity, and carat weight) and the current market demand.
The Verdict
Whether one type of diamond is ‘better’ than the other comes down to personal preference. If you value tradition, the allure of a gem formed billions of years ago, and don’t mind the extra cost, a natural diamond might be the choice for you. If you’re more concerned about environmental issues or cost but still want the dazzling beauty of a diamond, a lab-grown diamond could be your best bet. A lab-grown diamond is an alternative to a natural diamond as both are diamonds at the end of the day.
A natural diamond would always hold close to its market value versus a lab grown diamond but the lucrative price point of a lab-grown diamond cannot be ignored and for now that price advantage is here to stay! Please reach out to us if you have any other questions!
