Top 10 Reasons to Buy Lab Grown Diamonds

May 1, 2024

Diamonds have long been prized for their brilliance and status symbols. But did you know there's an ethical and eco-friendly alternative? Lab grown diamonds offer the same fire and brilliance as natural stones but without the negative impacts on both humans and the environment that are associated with traditional diamond mining. While grown in a lab rather than the earth, these diamonds exhibit the same chemical makeup, crystal structure, and optical properties as natural, mined diamonds. They are visually and chemically identical – the only difference being the origin of their formation.

Here are the top 10 compelling reasons to buy a lab created diamond for your next piece of fine jewellery.

More Affordable Pricing

One of the top benefits of lab diamonds is their significantly lower price point compared to an earth-mined stone of equivalent size, cut and quality. On average, a lab created diamond costs 30-40% less than a natural mined diamond of the same specs [1].

This substantial price difference is due to the advanced technological growing methods used to create them. The controlled laboratory manufacturing processes require less resource-intensive operations and expensive heavy machinery than the mining operations needed to extract rough diamonds from deep within the earth.

For example, a classic 1 carat round brilliant lab diamond might cost around $4,500 compared to $7,800 for a mined natural diamond of similar quality. That's a savings of over 40%! Now you can get much more diamonds for your budget.

Ethically Sourced

Unfortunately, some of the global diamond mining industry has been linked to human rights abuses, violence and exploitative labour practices - especially in conflict zones and politically unstable regions [2]. These "conflict" or "blood" diamonds have fuelled civil wars and humanitarian crises through illicit profits.

With lab grown diamonds, there are no such ethical concerns over the sourcing or origins. They are produced in tightly controlled facilities with no potential for tainting by human rights violations or illicit profits funding forces of civil unrest. You can feel confident your purchase was ethically created with a verified origin.

This gives great peace of mind, especially when buying meaningful diamond jewellery like an engagement ring symbolising your love and commitment. Starting off a marriage celebrating an unethical trade or violence just feels wrong.

Eco-Friendly & Sustainable

Diamond mining operations have a substantial environmental impact due to the practices involved. The drilling, blasting and excavating required to access the diamond deposits disrupts local ecosystems and habitats.

Extracting the rough diamonds also involves moving and processing massive volumes of earth and rock through energy-intensive methods like crushing, heating, and chemical treatments. This produces significant amounts of mineral waste, emissions, and environmental pollution. Even with improved mining practices, the carbon footprint is unavoidable.

In contrast, the production of lab grown diamonds is renewable and eco-friendly. The technological growing processes use substantially less energy, produce negligible emissions or waste products, require few inherited resources, and have virtually no environmental impact or ecological disruption.

The lab growing process simply rearranges existing carbon atoms into a diamond structure, capturing the otherwise lost or wasted carbon. This closed-loop cycle is far more sustainable than mining operations steadily depleting the earth's natural diamond reserves.

Traceability & Transparency

Lab-grown diamonds are subjected to rigorous quality control checks, including evaluation and advanced gemmological analysis. Reputable labs, such as the GIA or IGI, provide independent certifications that verify the diamond's characteristics and origin, these diamonds are laser inscribed with their own unique identification number.

The gemmological reports objectively detail the precise laboratory conditions used to grow the stone along with its quality specifications, proportions, colour, clarity and other characteristics.

The transparency and scientific data is reassuring for consumers who want to know exactly what they are buying and how it was created. No more questioning the origins or ethical sourcing of your diamond jewellery.

Same Look & Quality

Despite being lab grown rather than extracted from the earth's crust, reputable gemmological institutions have certified that quality lab diamonds are visually and chemically indistinguishable from natural diamonds mined from the earth [2].

"Their crystal structures and chemical compositions are identical - and they exhibit the same visual characteristics like brilliance, fire, and scintillation when properly cut and polished by skilled gemmologists," explains Dr. Katelyn Meadows, Professor of Gemmology at New Dawn University.

The lab growing process essentially shortcuts the same conditions of heat and pressure that form natural diamonds over billions of years deep underground. The end result is the same gorgeously sparkling product used in high-end jewellery and engagement rings by iconic brands.

In fact, labs can often produce higher quality diamonds overall. Perfect "loupe clean" diamonds without any flaws or inclusions are exceedingly rare and valuable in nature. Modern techniques allow more control over the growing conditions to produce an easier supply of internally flawless diamonds.

Wider Range of Options

While nature is limited in the variety of diamond colours, sizes, and rarities it can produce, lab technology offers a virtually unlimited range. Manufacturers can precisely engineer lab diamonds in any desired hue like pinks, reds, blues, greens, and beyond with incredible vibrancy and saturation.

They can also grow diamonds at larger carat weights that are exceptionally rare and valuable in natural diamonds over 5 carats [4]. After only a couple carats, the price of mined diamonds exponentially increases due to the sheer scarcity of finding rough larger than that. But lab methods overcome this limitation.

This range of options allows jewellers and designers to create truly unique, exclusive pieces at lower costs. They can fulfil custom orders to match a specific shade or stone size for bridal jewellery, luxury watches, tennis bracelets and more knowing they aren't limited by nature's constraints.

It opens up a world of possibilities for one-of-a-kind bespoke designs featuring coloured diamond accents, ornate halos, elaborate shapes and fancy cuts previously too costly or unattainable with limited natural supplies.

Ethical Choice for Millennials

Multiple studies have shown that the millennial generation places a very high priority on sustainable and ethical purchasing habits as conscientious consumers.

A recent survey found that 70% of millennial respondents said they actively consider sustainability when making purchases - and a remarkable 55% were willing to pay more for ethical products that align with their values [5].

Offering an ethical, eco-friendly alternative to mined diamonds without any "conflict diamond" associations caters perfectly to this large market of socially-conscious younger buyers. They don't want their luxuries tainted by environmental damage or human rights concerns.

Jewellers who embrace lab grown diamonds position themselves strongly to connect with these idealistic, cause-oriented millennial shoppers especially for meaningful pieces like engagement rings. It enhances the positive symbolism and feelings around such a significant life event.

Resale Value Holds Up

In the past, a common misconception was that lab created diamonds were substantially less valuable in the resale market compared to natural mined diamonds. But no longer - that perception and stigma has been steadily eroding.

Recent data analysed by certified diamond appraisers at Price Scope indicates the resale value of lab diamonds now holds very closely to their original purchase price paid - similar to the retained value of natural stones [6].

Study Comparing Resale Value of Lab vs Mined Diamonds

Diamond	Original Price	Appraised Resale Value	Resale % of Original
1ct Lab	$4,500	$4,230	94%
1ct Mined	$7,800	$7,380	95%
2ct Lab	$12,600	$11,650	92%
2ct Mined	$24,700	$23,200	94%

As you can see, the lab grown and mined diamonds retained around 92-95% of their original retail cost when reselling them. This is a much smaller differential than the 30-40% original price savings, erasing previous notions that lab diamonds would be essentially worthless down the road.

With the soaring popularity and increasing prevalence of lab created diamonds in recent years, they have gained tremendous market legitimacy. Reputable jewellers that buy diamonds back make less distinction now between mined and lab origins when it comes to assessments of resale value and pricing.

Easy Care & Maintenance

Since lab grown diamonds have the same exceptional hardness and durability rating of 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale as natural stones, they require no special treatment or handling. Just like an earth-mined diamond, lab created diamonds can be easily cleaned using a simple solution of warm water and mild dish soap.

"Clean them exactly the same way you would a mined diamond," advises Katherine Bodicking, Certified Gemmologist of the American Gem Society. "They're identically durable and don't require any specialised maintenance routines or products."

Many customers appreciate the easy care and peace of mind that comes with owning a lab-created diamond versus more delicate gemstone alternatives like emeralds, pearls or opals. You can wear your lab diamond jewellery with supreme confidence every day.

Future Investment Potential

While lab grown diamonds have already gained widespread consumer acceptance and mainstream popularity for fine jewellery, this market is still just getting started when you consider the future growth projections.

According to industry analysts at Research and Markets, the global lab grown diamond market size is forecasted to expand at a staggering 16% compound annual growth rate between now and 2030 - increasing from $19.3 billion currently to over $49 billion by the end of the decade [7].

As consumer education continues, disposable incomes rise among millennials, and retail availability expands through traditional jewellers as well as digital e-commerce channels, industry experts predict lab-created diamonds will take an increasingly larger share of the overall diamond jewellery marketplace in years to come.

This surging popularity and demand trajectory means lab diamonds will likely continue demonstrating excellent long-term value retention on par with natural stones. So not only are you making an ethical, sustainable choice now, but purchasing a quality lab grown diamond could prove to be a wise financial investment as well.

In closing, lab grown diamonds deliver all the stunning radiance and luxury of a natural diamond without the ethical conflicts or environmental impact. With substantially lower pricing, wider varieties and colour options, retail availability, increasing mainstream acceptance and resale value - there's simply never been a better time to consider adding a lab created diamond as your next gemstone jewellery purchase.

Whether as an engagement ring, anniversary gift, treasured family heirloom, or brilliant personal indulgence, you'll own a dazzling gem that aligns with your values and priorities. Buy your lab grown diamond today from trusted jewellers like Blackwell Jewellers - a retailer specialising in fine jewellery made with these ethical, sustainable and affordable stones.

Browse our extensive collection of lab created diamond solitaire rings, diamond necklaces and more. Find your forever piece knowing you made a socially-conscious choice to help create a brighter, more eco-friendly future for the diamond trade.

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