Natural diamonds are one of the most valuable and costly gemstones on the earth. They are adored for their shine, brilliance, and beauty. But the procedures that are used to mine these stones from the earth are not very appealing. The mining of diamonds involves the destruction of acres of land and water resources. Also, the human rights violation and other social and humanitarian issues associated with diamond mining can make you think again about purchasing these stones.
But with the advancement in technology, it has become possible for scientists to produce diamonds in an artificial manner. This process is less harmful to the environment and is free of the social and humanitarian issues associated with the mining of diamonds. These diamonds that are created artificially are known as lab grown diamonds, lab-created diamonds, synthetic diamonds, or man-made diamonds.
Also, when buying jewelry, you might have heard another term called diamond simulants. Even though there is a “diamond” in their name, these gemstones are not diamonds. Therefore, we list some of the important information you want to know about natural diamonds, lab-created diamonds, and synthetic diamonds.
Natural Diamonds
Natural diamonds are revered for their elegance, brilliance, and durability. There are formed under the earth naturally under high pressure and temperature. The time period required for the formation of these stones is one of the important factors that makes them truly unique and valuable. Millions of years of needed for these stones to form under the earth naturally. Hence, natural diamonds are considered very rare and unique. So these stones carry great value. Even with the wide availability of lab-created diamonds, the value of natural diamonds has not decreased.
However, there are certain drawbacks associated with these stones. They are extremely costly and may not be affordable for everyone, especially, those with rare colors and higher carat weights. Also, they come with a lot of adverse impacts on the environment along with a number of social issues. But lab-grown diamonds can be a great choice for avoiding these problems.
Lab Grown Diamonds
Lab grown diamonds are the exact replica of natural diamonds in terms of their properties and appearance. These stones cannot be distinguished by the naked eye, hence, special equipment is required to identify a lab grown diamond from a natural one.
Lab-created diamonds are also less costly than natural ones and free of the drawbacks associated with the latter.
Diamond Simulants
They are other gemstones that come with the look of diamonds but greatly differ in their properties. These stones are highly affordable than real diamonds and are usually lab grown.
So the next time you buy diamond rings, make sure to compare these options to find out the best choice for you.