Lab Grown or Natural Diamond?
Lab Grown or Natural?
For thousands of years, man has treasured gemstones, recognizing their beauty and rarity. Many gems have become more and more scarce and man has been successful in Creating or Culturing them. We now see Cultured Pearls, Cultured Emeralds, Cultured Sapphires, Lab Grown Moissanites, etc. Diamonds are no different. One of the most common diamond substitutes is the Cubic Zirconia but keep in mind that a Cubic is a substitute and not a Lab Grown Created Diamond. It is important to note the major distinction between lab diamonds and diamond simulants. Diamond simulants, such as cubic zirconia, look like diamonds but are not true carbon crystals. Simulants do not have the same chemical and physical properties as natural diamonds and therefore sell at much lower prices than lab diamonds. Most Stimulants can be distinguished from natural or created diamonds using only the naked eye.
Natural and lab diamonds have thermal conductivity properties that differentiate them from cubic zirconia with a handheld diamond tester. Lab Grown Moissanites will test as diamonds with most handheld diamond testers. Created Diamonds are just like real diamonds except that they are grown in a lab instead of being mined. A Created Diamond will last millions of years just like a mined diamond, however, anything man creates is not as rare as what nature creates, therefore we recommend lab grown stones for now and natural mined diamonds forever!
What is a Lab Grown Diamond?
Lab Grown Created Diamonds, also known as engineered, artisan or cultured diamonds, are grown in highly controlled laboratory environments using advanced technological processes that duplicate the conditions under which diamonds naturally develop when they form in the mantle, beneath the Earth’s crust. These man-made diamonds consist of actual carbon atoms arranged in the characteristic diamond crystal structure. Since they are made of the same material as natural diamonds, they exhibit the same optical and chemical properties. Our lab grown diamonds are grown from the tiny carbon seeds of pre-existing diamonds. Advanced technology – either extreme pressure and heat or a special deposition process – mimics the natural method of diamond formation. Lab grown fancy colored diamonds are formed when small amounts of specific trace elements are present during the growth phase of the diamond, just like in nature. In both white and fancy colored lab diamonds, the exact composition of trace elements may differ from their natural diamond counterparts. Lab diamonds can only be distinguished from natural diamonds using specialized equipment that can detect the minor differences in trace elements and crystal growth. Our lab grown diamonds are also available in fancy colors that are exceedingly rare in nature, including popular hues of vivid fancy yellow, pink and blue. Fancy colored lab created diamonds sell at comparatively reasonable prices compared to their natural colored diamond counterparts. Consider ice for a moment, it can form naturally in a pond or in your freezer, but no matter where the water freezes, IT IS ALWAYS ICE, and contains the same chemical properties. The difference is origin. Like freezer-formed ice and naturally occurring ice, lab grown diamonds have the same chemical composition, crystal structure, and physical properties as mined diamonds. The only difference is origin.
Are Lab Grown Diamonds just as valuable?
Many competitors offer Lab Grown Diamonds at prices that are only 30 to 40% lower than their mined natural diamonds. We at Shamin, believe in the intrinsic value of mined natural diamonds. Natural mined diamonds are truly rare, being billions of years old and in limited supply. Therefore, we recommend Lab Grown Diamonds for moments and not milestones. We price our Lab Grown Diamonds in the same fair reasonable way we have always priced all our fine jewellery since 1982, giving you the best value for your money. Make sure you compare our prices before you buy your Diamond, whether it is natural mined, or lab grown.
Benefits of Lab Grown Diamonds
ECO FRIENDLY
Lab created diamonds are sustainable diamonds; they are ethically grown with minimal environmental impact.
BEAUTY & QUALITY
Created diamonds have the same physical, chemical, and optical properties as mined diamonds.
VALUE
Created diamonds offer excellent value and are more affordable than natural diamonds of comparable size and quality. Because they are not limited in supply and not rare as natural mined diamonds, Shamin recommends created diamonds for moments and mined diamonds for milestones.
For more info visit DeBeers Lab Grown Diamond Site at https://lightboxjewelry.com/pages/lightbox-moments
What is a Moissanite?
Another great diamond alternative is Moissanite. Moissanite is not a man-made diamond or a lab grown created diamond. Diamonds are pure carbon. Moissanite is a compound of silicon carbide. Naturally occurring Moissanite is extremely rare and found in sizes too small for jewellery. Moissanite looks like an amazingly brilliant diamond and with a diamond tester that most jewellers use, it will test positive for diamond.
More brilliant than a diamond, these man-made gemstones are as stunning as they are affordable. Moissanites are offered in two grades, DEF colorless, and its equally stunning, GHI near-colorless. At Shamin, we only carry the VVS Clarity, Ideal Cut, DEF Colour Moissanite.
REFRACTIVE INDEX (RI)
2.65–2.69
The double refraction reflects more light back to your eyes, so it dances with light.
FIRE DISPERSION
0.104
2.4x higher than a diamond, bending the light into mesmerizing flashes of radiant fire.
HARDNESS MOHS SCALE
9.25
Excellent toughness and made to last through daily wear.
Forever One is the epitome of created moissanite. It is formed from a specific structural configuration of silicon carbide, ensuring that no matter what Forever One grade you choose, your stone will be more brilliant than any other gemstone.
Ideal Cut Moissanite
The Ideal Cut Moissanite is made to mimic a diamond very closely. It cuts down on the high dispersion to create shorter lengths of light thus making the appearance different from C&C's round cut.
Ownership of an Ideal Cut Moissanite makes you part of an elite group who wisely chooses a conflict-free gem and those who seek an ethical source for their jewelry needs. As members of the elite group of Ideal Cut Moissanite owners, you will walk with great satisfaction, pride, and joy in your Ideal Moissanite purchase.
Come in today and talk to our specialists who can find you that perfect natural mined diamond, lab grown diamond, lab grown moissanite or precious gemstone that will make your ring the envy of others at a price that you can feel good about.
