You’ve probably heard that lab grown diamonds are not the same as those that occur naturally and are mined out of the earth, and that’s true. However, this does not make them “fake” in any regard – in fact, lab grown diamonds are just as “real” as mined diamonds, in that they have the same chemical and physical composition. You may not know this, but even trained geologists often have a hard time telling the two apart.
Whether set on a blue nile diamond ring or a blue princess cut diamond ring, for example, lab grown diamonds are well on the way to becoming the norm. This is thanks to mounting social and environmental concerns about mining and related activities, which are vital for the sourcing of naturally occurring diamonds. Also known as synthetic diamonds, lab grown diamonds carry the same kind of sparkle, aesthetic, and clarity as natural diamonds. There are only a few crucial points differentiating the two.
- Lab grown diamonds cost less than earth-mined diamonds, which makes them an excellent choice when it comes to jewelry-mounted stones.
- They are neither mined nor dredged, which means they’re the more environmentally conscious choice.
How Do Lab Grown Diamonds Compare In Terms Of Hardness?
Based on findings when gauging on the Mohs Hardness Scale – which is used to measure how hard an object is – mined diamonds are the hardest substances on earth. Their rank on the scale is 10, which is the absolute highest limit, and that conveys that they are very durable, and that only a diamond can cut another diamond. Lab grown diamonds match earth-mined diamonds with a perfect 10 score on the Mohs Hardness Scale, which means they’re practically the same in terms of hardness.
Do Lab Grown Diamonds Show Up On A Test As Real Diamonds?
The answer is a resounding “Yes”. On a diamond tester, lab grown diamonds do indeed show up as real diamonds, because that’s what they are – crystallized carbon. That said, some HPHT stones may have impurities in them which may cause them to test as non-diamond or moissanite.
Do They Get Cloudy?
No diamond, whether it’s earth-mined or lab grown, clouds over time. The reason for this is that they are highly durable, and have a crystal structure. There may be some amount of film buildup if you don’t care for your stone very well, but that can be cleaned off with some soap and hot water.
Lab grown diamonds cost less, come free of mining concerns, and are durable, conflict-free, and downright brilliant. That is a lot of things to love about them, and what’s more, since even experts have a hard time identifying them, then so would almost anyone else.