Lab Grown Diamonds vs. Natural Diamonds | Jewelry Experts Weigh In

Recently, nationwide jewelers have moved to sell lab grown diamonds. These diamonds have received a good amount of negative and positive attention as they have become more available. Are they really a better option? Are they worth their high price tag? When buying any diamond, it’s critical to buy for quality, beauty, and value. Which is the better option, then?

Ultimately, this is a personal decision, one based on preference. Before making any decision, there are a few key things you need to know about these diamonds.

HOW ARE LAB-GROWN DIAMONDS MADE?

These diamonds are created in labs using a chemical process. Most often, they only take a matter of weeks to make. By comparison, traditional diamonds take millions of years to be created naturally. There is a slight chemical difference in them, as natural diamonds contain some nitrogen in them. Synthetic diamonds do not.

LAB-GROWN DIAMONDS ARE LESS EXPENSIVE, BUT ARE THEY WORTH IT?

It is possible to find lab created diamonds for less than what it costs to purchase naturally created diamonds. That’s the obvious benefit of these products. And, often, that’s where the benefits stop. Although these diamonds look much like traditional diamonds, they are a fraction of the cost for a reason.

Fundamentally the only difference in these diamonds is where they are created. They look much like traditional stones but do not have the same value.

DESIRABILITY MATTERS

When it comes to buying lab-grown diamonds, it’s important to consider their overall value. While they look good, they are not natural diamonds. As a result, they are less in-demand than authentic products.

It’s the same overall experience as buying a designer handbag or going for the off brand model in many ways.

The only way to know an authentic diamond is that, besides having a specialized gemologist to help, is to look for the certification of the stone. Any jeweler selling lab-grown diamonds must disclose this. If you are buying a diamond, then it’s critical to have this certificate to prove the value of the stone.

HOW DO YOU CHOOSE BETWEEN A LAB-GROWN DIAMOND AND A NATURAL DIAMOND?

There are a few key things to keep in mind:

- It’s true that lab-grown diamonds can look the same as authentic diamonds, and they tend to have a similar makeup to them.

- Lab-grown products are lower in price – because they are easier to obtain and readily made (rather than taking millions of years to form), they tend to be a fraction of the cost.

- The demand for authentic diamonds is very high, which pushes their value up. There is a limited supply of these pieces, which makes them inherently, the more desirable option.

- The price of lab-grown diamonds are falling fast. That’s because more labs are making them, and demand for them is much lower. Consider this as you think about whether or not to buy these stones – they may not be worth much in the long term.

There are many pluses to lab-grown diamonds, including their quality, looks and sustainability. Yet, buying the real thing is a more desirable option for many people, and these stones tend to build value over time.

For all of your natural diamond needs, turn to Padis Jewelry. We’re happy to offer high quality jewelry that will be cherished for years to come. Visit one of our showrooms today.