All You Need to Know About Lab Grown Diamonds
Jul 12, 2024
by Suzanne Sachs • 5 min read
THE BASICS ---
Eco-friendly and sustainable jewelry has become increasingly important to today’s consumers, and that interest has contributed to the popularity of lab-grown diamonds. Because these diamonds do not require mining for the stone itself, they are often promoted as a more environmentally responsible choice. Their full environmental impact, however, depends on factors such as the growing method, energy use and source of electricity. Buyers should understand these considerations before choosing between a lab-grown diamond, a newly mined diamond or an existing vintage stone.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW---
In this guide, we will explain the following:
- About Lab Grown Diamonds
- Electricity
- Economic and Social Considerations
- Social Impact
- Resale
- The Most Sustainable Diamonds Of All
About Lab Grown Diamonds
A newer technique for creating diamonds, lab grown diamonds or chemical vapor deposition (CVD), is an increasingly popular choice for synthetic diamonds. While the technique was first developed in the 1980s, improved methods and technologies have made it more prominent in the past decade, and more options are available for high-quality lab grown diamonds in different types of jewelry. In creating lab grown diamonds, a carbon-rich gas is broken down in a vacuum chamber and bombarded with lasers or microwaves. A seed crystal in the chamber is used as a base for a new crystal to grow from the dissociated carbon atoms, and as those atoms accumulate, they create an identical crystalline and chemical structure to natural diamond. That rough diamond can then be cut and polished into a fine gemstone, just like a natural stone mined from the earth.
Compared to other artificial diamond creation techniques, the lab grown diamond process is easier and less expensive, and can yield larger stones in shorter periods. Depending on the initial gas used in the process, the resulting stones may be colorless or could be popular fancy colors such as pink, yellow, or blue. Overall, the cost of a lab grown diamond may be as much as 15-30 percent lower than a natural stone of similar size and quality, and there is no destructive mining or earth disruption to create the artificial stone.
The lab-grown diamond market has changed significantly in recent years. As production has expanded and technology has improved, prices have fallen considerably, making lab-grown diamonds accessible to a much wider range of buyers. For many couples, that is genuinely good news. A lab-grown diamond can allow someone to choose a larger stone, a higher color or clarity grade, or a more distinctive ring while remaining within a comfortable budget. This greater affordability is also why we now offer select lab-grown diamonds in authentic vintage settings. The lab-grown diamond provides modern value and flexibility, while the original setting preserves the craftsmanship, detail and character that make vintage jewelry irreplaceable.
Lab-grown diamonds are best viewed as diamonds to wear and enjoy rather than purchases made primarily for future resale. Their value lies in the beauty, size and quality they make available at a more approachable price.
Electricity
Lab-grown diamonds are often promoted as an eco-friendly alternative to mined diamonds, but their environmental impact is more complex. While it is true that no mining is necessary to create a lab grown diamond, the technique does require prolonged periods of high temperature and pressure to break down the gas and grow the stone. This manufacturing process requires a great deal of electricity, which largely comes from coal and natural gas plants, leading to the greenhouse gasses and air pollution typical of that energy production. In fact, lab grown diamond manufacturing may produce as much as triple the amount of greenhouse gasses as standard mining techniques.
Economic and Social Considerations
Both mined and lab-grown diamonds have economic and social considerations. Natural diamond mining may support employment and local economies, but its effects differ depending on the country, mine and company involved. Lab-grown diamond facilities also create employment, although much of the production process is specialized and automated.
Buyers concerned about responsible sourcing should look beyond general labels such as “natural,” “lab-grown” or “ethical.” They may wish to consider where the diamond was produced, working conditions, environmental practices, energy sources and the amount of information the supplier provides. Neither origin alone guarantees that every stone was produced responsibly.
Resale and Today's Prices
Lab-grown diamond prices have fallen significantly in recent years, making them a more affordable option for many buyers. That affordability is one of their greatest advantages, but it also means buyers should maintain realistic expectations about resale. As comparable newly grown diamonds have become less expensive, previously purchased stones may not retain their original retail price.
Vintage and antique jewelry is valued differently because its appeal may also reflect age, rarity, original craftsmanship, condition and historical character. However, neither a lab-grown diamond nor a vintage ring should be purchased with a guarantee that it will appreciate in value.
The Most Sustainable Diamonds of All
For buyers whose first priority is reuse, an all-original vintage or antique ring remains a compelling option. The diamond and setting already exist, and choosing an older piece preserves materials and craftsmanship rather than creating an entirely new ring. Lab-grown diamonds offer a different advantage. Their increasingly accessible prices allow buyers to prioritize size, quality and design without paying the premium generally associated with a comparable natural diamond.
Many customers now choose a combination of the two: an authentic vintage setting paired with a modern lab-grown diamond. This approach preserves the character and hand-crafted detail of an original mounting while providing the affordability and flexibility of a newly grown stone. Neither choice is right for every buyer. Some will prefer an entirely original antique ring, while others will value the opportunity to place a larger lab-grown diamond into a genuine vintage setting. The best choice is the one that reflects the buyer’s priorities, budget and connection to the ring.
After more than 40 years working with vintage and antique jewelry, I still believe original craftsmanship gives a ring lasting character. But the lab-grown diamond market has changed, and today’s lower prices have made these stones a practical and appealing option for many buyers. Whether you choose an all-original antique ring or a vintage setting paired with a lab-grown diamond, the goal is the same: finding a distinctive ring you will genuinely enjoy wearing for years to come.
Suzanne Sachs
