1. Are lab grown diamonds real?

By far our most frequently asked question. Yes, lab grown diamonds are real. Lab grown diamonds are identical to mined diamonds in every way, except that they are grown in a laboratory, not mined from the earth. Fundamentally, this is the only difference. Lab grown diamonds are composed of crystallized carbon just like mined diamonds, so the two have the same appearance and the same physical, chemical and optical properties, meaning they exhibit the exact same fire and sparkle.

2. Are lab grown diamonds less expensive?

Yes, lab grown diamonds are less expensive than mined diamonds. While still a pricey purchase, lab grown diamonds cost approximately 40-50% less than mined diamonds. Earth mined diamonds rely on complex and expensive mining operations. There are fewer processes required in creating lab grown diamonds, so while the skills, time and laboratory equipment needed to produce them have significant costs, lab grown diamonds are less expensive than mined diamonds.

3. Can you tell the difference between a mined diamond and a lab grown diamond?

Specialist laboratory equipment can tell whether a diamond has been created in a laboratory or mined from the earth, but even the most advanced gemologists are unable to tell the two apart by eye or under extreme magnification.

4. How are lab grown diamonds made?

An earth grown diamond can take anywhere from 1 billion to 3.3 billion years to form in nature. Carbon atoms begin to crystalise due to the intense heat and pressure beneath the earth's crust. The rocks are brought up to the Earth’s surface through volcanic eruptions, where they are then mined from the ground. Lab grown diamonds are grown by duplicating nature's process above ground, using cutting-edge technology in a laboratory. The process takes a matter of weeks, a tiny fraction of the time taken to create an earth mined diamond and hence the reason for lab grown diamonds' lower cost. Once grown, lab grown diamonds are cut, polished and certified in the same way mined diamond are. When hand selecting our lab grown diamonds, we look at the 4Cs – colour, clarity, carat and cut – and hold them to the same quality standards as our mined diamonds.

5. Will a lab grown diamond last forever?

As the famous saying goes "diamonds are forever", and this includes lab grown diamonds. Diamonds are known to be one of the hardest materials on earth. As we mentioned, lab grown diamonds have the same chemical makeup as mined diamonds, so they're just as durable. Ranking a 10 on the Mohs scale (the international scale to measure the hardness of gemstones), both lab grown and mined diamonds are harder than every other gemstone, making a lab grown diamond the perfect choice as an engagement ring.

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