The Difference Between Lab Diamonds vs Natural Diamonds

lab diamonds

Purchasing an engagement ring for your special someone comes with many decisions. You have to choose the type of band, figure out if they’d like silver or gold more, and choose the diamond. Not only do you have to choose which shape, size, or the number of diamonds you would like to have on the engagement ring, but you also have to choose which type of diamond you want.

There are two different types of diamonds that you can choose from: lab diamonds and natural diamonds. Each has its own unique characteristics and it can make a difference in how the ring looks and possibly save you money in the end. Let’s look into what the difference is between lab diamonds and natural diamonds.

How They Are Created

One of the main differences between these two diamonds is how they are created. You can tell by the name, but it’s important to know the process of each to understand why they are so different from each other.

Natural Diamonds

Natural diamonds are formed beneath Earth’s surface. They’re formed in the planet’s mantle layer from heat and pressure over billions of years. During this process, the element carbon is rearranged on an atomic scale, taking the form of a diamond in the end. Diamonds can be found near volcanos where they are sent closer to the surface during an eruption, which is why these type of diamonds are mined.

Lab Diamonds

Lab diamonds appear essentially the same, but they are grown in a lab. The process many diamond makers use is chemical vapor deposition. This process takes a small piece of a natural diamond, known as the diamond seed, and places it in a vacuum. In this vacuum, the carbon molecules become very similar to the diamond seed and it is “grown” in there before it is ready to be made to look like a natural diamond.

Another way lab diamonds are created is the process called high pressure high temperature. This process is supposed to act as the same process of forming natural diamonds. Natural graphite is used to create the lab diamond during this process and it is placed into a large machine where it is crushed with heat and pressure. This process makes these two diamonds different because they use graphite instead of carbon to create them.

How Much Do They Cost?

The price of both diamonds is different due to if they were mined or if they were created. Lab diamonds are less expensive than natural diamonds because they were created in a lab and aren’t as rare. When it comes to natural diamonds, these are a lot more pricey because of their rarity. That’s why you may see two of the same diamond rings, each with very different price tags. This is something to think about when you are buying a diamond engagement ring for your partner.

Similarities Between Lab Diamonds and Natural Diamonds

There are some similarities between these two diamonds. One of which is their durability. They are both a 10 on the Mohs hardness scale, making them both very durable and difficult to chip or scratch. The color is also the same between these two diamonds. When a lab diamond is made, it will be graded on the same natural diamond’s color, so they will be the same. This can make it hard to tell the difference between these diamonds, but the price may help you out.

Which Diamond Ring Should I Buy?

Both of these diamonds are very beautiful and add a great touch to any kind of jewelry, but there are some key differences that may sway you one way or the other. So when you are in the market to buy a diamond engagement ring, keep these differences in mind. You may find that you are leaning more towards one or the other based on one of these differences.