Couples are purchasing larger diamonds for their engagement rings than ever before, with nearly half choosing lab-grown diamonds.
That's according to The Knot's Real Weddings study, which polled more than 9,000 American couples about every element of their wedding day.
According to the study, one in three engagement rings now weigh more than 2.0 carats, including side stones and embellishments.
The advent of lab-grown diamonds is contributing to this increase, and for a reason.
They are cheaper than mined diamonds.
Lab-grown diamonds are an excellent option for people on a limited budget or who want to save money while maintaining the beauty and sparkle of real diamonds.
This is because lab-grown diamonds are less expensive than mined diamonds. If you visit several stores, you will find that they can cost between 30% and 40% less than naturally mined diamonds of the same size and grade.
Additionally, 2-carat lab-grown diamond rings cost approximately the same as a 1-carat mined diamond.
This means you don't have to spend a huge amount to get a big diamond ring.
It is produced in a short time.
Mined diamonds take millions of years to form in nature, but lab-grown diamonds are created in much less time.
Many reports have been made that it takes only five days for the makers to develop the episodes.
This is due to the fact that lab grown diamonds are produced under controlled conditions in a laboratory, resulting in a more efficient, scalable and faster production process.
Mined diamonds, on the other hand, require complex geological processes and the right conditions over a long period of time to form in their natural environment, making them much rarer.
They don't destroy the environment as much.
Diamond mining severely impacts ecosystems, often contaminating local water supplies and soil.
For example, hundreds of cattle died in Zimbabwe after drinking water from the Odzi River, which flows below a diamond processing plant.
Similar cases have occurred in other mining areas in Africa, where shortages in water supplies force local residents, livestock and wildlife to drink contaminated water.
Some people argue that lab-grown diamond rings are created using electricity, which is harmful to the environment.
It should be noted that laboratory-grown diamonds require 250 million joules per carat. Sound like a lot? Mined diamonds require 538.5 million.
However, some lab-grown diamonds, such as those produced by environmentally friendly companies, are manufactured entirely using renewable energy. If you're looking to go green, always ask how your rings are made before making your purchase.
Beyond electricity, lab-grown diamonds use much less water per carat than mined diamonds — 18 gallons versus 126 gallons — and emit significantly less carbon dioxide.
minimum: If you believe in global warming, there's no better way to show your support than with a big, shiny lab-created diamond engagement ring.
They are as natural as mined diamonds.
Lab-grown diamonds look identical to mined diamonds. They all have the same shine and fire, as well as different colors and levels of clarity.
Lab-grown diamonds are not the same as similar diamonds such as cubic zirconia or moissanite. They both have the same physical, chemical and optical properties.
One advantage that lab-grown diamonds have over mined diamonds is that they are produced in a controlled environment, allowing for greater clarity and fewer imperfections.
With the naked eye, you cannot detect the difference between mined diamonds and lab-grown diamonds, as they are physically and chemically identical.
Only through the use of specialized technology and testing can skilled gemologists tell the difference between lab-grown diamonds and real diamonds.
It should be noted that both lab-grown and mined diamonds are evaluated using the same four elements – cut, color, clarity and carat weight.
This means that GIA's quality grading standards apply to both lab grown diamonds and natural diamonds, ensuring that one is not superior to the other.
You can easily customize it according to your preferences.
One advantage of lab grown diamonds is that they can be manufactured to your exact specifications.
Manufacturers can develop lab-grown diamonds based on your specifications, which can be useful if you require a specific shape or color of diamond that is difficult to locate.
They are as durable as mined diamonds
When buying a diamond, many people think about how long it will last.
You should know that the strength of laboratory-grown diamonds is the same strength as diamonds extracted from mines. In fact, they are produced from the same ingredients and have the same hardness as natural diamonds according to Mohs.
This means that lab-grown diamonds are as resistant to scratching, abrasion and breakage as mined diamonds.
Are you thinking of buying a lab-grown diamond for your better half? You can be confident that your lab-grown diamonds will last as long as natural diamonds.
They are more ethical.
Lab-grown diamonds are considered more ethically responsible than mined diamonds, which are often associated with unethical business practices.
These include the use of child labor and patronage of war-torn countries through the sale of conflict diamonds, sometimes known as blood diamonds.
As a result, the United States passed the Clean Diamond Trade Act in 2003, making the sale of blood diamonds illegal. Furthermore, several governments have partnered through the Kimberley Process to prevent the commercialization of conflict diamonds.
Despite these precautions, mined diamonds may be associated with negative associations, prompting a preference for a more socially responsible engagement ring stone.
On the other hand, lab-grown diamonds are manufactured in unregulated laboratory settings by trained workers who are decently compensated, eliminating the possibility of supporting unethical procedures.
Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and high pressure and high temperature (HPHT) are the two processes used to make lab-grown diamonds, and they do not use harmful environmental practices or exploit labor.
If you value ethical sourcing, lab-grown diamonds are a great choice for non-traditional engagement rings as a socially responsible alternative to mined diamonds.
Parting shot
If you're looking for a diamond engagement ring, you can't go wrong with a lab-grown ring. As mentioned above, this ring comes with a lot of perks. To get the most out of it, make sure you buy it from a reputable store with a proven track record.
