So, why not design and create diamonds equivalent to natural ones? Fortunately, today, we have the technology to do that – Lab Grown Diamonds as they are popularly known. Yes! You read it right. Lab grown diamonds are a reality. But is there a difference between Lab Diamonds and Mined Diamonds? If yes, what is that?
What is a Lab Grown Diamond?
A lab made diamond is like a mined diamond, except that the latter is found naturally deep beneath the earth’s crust, while the other is manufactured in a factory. Lab grown diamonds are as hard, sparkling, clear, and durable as their natural counterparts.
Lab diamonds undergo various processes. Their makers replicate a mix of high pressures, temperature conditions, and gasses to expedite the natural diamond-making process. The process uses half the energy a diamond takes to form naturally. After that, the diamond is cut and polished to make it appear and feel like a natural one. So, with as many similarities, what distinguishes lab grown diamonds from natural ones? Let’s see.
Key Differences Between Lab Manufactured Diamonds and Mined Diamonds
Although a few, lab grown diamonds are different from mined diamonds in some respects. Here’s how both are distinct.
| Parameters | Lab Grown Diamonds | Mined Diamonds |
| Origin | Designed and manufactured in a controlled environment where the diamond undergoes multiple processes to replicate natural circumstances and accelerate the process of diamond-making. | Mined diamonds, on the other hand, form naturally deep in the earth’s mantle and unearthed via mining. |
| Time for Creation | Lab grown diamonds are manufactured in a few weeks. | Mined diamonds take millions and billions of years to form! |
| Production Process | Lab produced diamonds are manufactured via High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) or Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) methods to mimic the natural diamond-creation process. | Natural diamonds shape through a natural geological process. |
| Environmental Impact | Lab produced diamonds are considered to have a lower environment impact. It is because they require lesser energy and water than mining. Nevertheless, the environmental impact and its severity depends on the manufacturer’s production approach. | Mining is known to have widespread and critical repercussions on the environment. Some common ones include soil erosion, carbon emissions and destruction of habitat. |
| Cost of Diamonds | It isn’t that lab grown diamonds are cheap. They have a considerable cost associated with them, especially after everything they undergo to dazzle. However, they are more reasonably priced than mined diamonds. | The price of a natural diamond can depend significantly on factors like its size, rarity, quality, etc. Hence, mined diamonds are usually more expensive than their man-made counterparts. |
