Mined Diamonds Vs Lab Grown Diamonds

What is a Mined Diamond? 
A mined diamond is a diamond that is naturally made in the earth over 1 to 3 billion years. Mined diamond’s start their life as carbon dioxide and over time with extensive pressure and heat they will naturally modify to a solid stone. The stones are pushed to the surface by volcanic eruptions and put them within our reach through mining.

What is a Lab Grown / Created Diamond?
A lab made diamond is a diamond that has been grown in a highly controlled laboratory environment that duplicate’s the conditions under which diamonds naturally develop when they form in the earth. They share the same physical and chemical properties as natural diamonds.

 

Can a jeweller tell if diamond is a Created / Lab diamond or mined?
Created / Lab diamonds can only be distinguished from mined diamonds using specialized equipment that can detect the minor differences in trace elements and crystal growth. Even experienced jeweller’s and gemmologists cannot tell the difference without specialised equipment. 

What is a simulated diamond?
Simulated diamonds are made in a laboratory however they do not share the same physical, chemical, or optical characteristics that mined and created/lab diamonds do. Simulated diamonds can include Cubic Zirconia, Moissanite and Zircon and are usually used found in sterling silver jewellery.

Benefits of Mined Diamonds
The biggest benefit of a mined diamond is that it is formed naturally over billions of years which makes them very rare and unique. For the romantics out there, it is symbol of your love lasting billions of years just like the amount of time it takes for a mined diamond to form.

Benefits of Lab Grown / Created Diamonds

  • Ethical –  You as a consumer can have a clear conscious knowing where the diamond has been made and that it is conflict free.
  • Price – Created/Lab diamonds are up to 50% less expensive than the exact same mined diamond. Which usually allows for a larger and better-quality diamond for your budget.

Final thoughts

Lab-created diamonds are in fact real diamonds and offer the same brilliance, sparkle, and shine of a natural, mined diamond. If you are wanting to stretch your budget to allow for a bigger or better-quality diamond that will look exactly like a mined diamond. Then a lab/created diamond might be the best option for you.

For those that love the idea of proposing with a diamond that has been naturally made over billions of years in the earth then a mined diamond would be a more suitable option for you.

Whether it is a Mined or Lab/created diamond it will come with full certification  and will be laser inscribed with a serial number that is unique to your specific diamond and certificate.

Purchasing a diamond carries an emotional component. You may be celebrating an anniversary, graduation, or preparing for the big proposal. It is a life moment that you remember forever, signifying your love, commitment, or new beginnings.

At the end of the day, it will depend on each person’s values and preferences on choosing a mined or lab/created diamond.

Looking at proposing or buying a diamond piece of jewellery? Book an appointment with one of our diamond specialists today!  


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