What are Lab-Grown Diamonds?
The diamond market has seen a dynamic shift with the advent of the latest technological marvel taking the centre stage: Lab-Grown Diamonds. They have swiftly captured the spotlight for their exceptional accessibility, affordability and sustainability. Each facet of lab-grown diamonds reveals the extraordinary potential behind what was once deemed too good to be true.
Owning a dazzling diamond is no longer just a dream, lab-grown diamonds bring luxury within reach. What started as a niche trend in the U.S. has now captivated jewellery lovers worldwide. And if you have been wondering what all the fuss is about, read on! We shall try to answer the most common questions concerning lab-grown diamonds:
What exactly are lab-grown diamonds? Are lab-grown diamonds even real?
Absolutely, lab-grown diamonds are 100% real!
They are as real as they come and share the same physical, chemical and visual properties as natural diamonds. The only difference? While natural diamonds take billions of years to form under earth, science does it in weeks, creating the same sparkling diamonds which are affordable, sustainable and conflict free!
Do lab-grown diamonds look identical to natural diamonds?
Lab diamonds possess equal fire, brilliance and lustre as natural ones, if not more.
No one, not even your family jeweler or a nosy relative can tell the difference between a natural and a lab-grown diamond with a naked eye. This can only be done by lab technicians using highly sophisticated and specialized equipment.
Are lab diamonds certified?
Lab-grown diamonds are evaluated using the same 4Cs (insert hyperlink for 4Cs article): Cut, Color, Clarity, Carat Weight- as natural diamonds on exactly the same grading scales. They are certified (insert hyperlink for certifications article) by the same renowned certification bodies which grade natural diamonds, such as IGI, GIA & SGL.
What is the price difference between natural and lab diamonds?
On average, lab diamonds are 1/10th the price of natural diamonds. While a 1-carat natural solitaire can cost up to ~ Rs. 5,00,000, a lab-grown diamond with the same cut, clarity, colour and certification will cost ~ Rs. 50,000.
Bigger the diamond, more are the savings!
Are People Really Buying Lab-Grown Diamonds?
Lab-grown diamonds have been shaking up the jewellery industry since their market debut in 2018. (Source) Lab-grown diamonds now make up around 20% of the total diamond market, up from nearly zero percent in 2015. The increase in demand for lab-grown diamonds has led to a decline in prices for natural diamonds to the tune of 30-40%.