Tradition, meet Technology
Choosing a natural diamond versus a lab-grown diamond is an intensely personal choice. Our culture has a longstanding tradition of gifting luxury diamond jewelry as the brightest that our natural world has to offer, after millions of years of withstanding heat and pressure. As many jewelry collectors know, the symbolism behind a diamond can be just as important as the sparkle. Some jewelry lovers feel this sentiment falls flat when a diamond is created in only a few weeks in a lab. Many folks on the other side of the coin feel like a lab-grown diamond holds an important symbology of its own – the ingenuity of human advancement through technology. Diamonds are now more accessible than ever to people with different budgets since the creation of jewelry-grade lab diamonds. Whether traditional or cutting-edge, there’s a diamond out there for everyone. When it comes to the Design Lyric Diamond Ring by Kwiat, there are several. This boasts five rows of brilliant white natural diamonds on an 18k white gold band, creating a stunning visage of icy excellence.
Perfect Conditions
What is the main difference between a natural diamond and a lab-grown diamond? The answer isn’t so surprising: the former is formed under natural conditions and the latter is created under laboratory conditions – pristine and uniform, all the way down to the facets. Even though a cut and polished diamond may seem like a perfect masterpiece of nature, the Earth’s process of creating a diamond is a messy business. A plethora of minerals and gases intermix underground where diamonds are mined. This means even the most flawless diamond will have a slight tell-tale sign that it was made through the natural heat and pressure of the Earth’s crust, even if it’s only visible by a trained jeweler’s eye. When created in a lab, the diamonds are formed completely alone, with no other minerals or gasses that might interfere with the formation process. The stately 18k White Gold Halo Cluster Pendant by Rahaminov is an excellent example of how a natural diamond can shine. Boasting a gorgeous oval-shaped natural diamond centerpiece and a bright halo of brilliant white natural diamonds, this pendant requires its very own spotlight.
Budget vs Investment
While there are several physical and symbolic differences between a natural diamond and a lab diamond, the most pressing question for many potential buyers is “What is the price difference?” Because of the rarity, mining, and refining process that comes with natural diamonds, they will always fetch a much higher price than a lab-grown diamond. This is excellent news for young couples who want to get hitched on a budget. However, diamond lovers who tend to be more interested in long-term investments might be displeased at the value drop of a lab diamond. While a lab-grown diamond is significantly less expensive than a natural diamond initially, the second that a lab diamond leaves the store for the first time, it immediately drops heavily in value. While a naturally made diamond will remain valuable as heirlooms and vintage pieces, the same cannot be said for manufactured diamonds. A gleaming example of the glamorous and timeless feel of a natural diamond pendant, look no further than the Fancy Yellow Diamond and White Pendant by Norman Silverman. With a stunning radiant-cut fancy yellow diamond as the gleaming centerpiece and a captivating pave of brilliant white diamonds, this show-stopping pendant of natural diamonds will retain its vibrance (as well as its value) for years to come.Photo by The Glorious Studio via Pexels