Lab Diamonds vs Real Diamonds
An engagement ring symbolizes love and commitment; it has been a coveted tradition to profess one’s love for generations. But diamonds have recently revolutionized the industry with lab-grown diamonds. Unlike natural diamonds, lab-grown diamonds are not natural; they are made in a lab, using a chemical process to form within weeks. You might be wondering which is the right type of diamond for you? We’ll give you the benefits and disadvantages of each so you can feel secure in your decision for the perfect forever ring.
Lab Diamonds
Jewelers craft diamonds in laboratories to create conditions found in nature, which form diamonds after billions of years of intense heat and pressure. These mimics have virtually identical color, clarity, cuts, and status as real diamonds.
Benefits
- Cost: Lab-created diamonds generally range 30 to 50 percent cheaper for the same cut and style
- Status: The US Federal Trade Commission has stated that lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds due to the same chemical structures.
- Style: lab diamonds come in the same variety of shapes and setting as any real diamond.
- Color: Lab-grown diamonds come in all the same colors, including colors considered rare for natural diamonds, at a fraction of the price.
Drawbacks
- Lab-grown diamonds reduce in value immediately upon sale; they will not increase in value over time. If you ever need to resell, you will likely get pennies on the dollar.
Natural Diamonds
Natural diamonds are found in nature and cultivated over billions of this. Because of this, there is a depleting supply of real diamonds.
Benefits
- Natural diamonds will generally maintain value for many years.
- Can an increase in the value of time.
- Come in various colors and shapes, including oval, princess cut, pear, and more.
Disadvantage
- Higher upfront cost
- More expense for rarer colors and clarity
Which diamond is the best choice?
The choice is yours; consider each’s benefits and decide which factors are most important to you. Investors will appreciate and increase in value over time with a real diamond, while with lab-grown diamonds, if you never say anything, no one will know the difference. However, their value will decline the moment you walk out of the door.