Lab-grown diamonds are a touchy subject these days. There’s been a lot of excitement and hype about lab-grown diamonds in the past few years, both good and bad. When purchasing a diamond, you should consider whether a lab-grown or natural diamond is the best option for you.
Let’s take a look at the contrasts betwixt natural and lab-grown diamonds.
Difference in Price
Lab-grown diamond prices are still fluctuating. According to experts, lab-grown diamonds were 23-25 % more costly than natural diamonds just three or four years ago. Lab-grown diamonds are noticeably a better bargain than natural diamonds. For instance, the price of lab-grown diamonds can be 50-60 % lower.
The price difference can be attributed to supply. Since it takes billions of years to make a diamond, the natural diamond supply is limited. Nonetheless, since the supply of synthetic diamonds has no upper limits, the price keeps on falling with every increase in supply.
Difference In Sustainability
Natural diamond mining processes may cause some people to be concerned about the environmental and ethical consequences. This does not necessarily imply that no mined diamonds are ethical. Lab-grown diamonds, on the other hand, are more likely to be long-lasting than those mined from the ground.
This topic has caught much attention. As a matter of fact, the Federal Trade Commission has warned several jewelers against making unsubstantiated declarations about their jewelry being environmentally friendly.
Difference In Look
To the naked eye, lab diamonds and mined diamonds are nearly identical. It’s almost certain that no one will notice if you buy engagement rings with a lab-created diamond unless you tell them. Lab diamonds can have very small inclusions. These inclusions are absent in the case of natural diamonds.
A lab-grown diamond will almost always have the same brilliance and sparkle as a natural diamond, so if you’re mainly searching for a diamond that looks gorgeous, lab-grown diamonds can be a cost-effective option without sacrificing quality.
Difference in Value
Natural and lab-grown diamonds have a bigger disparity in resale value than they do in price. Natural diamonds typically retain roughly 50 % of their original value, whereas lab-grown diamonds are extremely difficult to resell without compromising on the resale price.
We must also give it a thought as to how the price of natural diamonds vs lab-grown diamonds wavers over time. A recent trend is showing that the price of natural diamonds is gradually increasing and the price of lab-grown diamonds are going down.