Lab Created Diamonds: Do They Really Save Money?

Lab created diamonds are misunderstood. They're not cheap "fake" diamonds. Here's the truth about this man-made rock.

You want the perfect engagement ring, but you are on a budget. Lab-grown diamonds can save you money. But are they worth it?

It depends on who you ask.

In this guide, we'll help you learn about man-made diamonds. Are they a good value? Should you propose with one?

Our goal is to help you fully understand your options. This way you can make the right decision for you and your loved one.

You will not be able to tell the difference between a lab created diamond and real diamond. In fact, even many jewelers can't see it with their loupe.

Should you bite? Let's learn more.

What Are Lab-Grown Diamonds?

So what exactly is a man-made diamond? How could something that takes millions of years to cultivate be grown in a few weeks in a lab?

First, lab created diamonds are real diamonds. They have carbon structures the same as a real diamond. It's just that the process is sped up in a controlled lab environment.

They start with a carbon "seed." The seed is placed into a chamber where the heat, pressure, and gases make the diamond grow. The process takes between 6 and 10 weeks. Once full crystallization takes place, the diamonds are cut and polished. They then go through the same grading process as regular diamonds.

The final product is one that has the same characteristics as a real diamond.

Synthetic diamonds will have natural flaws due to the formation of the rock. And just like a real diamond, it'll have different tints of color.

Fascinating, right? Did you know that James Allen offers lab created diamonds? They even offer you an amazing view in high definition so you can see it before you purchase the diamond.

According to Clark Watts, a spokesperson for lab-grown diamond retailer Lark & Berry, no one is able to tell the difference between lab-grown and mined diamonds with the naked eye.

"It's extremely difficult, if not impossible, for even seasoned gemologists to tell lab-grown diamonds from mined diamonds, simply because there is no difference between the two," Watts said. "Lab-grown diamonds even get mixed into batches of mined diamonds on occasion."

Simulant Diamonds vs Lab Created Diamonds

Lab created diamonds are not diamond simulants (such as cubic zirconia). Diamond stimulants are things that look like a diamond, but do not have the same properties. They're also known as diamond alternatives.

Diamond stimulants include cubic zirconia, moissanite, and white sapphire. They do not have the same physical and chemical properties of a diamond and do not perform in the same way. They're also not as durable as diamonds.

Synthetic diamonds, on the other hand, are very much real diamonds. They are identical to naturally made diamonds from the Earth.

Pricing: Lab Created Diamonds vs Real Diamonds

Let's face it, diamonds are expensive. The engagement ring's average cost is over $6,000.

If those numbers scare you, you may want to consider more affordable options.

You'll hear retailers claiming that lab-grown diamonds can save you as much as 50%. Let's find out if this is the truth.

We'll be using examples from top online jewelers Blue Nile (why) and James Allen (why). We'll be comparing the price against Brilliant Earth's lab-grown diamonds.

We compared prices of synthetic and mined diamonds with the same characteristics. Here's what we found:

Example #1: Round, 1.15-carat, ideal cut, H, VS1 diamond

• Blue Nile mined diamond: $6,298
  
• James Allen mined diamond: $6,890
  
• Brilliant Earth lab created diamond: $3,880

Example #2: Princess cut, 1.0 carat, H, VS1 diamond

• James Allen mined diamond: $4,320
  
• Brilliant Earth lab created diamond: $3,490

Example #3: Round, 1.57 carat, F, VVS2 diamond

• James Allen mined diamond: $16,650
  
• Brilliant Earth lab created diamond: $11,170

In general, synthetic diamonds are a bit cheaper than mined diamonds. You can save 20-35% with a lab created diamond.

Should You Propose with a Lab-Grown Diamond Ring?

Now the bigger question is whether you should propose with a lab created diamond. Should there be a difference? In reality, your relationship shouldn't be based on the size of your diamond or its origin. But that's how our society runs, unfortunately. So how do you know if it's OK?

In a CreditDonkey survey, about 47% of women don't care if the diamond is natural or man-made.

Talk with your loved one. Ask her thoughts on the topic. Many women have an idea of what they want already.

Here are some reasons why some women are against lab-grown diamonds:

• They want the real thing. They don't want a man-made one passed off as real. This mostly stems from not fully understanding what lab diamonds are.

• Diamonds are special because they're rare (or so we think). They're not special anymore if a lab can just mass-produce them in weeks.

• There's less resale value in man-made diamonds. The resale value of diamonds is weak in general. But synthetic diamonds are even worse, because they can just be made in large quantities. So there's no historical value or rareness value.

But there are just as many pros for considering a lab created diamond:

• No social and ethical dilemmas. Many mined diamonds come from conflict areas or pose human rights issues. Synthetic diamonds are made in safe environments with fair wages.

• More environmentally friendly. A single carat of diamond requires 200-250 tons of earth to be mined. According to a report by Diamond Foundry (producer of lab diamonds), making lab diamonds have a much, much smaller environmental footprint.

• You can buy a diamond for a lot less. This also means you can afford a larger and higher quality diamond. Or even a fancy colored diamond.

Some women don't have a preference. They are just happy to be marrying the person they love. Others have had an idea of what they wanted since they were little girls. Knowing what she has her heart set on can help.

Try James Allen's tool to create your own lab-created diamond ring. From cut and clarity to price and more, you'll have a wide selection to choose from.

Where to Buy Lab Diamonds

Here are some of our top recommended retailers for lab diamonds:

• Brilliant Earth (read review): Brilliant Earth is known as the ethnical diamond retailer. Along with their beyond-conflict-free diamonds, they also have a large selection of lab diamonds certified by GIA.

• James Allen: James Allen is one of the most popular online jewelers for its competitive pricing. Check out its selection of lab diamonds.

• Ritani: Ritani stands out for its exceptional online shopping experience. You can even request up to 3 rings to try on at home so you can feel more confident about the purchase. See Ritani's selection of lab diamonds.

What Experts Say

CreditDonkey assembled a panel of both jewelry and cybersecurity industry experts to answer readers' most pressing questions:

• Are lab created diamonds worth buying?
  
• What is the safest way to buy online?
  
• Who should get a lab created diamond?

Here's what they said:

How Synthetic Diamonds Are Made

Synthetic diamonds are created one of two ways:

• High Pressure/High Temperature (HPHT): This method imitates the natural environment where diamonds are created. Small diamond seeds are placed into a press that generates very high pressure and high temperature (over 2000°C). This grows the seeds into larger diamonds, like a sped-up version of what happens beneath the Earth's surface. HPHT is an old method that started in the 1950's.
  The HPHT treatment is also used to enhance the color of poor quality natural diamonds. An ugly brown diamond can go through the process and come out colorless. While this sounds good, be careful of HPHT-treated diamonds. If a diamond has been enhanced, labs generally disclose it on their report.
  

• Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD): In this method, a small diamond "seed" is placed into a sealed chamber, which is filled with a carbon-rich gas mixture and heated to 800°C-1200°C. The carbon is activated and attaches to the diamond seed, atom by atom, until they grow into diamonds large enough for cutting.

  While the method sounds complicated, there's no question about the quality of CVD diamonds. John Angus, Emeritus Professor of Engineering at Case Western Reserve University says, "The diamonds made by CVD are exactly the same thing as the ones dug out of the ground, and often are of higher quality. They are definitely not unnatural."

You can read more in depth about these 2 methods and the differences from GIA.

The Final Word

This is a personal choice. There is no right or wrong decision. We have always been about helping you make the best choices for your budget. If you want to save some money by buying a lab created diamond, there's nothing wrong with it.

Synthetic diamonds are very much real diamonds - just not mined from the Earth. Make sure you and your sweetie understand this and that she's OK with not having "the real thing." It's more a mental block than anything else.