When it comes to shopping for diamond jewelry, there are some common misconceptions and frequently asked questions. From how to tell real diamonds from laboratory-grown diamonds, to the history and values behind natural diamonds, it’s important to understand the facts about what you’re buying. To help you navigate the retail counter and prepare the right questions for your jeweler, here are a few key differences to remember about natural diamonds and their lab-grown diamond counterparts.
Nature’s Difference
Nature’s Difference No. 1:
Natural diamonds were created by the heat and pressure of the Earth, from 1 to 3 billion years ago.
Unlike natural diamonds, lab grown diamonds are produced with microwave reactors in a matter of only a few weeks.
Nature's Difference No. 2:
The value of natural diamonds come from their extreme (and ever-increasing) rarity as a billion-year-old gem.
Mass-produced lab-grown diamonds have little to no resale value because they can be endlessly replicated.
Nature's Difference No. 3:
Natural diamond producers are committed to controlling and reducing their environmental impact.
Due to the immense amount of energy required to replicate a real diamond’s billion-year-old natural process in only a few weeks, laboratory-grown diamonds produce 3x more carbon emissions per carat than natural diamonds.
Nature's Difference No. 4:
Every natural diamond is unique, like a fingerprint.
Just like everything in nature, no two natural diamonds are identical, unlike mass-produced lab-created diamonds or synthetic diamonds.
Nature's Difference No. 5:
The natural diamond industry supports the livelihood of 10 million people globally.
Together, the world’s leading diamond producers create $16 billion net positive socioeconomic and environmental benefits annually in countries where they operate–80% of which stays within local communities.*
*Analysis conducted by Trucost, part of S&P Global, based on 2016/2017 data.
