Lab Diamond Engagement Rings vs. Real Diamond Rings: Which Should You Choose?

Weddings Are About Choices

No matter what you want for your wedding, you have to make a lot of choices before settling on the perfect atmosphere, participants, and other details. Those choices begin at the moment you decide to become engaged.

Not only do you have to choose where to buy your engagement ring, lab diamonds Hatton Garden is a good choice, but you have to decide on the style, the cut, the band as well as the type of diamond. The latter choice is subject to a lot of debate.

Do you go with a lab grown diamond or a natural one? For some people, it is a tough choice and ethical sourcing often wins the debate. To find out which is better for you, continue reading our article.

What Is A Natural Diamond?

Just as the word says, natural diamonds are formed in nature and usually deep in the earth. The carbon molecules are subject to extreme heat and pressure turning them into crystals that are very hard.

These newly formed diamonds are brought to the surface of the earth through volcanic eruptions. Once they get close enough to the surface, they can be mined. Some of these loose natural diamonds are quite large but they get broken into smaller pieces due to mining processes.

Loose, natural diamonds are considered rare and very valuable. The mining of these natural diamonds is not always considered an ethical practice discouraging some couples from buying them.

What Are Lab-Grown Diamonds?

Lab-grown diamonds are labelled with a variety of names. They can be called man-made, synthetic, or cultured diamonds but the results are the same. The processes to grow these diamonds are twofold.

One process is called high-pressure high temperature (HPHT) and the other is called chemical vapour deposition (CVD). Both processes will simulate the birth and creation of natural diamonds but take far less time to do their work.

Where natural diamonds take many years to form, the lab-grown options can be created in six to ten weeks. While you may baulk at considering lab-grown diamonds for your engagement ring, these are real diamonds in every sense of the word.

Lab-grown diamonds have the same hardness, refractive index, and crystal structure as natural ones.

Lab And Natural Diamond Similarities

1. Hardness- Tested on the Mohs hardness scale, a scale that measures how hard it is to scratch minerals, both the lab-grown and natural diamond scored a perfect 10 out of 10.

What this means is that the lab-grown diamond is as durable as the natural one, enduring daily wear and tear, and retaining their brilliance for hundreds of years.

2. Appearance- Both types of diamonds exhibit the same brilliance and fire for centuries. It needs to be noted that the fire and brilliance do not depend on the diamond’s origin but on how it is cut by the jeweller and the clarity of the diamond.

3. Receiving Certification- The lab diamonds in London and in other locations around the world are subject to the same criteria as natural diamonds are rated.

The Kirsty Two Tone engagement ring in Cushion lab diamond

Why Buy Lab Diamond Engagement Rings

There are several legitimate and valuable reasons why choosing lab diamond engagement rings over natural diamond engagement rings. 

1. Real diamond engagement rings are costly- Their price is influenced by their origins, the lengthy supply chain as well as the resource expenditures to mine them.

2. Lab diamond engagement rings are environmentally friendly- They have a smaller carbon footprint and the surrounding environment is not damaged during the growth process.

3. Lab diamonds London are ethically sourced- Like lab-grown diamonds around the world, these diamonds come from non-conflict areas. Blood diamonds are diamonds that come from conflict areas and are used to fund the war in progress.

The origins of many natural diamonds are unknown and how they are mined is a big secret. With lab diamond engagement rings their source and journey to the jewelry store is very transparent.

Lab Diamond Engagement Rings Disadvantages

Currently, this has become a matter of hot debate. The value of the lab-grown diamond remains in question. This is due to the fact that these diamonds are not rare, not one of a kind, and other factors that impact their value.

But then natural diamond values fluctuate as well due to a variety of influences that govern their value. The value of both types of diamond rings is subjective and depends a lot on the jeweller assessing the value or making the purchase.

However, you are not going to lose much value by selecting a lab-grown diamond ring over a natural diamond ring. Resale value plays no part in the purchase when the ring is given as a symbol of love one for another.

Natural Diamond Engagement Rings Or Lab Diamond Engagement Rings

Which ring you choose for your engagement is ultimately up to you and your diamond preferences. Both types of rings have their advantages and make good symbols of your love.

Which one you buy will depend on how you feel about the mining process and origins of the natural diamonds as well as your feeling about wearing a lab-grown one. The love for each other is the same no matter which one you choose, the only difference is how you express that love.

Some Final Words 

Our store, Mouza Fine Jewellery, sells both types of diamonds. We take extreme care in sourcing the diamonds and make sure you are getting nothing but the finest ones available.

To get answers to your questions, just schedule an appointment with one of our diamond experts. The consultation is free and you can talk about the design you want among other details.

Take your time as this is an important decision that will remain with you for the rest of your life. All of our diamonds are of the highest quality and the best ethical standards. You will get the finest service from our experts when you visit our location.