We love being a part of the jewelry industry because things are always changing and there’s always something new and exciting that is entering the market. Since we are family-owned and operated, we can respond to fashion trends and customer interest faster than a chain store. When a customer asks for something that we don’t have, we make a note of it and if we feel that it is something that other customers may like as well, we simply add it to our inventory!
Just in the last few years, we have had an increasing number of customers asking about lab-created diamonds. We even had a customer drive all the way from Daytona beach to see a lab-created diamond at our store! So it seems that the hot new addition to the jewelry market is lab-grown diamonds and we believe it’s here to stay! You may or may not have heard of these yet but we are here to answer any and all questions that you may have about lab-grown diamonds. First we like to start out with a little bit of definition and back story behind lab-grown diamonds.
What are lab-grown diamonds?
Lab-grown diamonds are diamonds that are grown or made in a laboratory. Yes that’s right, we can replicate the pressure and temperature conditions that are needed to grow a diamond in a laboratory. These diamonds may also be called synthetic diamonds, man-made diamonds, or lab-created diamonds. We will use these terms interchangeably throughout this blog post as they all mean the same thing.
How long have lab-grown diamonds been around?
While this may seem like a new term to most customers, scientists have been producing diamonds in a laboratory since the 1950s but these were mostly industrial grade diamonds that were used in things like drill bits and diamond saws. It wasn’t until the 1980s that the technology improved enough to produce gem quality lab-grown diamonds.
Can you tell the difference between a lab-grown diamond and a natural diamond?
This is probably the most asked question that we get about lab-grown diamonds and the answer is NO. Lab-grown diamonds are physically and chemically the same as natural diamonds. Even with magnification, a trained professional cannot decipher a lab-grown from a natural diamond. There are expensive pieces of equipment that can help detect whether a diamond is lab-grown but most likely the diamond would need to go to a laboratory for further testing to know for sure. The FTC does require full disclosure on the sale of any lab-grown diamond so for that reason, all lab-grown diamonds should be engraved with the letters “LG” for lab-grown. At Kiefers, we explain in writing to our customers when they are purchasing a lab-grown diamond and we educate them on the differences before they make a purchase. If you want to see for yourself, stop into either of our locations and ask one of our diamond specialists to show you a lab-grown diamond!
This is an example of the laser inscription that can be found on lab-grown diamonds.
Do lab-grown diamonds cost less than natural diamonds?
This is the second most asked question that we get and the answer is YES! This is the main reason that so many customers are considering it an option for their engagement ring or other major jewelry purchase. Lab-grown diamonds are significantly less than the equivalent size and quality in a natural diamond and the pricing has continued to drop as the technology has improved. The savings are significant enough to consider and most customers end up with a bigger and better quality diamond for less money. Click to shop our lab-grown diamond collection.
1.00 Carat Lab-Grown Diamond Stud Earrings $999 or $63/month
14KW 1.00CTW "GOOD" Diamond Stud Earrings $2,499 or $624.75/month
Why are lab-created diamonds so expensive?
Some customers feel that the pricing of lab-created diamonds is expensive but we feel that this comes from a misunderstanding of what lab-created diamonds really are. Some people want to compare the pricing of lab-created diamonds to cubic zirconias or moissanite but lab-created diamonds are very different. First and foremost, lab-created diamonds have all the same properties as natural diamonds. Where cubic zirconias and moissanites have none of the same properties as diamond. For example, cubic zirconias are much softer than diamond so it is common for them to scratch easily. Where the only thing that can scratch a diamond is a diamond. And this is true of lab-created diamonds as well. Therefore the pricing of lab-created diamonds is based on a discount off of the current market value of natural diamonds and it has no relation to the market value of imitation diamonds like cubic zirconia.
1.00 CTW Simulated Diamond Stud Earrings $100
Are lab-created diamonds fake diamonds?
This question makes us cringe! No, lab-created diamonds are not fake whatsoever! A “fake” diamond would be like a cubic zirconia which is meant to look like a diamond but it doesn’t actually have any of the same properties as diamond. A great illustration is ice, aka frozen water. You can find ice naturally occurring in places like Antarctica, or you can find ice that was produced in your freezer by your ice maker. Both are ice, the only difference is the process of how it was made. You wouldn’t call ice from your ice maker fake ice, would you? Click to see our lab-grown diamond collection.
Do lab-created diamonds test as real?
Yes, they test as real because they are real. Lab-created diamonds have all the same chemical properties as natural diamonds so they will test as a diamond because they are a diamond. Click to see our lab-grown diamond collection.
Are lab-created diamonds eco-friendly?
There isn’t a definitive answer on this as each laboratory may use different resources and properties to produce their lab-created diamonds but in comparison to natural diamonds, lab-created diamonds are eco-friendly. Did you know that it takes roughly 1,000 lbs of earth to be moved to mine a 1 carat diamond? It also requires hundreds of gallons of water to mine a 1 carat diamond. In comparison, it just takes a little bit of electricity to produce a 1 carat lab-grown diamond. So if sustainability is important to you, a lab-created diamond is a great choice. Click to shop our lab-grown collection.
Are lab-created diamonds conflict-free?
Yes! All lab-created diamonds are conflict-free because they are usually produced in first world countries that are not experiencing military warfare. A large number of the lab-grown diamonds on the market today are actually made in the United States. With that being said, any new diamonds coming into the United States at this point are conflict-free as well thanks to the Kimberley Process and other border control initiatives. So this shouldn’t be a concern to today’s consumer but it’s nice to know. Click to shop our lab-grown diamond collection.
Do lab-created diamonds hold their value?
It’s actually a big misconception that natural diamonds hold their value. Even natural diamonds lose over 50% of their value the minute it leaves the store. Most customers do not want to buy a pre-owned diamond because of the stigma of having a diamond that someone else wore. Some jewelry stores will not purchase lab-grown diamonds at all and they can be harder to resell on the secondary market than natural diamonds. This is mostly because there are still a lot of people that don’t understand lab-grown diamonds as a whole. The market value on lab-grown diamonds could fluctuate more than natural diamonds in the long run because we cannot predict the future supply and demand of these goods like we can with natural diamonds. In general, we do not recommend purchasing diamonds, natural or lab-grown, for investment purposes. Click to learn more about our diamond buying.
Can I upgrade my lab-grown diamond down the road?
At Kiefers, we do not allow upgrades on lab-grown diamonds because the market is fluctuating in price so much. Matter of fact, most retailers do not allow upgrades on lab-grown diamonds so we do not recommend purchasing a lab-grown diamond if you think you would want to upgrade it in the future. If you think you will want to upgrade your ring down the road, we recommend going with a natural diamond so you can retain as much of that value as possible down the road. We would recommend asking your jeweler about the upgrade policy before making the decision to purchase a lab-grown diamond. Click to learn more about our upgrade program.
Are lab-grown diamonds included in the Preferred Warranty?
Yes! Our free nation-wide warranty called Preferred does include lab-grown diamond engagement rings and jewelry so you are fully protected with your purchase whether you chose a lab-grown diamond or a natural diamond! Click to learn more about our Preferred Warranty.
Are lab-grown diamonds covered by insurance?
Yes! In case you didn’t know, we partner with Zillion insurance so you will get 10 days of free insurance coverage when you leave our store. You will also get a free no-obligation quote from Zillion if you wish to acquire insurance through them or we can provide you with a free appraisal that you can send to the insurance company of your choice. Click to learn more about our appraisal and insurance programs.
We hope that helps answer some pressing questions about lab-grown diamonds and we have seen great success with our lab-created diamond engagement rings. We have seen so much success that we decided to expand our lab-created collection to include lab-created diamond stud earrings, lab-created diamond wedding rings, lab-created diamond tennis bracelets and more! Our diamond experts are happy to answer any additional questions you may have. Click to shop our lab-grown diamond jewelry.