How can one purchase the fire and scintillation desired in a diamond at a reasonable price? This is the question diamond lovers everywhere who are deterred by high gemstone prices are asking. The once popular, inexpensive synthetic substitute, cubic zirconia (CZ), is heavier and far less fiery than real diamond, and larger CZs can’t even pass for real to the naked eye. However, all is not lost. Lab- created diamonds are finally here, and they aren’t pale imitations of the real thing any longer. These flawless gems ARE the real thing — chemically and visually identical to natural stones.
Cultured, or man-made, stones are the same carbon crystals with the same chemical, optical and physical properties as those stones that nature created in the underground mines throughout the world. Cultured stones offer the same brilliance, sparkle, fire and scintillation. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) grades the cultured gems by the same standards it uses for the mined ones, although its rating describes the stones as “laboratory grown.” In fact, the GIA acknowledges that these ARE diamonds, just man-made.
In nature, colored diamonds rarely occur. These are the result of certain impurities – nitrogen will create yellow, boron will create blue, and so forth. Because there are so few colored natural stones of high quality, they are quite expensive. However, lab produced stones are readily available in several different colors. In addition to being flawless, the cost for cultured colored diamonds is similar to the cost for colorless stones.
Like their counterparts, man-made diamonds can be purchased either loose, or already in jewelry settings. However, you are unlikely to find these cultured stones in most jewelry or department stores. They have only recently made an appearance on the market, and represent a very small part of the total diamond inventory out there.
Regarding lab produced diamonds, here are some differences you should know about: 1. Typically, cultured stones are 1-2 carats in weight. While larger stones are made, they are less available. 2. Most man-made stones are colored, rather than colorless. This is exactly the opposite of natural diamonds. 3. Only experts can utilize very expensive special equipment in order to detect cultured gems to differentiate them from natural ones. 4. Finding “matched pairs” of natural stones for use in jewelry has historically been difficult, and thus, expensive. It is far easier to find matching identical stones in cultured gems.
Some people may be concerned that a seller may try to pass off a lab created diamond as “the real thing.” This is unlikely as long as you are purchasing from someone reputable. Producers of lab-grown diamonds are very proud of the gems they are able to create. Also, these are genuine diamonds rather than “cheap” imitations in the first place. The difference in the stones can be detected, and, in addition, jewelers have every incentive to preserve the integrity of the natural diamond market. Thus, a good jeweler will be happy to help you identify the stone you wish to purchase.
While lab-created gems are available less expensively than natural stones, they are not priced anywhere near as low as cheap CZ. Expect to pay about one third less for lab produced diamonds than for natural ones. Cultured diamonds are readily available through websites that openly and proudly announce that their stones are lab-grown. However, just like any other online purchase, carefully check out the vendor prior to your purchase to make sure they are reputable.
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