Eternal Sparkle: The Durability and Longevity of Lab Grown Diamonds
As the sentiment goes, a diamond is forever. Natural diamonds take billions of years to form and last for eons , making them the perfect stone for priceless pieces of jewelry. However, modern advancements have allowed scientists to create lab grown diamonds that offer the same optical properties as mined stones, without the ethical costs.
Lab created diamonds are appreciated for their visual beauty and affordability, but many people wonder whether they are truly the same as natural diamonds in terms of durability and longevity.
Learn why lab grown stones are the ideal choice to give your jewelry collection an eternal sparkle, whether it’s a lab grown diamond engagement ring, wedding band or other fine jewelry.
How Hard are Synthetic Stones?
Lab grown diamonds are real gems, which means they are just as hard as their natural counterparts. This is due to their unique chemical composition, which features carbon atoms in a crystalline structure.
This crystal lattice is created under high temperatures and pressure beneath the Earth’s surface in a natural setting. In a lab, it’s simulated through an artificial process called High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT), in which a diamond seed is grown in a chamber with nearly 870, 000 pounds of pressure and heated to between 1300-1600°C.
The interlocking lattice structure bonds the atoms tightly together, making diamonds the most durable gemstone on the planet. Compared to diamonds from the Earth’s crust, a lab created stone also scores 10 on the Mohs Scale. This rating method measures scratch resistance, ranging from talc, which is very soft, to diamond, the hardest mineral known.
How Long Does a Lab Grown Diamond Last?
One of the most frequently asked questions about diamonds created in a lab is whether they last as long as natural gems. Although they only take about a month to grow, these stones are identical to natural diamonds. They have the same chemical properties as natural diamonds, which means they have the same longevity.
When well taken care of, your diamond jewelry, like a lab grown diamond ring or lab grown diamond tennis bracelet, should last a lifetime. Lab created diamond care is simple; all it requires is a few easy steps:
– Spray your jewelry with an all-natural cleaner. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes.
– Scrub lightly with a soft bamboo brush. Focus on the areas under and behind the setting and on all surfaces.
– Rinse with warm water to remove cleaner and dirt.
– Dry with a soft, lint-free cloth for diamond jewelry.
This should help your lab grown diamond keep its sparkle, shine and iridescent glow, no matter how long you’ve had it in your collection.
Can Lab Grown Diamonds Be Damaged?
Although diamonds are the hardest mineral known to man, they aren’t indestructible. Lab grown diamonds share this characteristic with natural stones, meaning they can still be damaged under certain conditions.
Abrupt temperature changes, harsh impacts or pressure applied at just the right angle can cause the gem to crack, chip or shatter. For instance, a diamond can burn at around 1562°F; however, outside of sustained high-heat situations, it’s unlikely everyday temperatures will harm a diamond.
When it comes to diamonds, lab grown stones are perfect for daily wear. Most damage to diamond jewelry, like lab grown diamond rings, occurs to the setting rather than the diamond itself. This is because the metals used in jewelry settings are much softer than diamonds, making them more susceptible to wear, bending or breaking over time.
Why Invest in Lab Grown Diamond Jewelry for Your Forever Pieces?
A lab created diamond is the ideal choice for jewelry pieces, like engagement or wedding rings, that you plan to wear for a long time. When you buy a lab grown stone, you can have peace of mind with the following benefits:
– Low maintenance. Lab grown diamonds are engineered to withstand daily wear, making them less prone to damage and easier to care for than some stones like turquoise or opal. These low care and maintenance requirements ensure your jewelry remains radiant with minimal effort.
– More affordable. Because they are created in a controlled environment, lab grown diamonds bypass the extensive mining process, reducing their cost. This affordability allows you to purchase larger carat weight or higher-quality diamonds for the same price as smaller, natural ones.
– Higher quality. The process of creating diamonds in a lab allows for precise control over the conditions, resulting in gems that can have fewer imperfections and more consistent quality than those extracted from the earth. This makes man-made diamonds a superior choice if you want flawless beauty in your jewelry pieces, like lab grown diamond bracelets.
– Ethical choice. Opting for lab grown diamonds means supporting a more ethical approach to jewelry. These stones are produced without the ethical dilemmas involved in diamond mining, letting you buy pieces you love with confidence.
The Lasting Brilliance of Lab Grown Diamonds
Lab grown diamonds combine the timeless beauty and durability of natural diamonds with modern ethics and affordability. With identical hardness and longevity to their mined equivalents, these gems promise a lifetime of sparkle with minimal upkeep. Upgrade your jewelry collection with a lab grown diamond bracelet, ring, necklace or earrings, where each piece tells a story of innovation, ethics and everlasting elegance.
