What Makes A Superior Lab Grown Diamond?
Lab grown diamonds are set to be all the rage in 2023 and well into the future, making diamonds more accessible for all without sacrificing purity and sparkle. However, not all lab grown diamonds are created equal – the best lab grown diamonds are in fact created in a different way to their inferior counterparts.
To source the best lab grown diamonds or lab grown diamond jewellery, there are a few things you should know.
What Are Lab Grown Diamonds?
We are fans of lab grown diamonds at Argyle Jewellers and have spoken about them many times in the past. In simple terms, a lab grown diamond is a diamond that is produced through artificial means, such as in a laboratory, rather than being mined from the earth. Lab grown diamonds are also known as synthetic, cultured or engineered diamonds.
To create a lab grown diamond, you need to replicate the natural conditions under which natural diamonds are formed. This is done by subjecting a small piece of pure carbon crystal (also known as a “diamond seed”) to high pressure and high temperatures in a growth chamber. The diamond seed serves as a nucleation point for the carbon atoms in the growth chamber, causing them to crystallise and form a larger diamond.
The resulting lab-grown diamonds have the same physical and chemical properties as naturally occurring diamonds, including their crystal structure, hardness, and optical properties.
How Are Lab Grown Diamonds Graded?
As we have already mentioned, not all lab grown diamonds are made the same despite their similar formation under pressure in a chamber. Lab grown diamonds are also graded depending on their purity, structure and more, very similarly to natural diamonds.
Type IIa Diamonds
Also known as a diamond type 2a diamond, a Type IIa is one of four diamond classifications. Around 1-2% of all diamonds are classified as Type IIa. They are almost purely carbon, and considered to be the most pure and valuable diamonds of all. Type IIa can be completely colourless, but some have exhibited a brown, light grey, pink or yellow hue.
Typically, all lab grown diamonds that we stock at Argyle Jewellers are Type IIa, meaning that we carry only the best lab grown diamonds around.
Type IIb Diamonds
Type IIb or 2b diamonds contain boron, which can soak up yellow, orange and red light. This can result in a lab grown diamond emitting a coloured hue, such as a very faint blue or grey hue.
Type Ia Diamonds
In the world of diamonds, most are classified as type Ia diamonds. These types of diamonds sometimes appear colourless, but often they will soak up blue light and may give off a very pale yellow hue.
Type Ib Diamonds
Exceptionally rare, only 0.1% of all diamonds are classified as type Ib. Type Ib diamonds emit blue and green light and look darker than type 1a diamonds. These diamonds’ colours may include brown, orange and yellow hues.
Additionally, lab grown diamonds can be rated on the four C’s – carat, clarity, cut and colour. These determine the appearance of individual diamonds and are important factors when it comes to understanding how to buy the best lab grown diamond.
How Do I Choose The Best Lab Grown Diamonds?
The best lab grown diamonds will come from a trusted company that understands how to select the best lab grown alternative diamonds. In some instances, a company’s highest quality lab grown diamonds can out-grade another company’s best-quality natural diamonds, which is why you should be careful when it comes to shopping for your lab grown diamonds.
Lab Grown Diamond Ring by Argyle Jewellers
Additionally, you should ask for a grading report. These grading reports independently verify the technologies that were used to create your lab grown diamond, as well as the quality of the diamond you intend to purchase.
In the end however, you should choose the diamond that speaks to you. Talk to us at Argyle Jewellers today and discover our exquisite range of lab grown diamond rings, earrings and other jewellery in-store or online.