The process of buying a piece of diamond jewellery can be an exciting one. It is important to invest time into researching the options available before purchasing a stunning diamond masterpiece to call your own.
Even Hollywood A-listers and royalty are looking closely at the origin of this stone, as there's more than meets eye behind its production.
The diamond industry has long been a major player in the mining sector, but as more people are becoming aware of the environmental concerns surrounding diamond mining, the industry is starting to feel the pressure.
According to a report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), diamonds are responsible for some of the worst environmental damage caused by mining. The report found that diamond mining has led to the displacement of indigenous communities, the destruction of natural habitats, and the pollution of water sources.
In response to these findings, the diamond industry is starting to make changes. Some companies are investing in more sustainable mining practices, and others are working to increase transparency around their supply chains. However, there is still a long way to go before the diamond industry can truly be considered sustainable.
If you're considering buying a diamond, it's important to do your research and make sure that you are buying lab-grown diamonds to ensure that no one has been hurt during the jewelry-making process.
As celebrities increasingly turn to lab grown diamonds for their red carpet looks (namely, Penelope Cruz, the Duchess of Sussex and Leonardo DiCaprio), it's clear that there is no difference in quality between these man-made gems and natural diamonds. In fact, Australia’s leading jewellery brand, Moissanite Engagement Rings, say that lab grown diamonds are actually superior in terms of clarity and colour. So if you're looking for a diamond that will sparkle just as bright as the stars, you should definitely consider a lab grown diamond.
'An advantage of lab-grown diamonds is the controlled conditions in which they are crafted, resulting in diamonds of the finest quality', explains a Moissanite Engagement Rings spokesperson.
'Most customers seek diamonds of the colourless and near colourless ranges due to their white sparkle, which when lab-grown, display impeccable clarity. On the contrary, other diamonds that appear slightly yellow in colour are less desirable.'
Lab-grown diamonds look and act just like the real thing. They're virtually identical in every way, down to their chemical composition (atoms are made up of carbon), optical properties or hardness level. They could be easily mistaken for each other when examined under magnification!
The lab-grown diamond manufacturing process replicates conditions that mimic the natural, long arduous journey of getting to form a perfect gemstone’, explains the Moissanite Engagement Rings spokesperson.
This can take place through two major methods - High Temperature and Pressure (HTP) or Chemical Deposition techniques.
The High Temperature High Pressure Method involves heating the diamond to extreme temperatures of 1400 Degrees Celsius, alongside pressure of more than one million pounds per square inch.
The Chemical Deposition Process involves heating a diamond seed in a pressure chamber to approximately 700 Degrees Celsius, then mixing it with carbon gases such as methane and hydrogen.
The entire process of growing a diamond takes about one to two months before adding the final touches; cutting and polishing the stone for that special sparkle.
Making lab-grown diamonds is a more energy efficient process in comparison to natural diamonds. Having eliminated the necessity for intensive mining practices, prices of jewellery featuring lab-grown diamonds are at least 30% less than those with mined diamonds.
The fact that you can reduce your carbon footprint while still having a beautiful stone makes lab grown diamonds an attractive option. Customers and celebrities who wear them say it feels great knowing they're contributing less to environmental damage, and the process uses far fewer resources than traditional ones!
It's estimated 80 tonnes of earth are moved for each carat of natural diamond obtained, and there were approximately 148 million carats mined in 2018 alone. This amounts to a devastating amount of destruction to the environment!
On the other hand, the process of growing lab-grown diamonds requires much less energy than their natural counterparts, making them more sustainable and cost effective for consumers who want high quality products without paying through the nose!
The process of mining for diamonds can also be quite dangerous and the wages are low, which sometimes leads to conflicts. It’s also nearly impossible to know exactly where a mined diamond has originated from and whether any people have been harmed in the process.
However there's no problem with lab-grown stones since they come from a reliable source such as The Geological Institute Of America (GIA) or International Gemological Institute(IGI).