What do we mean when we talk about cultured diamonds?

Seems like everyone’s shopping for diamonds today. The reasons are almost as many as the customers themselves. But diamonds are the top gemstone for bridal jewelry and mark important milestones in anyone’s life.

Did you notice that there have never been more diamond options for consumers than that dazzling array of diamond types available nowadays? That’s because shoppers’ preferences have evolved so much over the years. That has shifted the public perception and it’s made different things more or less important to the consumer.

So Many Diamond Choices Now

There are earth mined diamonds of course, which everyone understands. But even in that niche, did you know that shoppers have a wide range of options? There are lasered diamonds, and fracture-filled stones, all of which offer good value by way of their treatments.

Today, however, consumers are getting very enthused about sustainable diamond options which are gorgeous (nearly flawless no less!) diamonds grown in a lab. They are in every way an actual diamond because they have the same optical, chemical, and physical traits as earth mined diamonds, but they were grown in a laboratory.

They are sold under several different names, which can be a bit confusing to the uninitiated. They are called synthetic diamonds, lab grown diamonds, man-made, or created diamonds. Make sure you don’t confuse the lab-grown diamond varieties with diamond simulants which are a completely different and inferior product. Diamonds simulants are any manufactured stone made to look like a diamond to the untrained eye but in fact, cannot be called a diamond. They might be CZ (cubic zirconium) or glass, even plastic. Whatever they are made of, they will not have the characteristics required to be called any variety of created diamonds.

What about Cultured Diamonds?

Of course, we see the expression cultured diamonds too, which is a lovely way is to describe these beautiful stones. When we talk about cultured diamonds, we’re specifically referring to synthetic diamonds—real diamonds cultured in the laboratory under the strictest technological standards today.

The reason cultured (or synthetic) diamonds have gained in popularity with today’s shoppers is due to their price points, beauty, and sustainability. That’s a pretty impressive shortlist, isn’t it?

When shoppers look for diamond bridal jewelry, usually budget is a big consideration. With cultured diamond, consumers are often pleasantly shocked to find how far their money goes in buying an engagement ring. It’s not just the price that matters but also what one can get for the money. Couples discover that they can buy a much larger diamond with a higher color and clarity than they could have afforded with earth mined diamond. That’s all good. But there’s more to it than that.

Benefits of Cultured Diamonds

Today’s shoppers are spending wisely on all their purchases. Ethically sourced products particularly with sustainability are favored over other purchases that don’t consider the environment. With cultured diamonds, no mining or earth moving took place, so the environment was left unharmed. We all should be mindful of that. And when given the choice, cultured diamond seem to be a good consideration.

How exactly are cultured diamonds produced? This part of their story is fascinating, especially to consumers intrigued by technology. To create a cultured (or lab-grown) diamond, a specially fitted laboratory has to be equipped with special tanks that can duplicate the high pressure, and high temperatures found some 125 miles below the surface of the earth. Then in enclosed containers, a microscopic diamond seed is inserted and allowed to develop over a set period. In nature, this process takes billions of years. In a laboratory, the diamond can develop over several weeks. Because technology is used in producing these diamonds, they control the clarity and the color so that higher grade stones are produced.

Buying for the Right Reasons

So, if you find yourself in the market for a created diamond, you are in good company. You’ll be getting exceptional value for your money and will have a beautiful stone to enjoy for the rest of your life. Earth-mined diamonds are the strongest of all-natural gemstones, ranking a 10 on the Mohs scale for hardness. There is no other natural material from earth that can be compared to this hardness. Only a diamond can scratch another diamond. Cultured diamonds, boast the same hardness as natural diamonds. Hardness is an important feature because the hardest stones resist scratching and dulling. You plan on wearing your cultured diamond every day if it's part of your bridal jewelry. So, it is important that it should last for as long as you will be wearing it—and that it will look just like new years from now.

Cultured diamonds offer modern jewelry collectors a beautiful, affordable, and eco-minded diamond choice. They might just be the perfect choice for you.