Whether you’re shopping for a collection of engagement rings, looking for an anniversary gift, or simply want a special new piece for yourself, diamond jewelry is a beautiful and timeless option. Understandably, today’s responsible consumers want to know where their diamonds come from. At our store in Avon Lake, Ohio, Peter & Co. Jewelers offers both mined and lab-grown diamonds that are ethically sourced. Here, we'll give an overview of lab-grown diamonds and what they bring to your jewelry box.
The other key element that many people consider is the carbon footprint of your jewelry. There is strong debate over which process has a lesser impact on the environment. While mined diamonds require heavy equipment and machinery, a considerable amount of energy is used to grow diamonds in a lab. In the end, the choice comes down to the consumer.
Lab-grown diamonds offer affordability due to their decreasing prices over the last few years, but the market volatility prevents most jewelers from offering an upgrade or trade-in option.
No matter which type of jewelry you are shopping for, the staff at Peter & Co. Jewelers can source a lab-grown diamond for a piece at your request.
At Peter & Co. Jewelers, we're dedicated to providing unparalleled service to our customers in Avon Lake, OH, and the surrounding Cleveland area. If you’re in the market for a lab-grown or a mined diamond, we're here to guide you and answer any questions you have throughout the buying process, as well as help with repairs as needed. To learn more about our jewelry services and find assistance shopping for the perfect piece of ethically sourced diamond jewelry, contact us today.
What Are Lab-Grown Diamonds?
Also known as cultured or man-made diamonds, lab-grown diamonds are created using a technological process that mimics the way the stones develop in nature. They’re identical to natural diamonds in their physical and chemical makeup and have the same optical properties. This means that they look the same as mined diamonds. The average person can’t spot the difference between a lab-grown diamond and a natural one – you’d need the expert eye of a professional jeweler and diagnostic equipment to tell them apart. Lab-grown diamonds typically have a minuscule laser inscription that indicates they were created in a facility.Benefits of Choosing Cultured Diamonds
Lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds. Instead of being harvested through mining, they're typically developed using a process called chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or the high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) method. Some of the advantages of selecting a lab-grown diamond include:- Affordability: Lab-grown diamonds cost a fraction of natural diamonds of similar quality and size.
- Purity: Many man-made diamonds have fewer clarity characteristics due to the controlled environment in which they are created.
- Color: Lab-grown diamonds can be cultured in colors that aren’t often found or are extremely rare in nature, creating unique pieces that truly stand out.
The other key element that many people consider is the carbon footprint of your jewelry. There is strong debate over which process has a lesser impact on the environment. While mined diamonds require heavy equipment and machinery, a considerable amount of energy is used to grow diamonds in a lab. In the end, the choice comes down to the consumer.
Lab-grown diamonds offer affordability due to their decreasing prices over the last few years, but the market volatility prevents most jewelers from offering an upgrade or trade-in option.
Diamond Grading System
Lab-grown diamonds are held to the same standards of quality as mined diamonds, known as the Four Cs: carat, clarity, color, and cut. However, in mined diamonds, the 4 Cs determine rarity and value. In Lab-grown, because they are created in a controlled environment it has less of an impact on price. Once a diamond is created in a facility, it's evaluated based on the following criteria:Carat
Carat refers to the weight of the diamond. Many engagement rings can fit diamonds up to five carats in size. Although some styles, such as tension-set diamonds, have certain limitations.
Clarity
Clarity measures the appearance and presence of internal characteristics or inclusions. These are indicated on a scale that ranges from flawless to included.
Color
Diamonds come in a range of colors. They're assigned a letter grade that indicates where they fall on the spectrum of colorless to noticeable color. Lab-grown diamonds may also have a more visible tint to them. Separate from color grade, at Peter & Co. Jewelers, we select lab-grown diamonds that do not have a strong tint of color.
Cut
Cut measures the quality of a diamond’s symmetry and proportions as well as polish, which affects the diamond’s sparkle and shine. A diamond’s cut is measured on a scale from poor to excellent.
No matter which type of jewelry you are shopping for, the staff at Peter & Co. Jewelers can source a lab-grown diamond for a piece at your request.
Ethical Diamond Sourcing at Peter & Co. Jewelers
Whether you choose a mined or a lab-grown diamond, you can rest assured that ours are ethically sourced. As a member of the highly acclaimed Independent Jewelers Organization (IJO), the Peter & Co. Jewelers team hand-selects our mined diamonds during our semi-annual trips to Antwerp, Belgium. A world-renowned destination for diamonds, Antwerp is known as a source of responsible and transparent gem sales.At Peter & Co. Jewelers, we're dedicated to providing unparalleled service to our customers in Avon Lake, OH, and the surrounding Cleveland area. If you’re in the market for a lab-grown or a mined diamond, we're here to guide you and answer any questions you have throughout the buying process, as well as help with repairs as needed. To learn more about our jewelry services and find assistance shopping for the perfect piece of ethically sourced diamond jewelry, contact us today.