Natural vs Synthetic Diamond
The shimmering dazzle of diamonds has mesmerized the world for centuries. Diamonds have been at the heart of romance, power, drama, and the annals of history; and they remain one of the most highly valued commodities in the world.
Natural diamonds are extremely rare and have been formed over 3 billion years of geological activity. Not only do they make for stunning jewelry, natural diamonds are also the most prized type of gemstone in the world. The phrase “diamonds are forever” is a nod to its qualities like longevity and timelessness, but it is also relevant when you consider the fact that the investment value of diamonds has historically appreciated every passing year.
But the scientific developments of our era have succeeded in creating a plausible lookalike – synthetic diamonds. These artificial diamonds are “grown” in specialized laboratories by putting the element carbon through processes that mimic the high-pressure and high-heat geological conditions that cause diamonds to form. Synthetic diamonds are identical to natural diamonds from their outward appearance to the crystal lattice structure in the cellular level, but they are considered less valuable than the real thing.
Although there are no visible differences between natural and synthetic diamonds to the naked eye, we at Gemdaia believe that there is no substitute for the value and charisma of a natural diamond. If you are thinking of using a synthetic diamond for your engagement ring or piece of jewelry, let us make a case as to why you should reconsider your choice.
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Real romance
The story of a diamond is symbolic. A precious jewel that is born through billions of years of churning geological forces and crafted with meticulous precision has an inherent quality of romance bound to it. A natural diamond always amplifies the significance of a gesture thanks to its ancient origins and significant rarity.
You can ask yourself whether you’d prefer that to something generated inside a fluorescent, sterilized laboratory by scientists in a couple of weeks. Not surprisingly, many people choose to go with natural diamonds because the significance of its origin is the basis for its romantic charm. Real diamonds are a statement of real romance.
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Authenticity
For people with discerning tastes, nothing is more important than authenticity. Why spend millions on a luxury watch when you can find an identical replica for a fraction of the price, some may ask. The answer is simple – there is no substitute for the real thing. A refined sense of taste recognizes the fact that there is a great gulf between the financial and sentimental value of natural and lab grown diamonds, despite their physical indistinguishability.
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Environmental impact
Contrary to the popular belief that lab grown diamonds are environmentally friendly, in-depth research by S&P Global company TruCost show that lab-grown diamonds produce 3 times more carbon emissions per carat than natural diamonds.
Creating a diamond inside a controlled environment such as a laboratory consumes a large volume of energy when required to replicate a billion-year-old natural process in a matter of weeks. The process also consumes large amounts of water to cool thermal reactors.
Conversely, leading diamond producers recycle 83% of the water used in diamond recovery. Also, the carbon emissions for extracting a 1 carat natural diamond has been shown to be similar to the emissions created to produce 3 iPhones.
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Resale value
Historically, the value of natural diamonds appreciates over time. Their timeless beauty, universal value, and limited supply has made these jewels highly valued and versatile investments that can stand the test of time. Not the same could be said about synthetic diamonds. Lab made diamonds have become a popular alternative for natural diamonds due to being significantly more affordable.
The increased demand for synthetic diamonds have driven up production, and it is increasingly apparent that we will see gemstone and jewelry markets being flooded by them in the future. The natural consequence of this event is a decrease in price and value of synthetic diamonds. In fact, the prices of lab grown diamonds have been falling at an exponential pace and show no signs of slowing down.
The scarcity of natural diamonds is the driving force behind its value gain over time. It is an investment that will grow in value as the supply of natural diamonds decreases over time.
Conclusion
Choosing between a natural and synthetic diamond shouldn’t be determined simply based on price. We at Gemdaia strongly believe that the relatively lower cost of a synthetic diamond is not an adequate reason to forego the sentimental and financial value that you get with a natural diamond. Want to make a romantic statement that will dazzle the love of your life and give you an investment that will grow in value over time? Then natural diamonds are your calling.
Natural diamonds are the world’s most prized gemstones for engagement rings, and we hope our article has helped you realize why. You can find more information about using diamonds for engagement rings in our blog post here.