Lab-grown or Mined Diamonds?

It’s not often we have two similar diamonds of very different origins come across the bench at the same time. So this opportunity for a direct comparison between a lab-grown diamond and a mined diamond is too good to miss.

Just looking at the two larger diamonds; the one on the left is a 0.50 carat, G colour, VS1 (Very Small inclusion, 1 of). The diamond in the embrace-style ring is a 0.58 carat, H colour, VS2 (Very Small inclusion, 2 of).

So, which one is which?

I’m not going to make you guess because the simple fact is that without the right testing equipment it’s almost impossible to tell which one came out of the ground and which one was grown in a laboratory.

For the record, the trilogy ring was made with lab-grown diamonds. The diamond in the embrace-style ring on the right is the mined diamond. Specifically from the Argyle mine in Western Australia.

What are the differences?

Well, the variations in size, colour and clarity are all meaningful. Were the two stones of the same origin, it would make a noticeable difference to their pricing – the larger stone being more expensive despite being a higher colour and lower clarity.

Otherwise, ignoring origin, there’s perhaps not so much between them when viewed with the naked eye?

Only you can be the judge on that.

Lab-grown diamonds offer big savings

Oh, but then there’s cost. It’s worth noting the lab-grown diamond is less than half the price of the diamond from Argyle.

Of course, not everything is about price, but if you’re on a budget or you’re not a fan of mining, perhaps lab-grown diamonds are right for you?

Click here if you’d like to learn more about lab-grown diamonds.

Or if you’d like to ask us about putting lab-grown or Argyle diamonds into your special jewellery piece, click the button below.

About EJA

Ethical Jewellery Australia is an online engagement and wedding ring specialist. Every ring is custom designed and made to order.

We take our customers through the whole process from design to sourcing and finally to manufacturing.

All rings are handmade in Australia with recycled metals. (We can also supply Fair Trade gold if requested.)

Likewise, we only every use ethically sourced diamonds and gemstones. You can choose from Argyle, recycled, vintage and lab-grown diamonds, Australian, US, Fair Trade, recycled and lab-grown coloured gemstones.

By the way, we offer an Australia-wide service.

If you would like to learn how to start your engagement ring design adventure, get in touch today.

Or if you’d like to start by learning more about designing an engagement ring, download a free copy of our 70+ page design guide.

 

About the Author: Benn Harvey-Walker

Benn is a Co-founder of Ethical Jewellery Australia and a keen student of ethical and sustainability issues in the jewellery world. He has a long history in sales and marketing and began working with EJA full time in early 2018.

Benn co-authored the original Engagement Ring Design Guide in 2014 and edited the 2nd Edition in 2018. He is also the principal author of our wedding and commitment ring design guide.

His main responsibilities at EJA are business development and sales process management.  Benn also creates technical drawings for our ring designs.

Benn Harvey-Walker