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You found the perfect love, and now you want the ideal diamond ring to match!
Everyone is looking for the right diamond to go in a beautiful setting, but when you think of diamonds, you expect the story of diamond mining.
However, like anything else with technology, we develop new ways to enjoy a new diamond without breaking the bank. Lab Grown diamonds are made through a controlled environment with the same chemical, physical and optical properties as a mined diamond. The only difference is where they come from.
Get educated on Lab Grown diamonds with Meritage Jewelers! Learn the differences between a mined diamond and Lab Grown diamonds, and find the best option for you. To start you off, here are three facts about Lab Grown and Mined Diamonds:
1. All Diamonds Have Inclusions
Your love is different from your parents, your friends, and your coworker. No two relationships are the same, and similarly, no two diamonds are the same. This is true with Lab Grown or mined diamonds. Lab Grown diamonds are made in molten metal solution, and thus they have a metallic inclusion, which can only be identified with a 10x magnification.
Mined diamonds that grow deep inside the Earth have inclusions like feathers, crystals, pinpoints, and clouds caused by all kinds of elements. Only the rarest of diamonds emerge with no inclusions!
2. When Buying a Diamond, What’s Most Important to You?
When shopping for a diamond, some questions come to mind, such as size, color, and finally, price. Depending on what you care about, there are always options no matter what kind of diamond you choose.
If you are looking for a specific color, keep in mind that there is a limit on colors with Lab Grown diamonds. They are only available in white, yellow, blue, pink, and green ranging from D to K grades.
Mined diamonds come in every color imaginable and have a range of hues and tonality. This difference is because mined diamonds get their coloring from impurities (elements that are trapped in the diamond), causing it to lattice as it grows. These impurities make it rarer to find specific colors, including yellow and pink. If you are looking for a more significant color wheel, then a mined diamond may be the option for you.
However, the biggest perk of Lab Grown diamonds is their size, so if you are looking for a bigger diamond at an affordable price, talk to our gemologists about a Lab Grown Diamond. In many aspects of life, size doesn’t matter, but if you want to bling out your beautiful bride without hurting your budget, Lab Grown is a perfect way to go.
3. Created Different but Physically the Same
Lab grown diamonds take about 6-10 weeks to develop in the lab. But that doesn’t make it any less valuable. The new history will happen when you propose, and when you each say “I do”. Mined diamonds are formed close to the Earth’s surface and can take between 1 billion to 3 billion years to form. In the end, they are both diamonds.
Mined and Lab Grown diamonds are measured by cut, carat, clarity, and shape, meaning that you have to do the same research when deciding on a diamond that you have in mind. Although they are created differently, mined and lab grown diamonds are physically and chemically identical.
Still unsure whether a Lab Grown or a Mined Diamond is right for you? Learn more with our experts at our jewelry store located in Lutherville, MD. Meritage Jewelers is here to help you from the initial research to the final decision.