When you’re about to make a big jewelry purchase — say, an engagement ring or a milestone gift — the sparkle is important. But today, as well as the story behind the sparkle.
There used to be only one way to end up with a diamond: the earth. Now, science has given us a brilliant solution. At Blue Vesper we think luxury should be about beauty and honesty not dated traditions.
But we also know that myths endure. Is one the “real” and the other the “fake”? Do they look different? While you consider the choice of lab grown vs mined diamonds, you deserve facts not friction.
Here, the definitive, straight-ahead comparison to help nudge you into making a choice that suits your values and style.
The Chemistry: Ice is Ice
But first, before we discuss their differences, let’s get that most frequent one out of the way: Are lab-grown diamonds real diamonds?
The answer, unequivocally, is yes.
Consider this: Orchid flowers that grow in a greenhouse are physiologically identical to orchids living in the wild. The same logic applies here. Lab-grown diamonds are not cubic zirconia or moissanite. They have the identical chemical, physical and optical properties of a mined diamond.
If you put a Blue Vesper lab-grown stone in a traditional diamond tester, it would test positive as a diamond. And even an experienced gemologist using a loupe wouldn’t be able to tell the difference without specialized equipment to detect trace elements associated with growth patterns.
The 4 C’s: No Compromises
In the world of diamonds, a common language of quality is expressed through the 4 C’s (Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat).
- Mined Diamonds: Quality ranges all over the map depending on what nature threw up from the earth in a volcanic eruption billions of years ago. Very clean, colorless stones are very rare and expensive.
- Lab-Grown Diamonds: Since these stones are grown in labs (emulating the heat and pressure of earth), we can reach higher levels of purity with them, usually. But it's still subject to the stringent grading criteria.
At Blue Vesper lab-grown diamond is graded by the same top–tier institutions (like IGI or GIA) based on the exact same criteria as a mined diamond.
The Cost: Accessible Luxury
This is what the modern couple usually bases their decision on.
Mined Diamonds: The cost of exploration for a mine and extracting the diamonds is all in the price, as well as enormous earth moving machinery and cumbersome Red Taped transportation logistics over long distances after bouncing through many brokers.
Lab-grown diamonds: Since its cutting the supply chain and having no need to dig, hence it costs much lower.
The Result: For the same amount of money, you can usually afford a 30% to 50% larger lab-grown diamond (or one of much higher quality) than mined. It enables you to upgrade your “forever” piece without upgrading your budget.
The Ethics & Environment: The Blue Vesper Standard
This is where the argument of lab grown vs mined diamonds differs most starkly in truth.
Mined diamonds carry with them a complex history of conflict (aka “blood”) diamonds, human rights atrocities, and huge environmental impact. Although the Kimberly Process has helped break conflict diamonds, it doesn’t take into account the environmental cost — displacing some 250 tons of earth to dig up a single one-carat diamond.
Lab-grown diamonds come with a guilt-free provenance. There is no mining, and no displacement of communities and a far smaller carbon footprint, particularly made using renewable energy.
Comparision Summary Before We Begin: The Table!
To make your choice easier, we’ve outlined the most important differences between the two side by side.
The Verdict
It’s not always the right thing to go with the “traditional” choice.
If you appreciate the geological history of something that has traveled up from Earth’s mantle, a mined diamond is for you. But if you believe in getting a bigger and more blinding star stone that keeps the future bright, these three easy questions will help point to the answer.
We at Blue Vesper don’t just offer lab-grown diamonds because they are trendy and fashionable. We buy them because they are the future of luxury — beautiful, brilliant and kind.
Looking for a sparkler that matches the sparkle in your soul?