Natural Diamonds vs. Lab Diamonds

Many of us dream of diamond jewelry. A diamond is a unique gem stone with characteristics that make it the most expensive and sought-after in the world.

What is a Natural Diamond?

A diamond is the hardest substance in nature and is naturally made of carbon. Its natural production process, extracted through mining in various parts of the world, deep in the earth, makes it a rare and particularly prestigious material. The four main parameters typically used to estimate a diamond's value are: weight, color, clarity, and cut.
These parameters are commonly known as the "4 C's" (Carat, Color, Clarity, Cut).

What is a Laboratory Diamond? 

Laboratory diamonds (CVD or HPHT) ) are diamonds produced by humans, created through an artificial process in laboratories under pressure and heat, much like in the earth’s depths.
With advances in technology and the development of production and polishing methods, it is now possible to produce laboratory diamonds with properties almost identical to natural diamonds.

Today, natural diamond resources are limited, and it seems that natural diamonds will continue to maintain their value due to their rarity.
In addition, there is growing awareness about the mining process, production, complex working conditions associated with natural diamonds, and the importance of fair trade.
The lab diamond production process is faster and significantly cheaper than the natural one, which is reflected in the price. Nowadays, a wide variety of high-quality lab diamonds are readily available.

So, Natural diamond or Lab diamond? 

The answer depends on personal preference: On one hand, a natural diamond is more expensive but will retain its value and may even increase in price over time. On the other hand, a lab diamond saves money and is, for many, a more environmentally friendly and sustainable option.

If this dilemma is not complex enough, I decided to offer both options to you :)

What is a Carat in Diamonds? 

A carat is a unit of weight (abbreviated as CT in English) used to measure gemstones (and not just diamonds).
For the more curious among us, here’s a deeper explanation:
One carat is exactly 200 milligrams. To account for a wide range of diamonds in various sizes, the 100-point system was adopted. The carat unit was divided into 100 points, meaning one carat equals 100 points, with each point equal to two milligrams. So, a gemstone (or diamond) weighing 0.5 carats is called 50 points, and a diamond weighing 0.35 carats is called a 35-point diamond.

Now, let’s talk about Gold 

We also know the term Karat from gold markings like 18K, 14K, etc., which appear on gold jewelry. In this case, the Karat represents something entirely different.
Gold jewelry is typically made of pure gold combined with other metals. The Karat in gold refers to the purity of the metal, representing the percentage of pure gold in the total metal content of the jewelry. The higher the karat number, the purer the gold. The highest karat is 24K, meaning 99.9% pure gold. For example, 18K gold represents about 75% pure gold, and 14K represents about 58.5% pure gold. The higher the K, the more expensive the jewelry will be, but sometimes it is recommended to choose a lower K, as mixing pure gold with another metal makes the piece more durable.