Dazzling Diamonds-April’s Amazing Birthstone
Marilyn Monroe said it best–Diamonds are a girl’s best friend. This week’s blog post shines a bright spotlight on April’s glorious birthstone–the effervescent, eternal diamond. Whether set in a special ring or sparkling from your favorite pair of earrings or necklace, diamonds have long been the industry standard for luxurious statement pieces that wearers will cherish for a lifetime and beyond. Ranking a perfect 10 on the Moh’s Scale of Hardness (the hardest natural substance known on earth!), diamonds are prized for their longevity as much as they are prized for their exceptional brilliance.
While diamonds are now seen as nearly synonymous with engagement rings and marriage proposals, that was not always the case. Prior to the famous “A Diamond is Forever” marketing campaign by diamond company De Beers in 1947, roughly 90% of engagement rings did not contain diamonds. By equating the timeless brilliance of diamonds with everlasting love, De Beers hit on a genius marketing strategy that soon made diamonds the go-to stone to demonstrate love. By the late 20th century, approximately 80-90% of engagement rings featured diamonds, which shows just how powerful this marketing strategy was…but even De Beers did not expect what came next, that would shift the diamond industry forever–the rise of lab-grown diamonds.
This stunning necklace features a 3.09 carat pear-shaped lab diamond in a stunning 14K yellow gold setting. Priced incredibly at $3,450, this piece is currently in stock at Gilded Design Studio.
Lab grown diamonds (or LGD for short) have been one of the biggest-if not THE biggest-disruptions to the diamond industry in modern times. However, many people still have questions regarding what lab diamonds actually are. Here at Gilded Design Studio, we find ourselves constantly answering questions regarding LGDs, so in this blog post, as we focus on April’s beautiful birthstone, we will do our best to share some information about what LGDs actually are, common misconceptions about them, and answers to your biggest questions surrounding this phenomenon!
We love lab grown diamonds here at Gilded! This picture by Lindsey Hart Photography showcases some of our staff’s favorite lab grown rings.
What is a Lab Grown Diamond?
A breathtaking blue emerald cut lab grown diamond, totaling an incredible 5 carats, set on a pave 14K white gold diamond band. In stock at Gilded Design Studio and priced amazingly at $5,900
A lab grown diamond is a diamond that is created in a laboratory using technological processes that replicate the natural conditions under which diamonds form, resulting in a gemstone with the same chemical composition, crystal structure, and physical properties as a natural diamond. It is made from the exact same material as an earth grown diamond–both are made from pure carbon, arranged in a diamond crystal structure. Lab grown diamonds have the same properties of earth grown diamonds as well–they have identical hardness, brilliance, and optical behavior of natural diamonds. LGDs are created in two ways: HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature), and CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition). Both methods replicate the environment that creates natural diamonds—but in weeks instead of in many years.
It’s very important to note that lab diamonds are recognized as genuine diamonds–they are chemically, optically, and physically distinct from common diamond alternatives, such as moissanite and cubic zirconia. The bottom line that we tell everyone is this: lab diamonds are real diamonds. The only difference is that they were made in a lab, vs. formed underground (and who doesn’t love a little science!).
Why Have Lab Grown Diamonds Become So Popular?
These stunning earrings feature pink oval lab grown diamonds set in 14K rose gold, with cascading marquise lab diamonds set in 14K white gold. In-stock now for the shockingly low price of $5,000
Lab grown diamonds have exploded in popularity over the last 10-15 years for many reasons. The biggest driver for many consumers simply comes down to cost–LGDs cost 30-70% less than earth mined diamonds. This means that buyers can get a larger stone and upgrade the clarity, quality, and cut of their stone–all while staying within their budget. Many buyers also choose lab diamonds due to ethical concerns. From concerns about environmental issues caused by mining to the very real danger of forced labor in the diamond industry, choosing a lab grown diamond is often a more ethical choice.
Lab-grown diamonds are taking over not because they’re different—but because they’re the same in all the ways that matter, and radically better in price. For modern engagement shoppers, that combination is hard to ignore—and even harder to justify paying more to avoid.
Final Thoughts
Stunning yellow and white lab diamond ring, set lovingly in 14K white gold. Priced just for you at $4,000
In conclusion, I think we can all agree that April’s sparkly birthstone is a tremendous one. Whether you are a member of the “natural diamonds only” club, or you are joining the ever-increasing group of consumers who are deciding to add a lab grown diamond to your collection, you truly can’t go wrong. As a custom design studio, we are able to help you source the exact stone of your dreams (lab or natural!), and we can help you decide on a setting for your stone that will bring you joy for decades to come. You can also stop by to browse our in-stock lab and natural diamond jewelry, and see for yourself what the trend is all about (and don’t forget to check out our staff’s rings! Our owners and employees are sporting lab diamonds that range from a stunning almost 3 carat round brilliant and a 3+ carat radiant cut diamond, to a 5+ carat emerald, all the way up to 10.33 carat oval cut diamond whopper! We’re always excited to show them off to you :)).
Until next time, enjoy the Spring weather (and Happy Easter!), and don’t forget to treat yourself to some sparkle–you’re worth it!