Earth-mined gems have always been in demand to mark occasions: engagements, weddings, anniversaries, and so on. Lab-grown gemstones have started to shift the industry with more jewelers using artificial stones in their pendants over the past few years.
These gemstones are unique creations, made using advanced technology. Here, we will take a look into these stunning pieces, their creation method, and why they are very fast becoming the norm in jewelry shops around the world.
What are Lab-Grown Pendants?
Looking at random samples of pendant jewelry on sites like Best Brilliance, clearly the chain is not the main talking point in lab grown necklaces and pendants; the jewel itself is. Artificial jewels used in pendant making are gemstones created in a laboratory using technology that emulates pressure and temperature conditions under which mined diamonds are formed to create synthetic gems.
How are They Made?
HPHT and CVD are two ways in which several types of gemstones are being produced in the laboratory. These two processes use a ‘diamond seed’, a tiny fragment of diamond that is used as the base to grow the synthetic diamond.
High-Pressure High-Temperature (HPHT)
This method of creating gemstones makes use of thermal and pressure technology to create the same conditions under which gemstones are formed deep beneath the earth’s crust. The diamond seed is then placed in a growth chamber that is rich in carbon. Over a 2-month period, it is subjected to pressures of around 6 GPA and temperatures as high as 1600 degrees Celsius.
This environment causes the carbon to melt and crystallize on the seed, creating a larger stone. Once the preferred size is reached, the gem is extracted, cleaned, and polished.
Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD)
The chemical vapour deposition method uses gases to generate gemstone crystals. The chamber where the diamond seed is placed is filled with gases: methane and hydrogen.
As temperatures within the chamber reach extreme levels, the gases change state and become plasma that is sprinkled in layers on the diamond seed. These layers eventually grow into a gemstone that is extracted, cut, and polished.
Lab-Grown vs Mined Jewelry: Similarities and Differences
Similarities
Physical Properties: Lab-grown and mined precious stones have identical physical and chemical properties. A very slight deviation in the chemical properties between the two would be the tiny amount of nitrogen natural gems have which artificials do not. Besides this, they both share the same hardness, brilliance and durability.
Appearance: If a lab-grown and mined diamond are placed side by side in front of you, you’ll find it nearly impossible to distinguish between them. Only with the help of a loupe and the right knowledge can both gemstones be told apart.
Temperature and Pressure Conditions: Diamonds only form under scorching temperatures and intense pressure, these same conditions that occur within the earth to transform minerals into gemstones have to be recreated in the laboratory to make lab-grown gems.
Differences
Origin: A major disparity between both is their origins. Natural gems used in pendants are formed deep within the earth’s crust while synthetic gemstones are created in the laboratory through various processes.
Speed: It takes millions of years before gems are formed, but in a couple of months, lab gemstones can be created using mimicked conditions.
Environmental effects: The process of extraction that mined diamonds undertake has ethical concerns for the ecosystem surrounding mining sites.
The methods used in obtaining these stones usually have a negative impact on the environment they are found in, but since artificial diamonds are created under a controlled environment, their effect on the ecosystem is minimal to none.
Cost: Natural diamonds, being rather rare and thus more difficult to mine, have a higher price tag attached to them compared to the ones grown in labs.
Resale value: Lab-grown diamonds have less resale value compared to natural diamonds due to the rarity of the latter. This is because synthetic gems can be generated continuously in number while the supplies of mined gems are finite.
How to Differentiate Between Lab-Created and Natural Diamonds
To someone without expertise, natural and synthetic gems appear identical. However, there are some minor distinctions that gemologists can observe under magnification to differentiate them.
Indicators of Lab-Grown Diamonds
Here are some of the indicators of lab-grown diamonds:
- Inclusions
- Internal growth patterns
- Laser inscription
Inclusions: Lab-created gems may contain metal inclusions from the growth process they underwent, while mined gemstones have inclusions of natural minerals found within the earth.
Internal Growth Patterns: Using gemological equipment, gemologists can notice growth patterns that synthetic gemstones have that vary from the octahedral growth pattern of natural jewels.
Laser Inscription: Synthetic diamonds are usually inscribed with a laser marker that shows that they were grown in the laboratory.
Why are Lab-Grown Pendants a Popular Choice?
There are many benefits to choosing lab-grown pendants when you’re out shopping. Firstly they are the more responsible choice as they are created using technology that doesn’t involve mining which may affect the environment.
Speaking about aesthetics, artificial gems are no less beautiful than natural ones. They possess the same properties as mined gems, which means that with a proper cut, polish, and set, lab-grown jewelry can even look better than a natural piece.
Because they are lab-grown and don’t come with added mining costs, the prices of artificial pendants are significantly lower than natural gems which means purchasing quality diamonds is now very possible for people on a budget.