As symbols of love and luxury, diamonds are known for their enduring beauty. But over the past several years, the landscape has evolved to include lab-grown diamonds.
Whether you're looking for the perfect engagement ring, diamond earrings, or a wedding ring, it's important to know if you're getting natural or lab-grown diamonds. Here, we'll discuss the key differences and why Edwin Novel Jewelry Design only uses 100% real diamonds in our fine jewelry.
Does Edwin Novel Use Real Diamonds?
Yes. We only use 100% natural diamonds, and we never use stones that have been laser or chemically enhanced. You'll notice that each of our pieces have the descriptor, "100% real natural diamond, not enhanced." Creating quality jewelry is our mission, and we accomplish that using real diamonds set in solid gold or platinum.
All of our stones and metals are ethically-sourced through the finest mines and sight holders in the world to ensure consistent quality. Each piece created by Edwin Novel Jewelry Design is handmade with pride in the U.S.A. by our award-winning team of internal artisans, with the approval of Edwin Novel himself.
With this in mind, let's take a step back and discuss the difference.
What is the Difference Between Real and Lab Grown Diamonds?
Natural diamonds are formed when carbon crystalizes deep within the Earth's mantle over millions to billions of years. High heat and intense pressure work together to create the unique structure that gives diamonds their exceptional hardness and brilliance.
Lab-grown diamonds, also known as synthetic diamonds or cultured diamonds, are created through a process that replicates the natural conditions that form the real thing. Scientists use a process called High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) or Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) to produce stones that are physically, chemically, and visually carbon copies of natural diamonds.
Many people believe that synthetic diamonds are the same as cubic zirconia or moissanite, but this isn't the case. While both natural and lab-grown diamonds are made of carbon, cubic zirconia is zirconium dioxide and moissanite is a mixture of carbon and silica.
Diamonds vs Cubic Zirconia
While cubic zirconia is colorless, it doesn't sparkle like a diamond. But the most notable difference is the durability. Diamonds are famously the hardest substance on earth. It's extremely durable and can stand up to everyday wear while maintaining its beauty. Cubic zirconia, on the other hand, is not nearly as resilient. It is easily scratched by everyday wear and will even soak up oils from your skin. after a few years, almost all cubic zirconia pieces look cloudy. Quality jewelry is our passion and because of this, Edwin Novel never uses cubic zirconia.
Diamonds vs Moissanite
Moissanite is a naturally-occurring mineral known as silicon carbide. It is rare, but typically found in pieces smaller than one carat. Because of this, moissanite used in fine jewelry design is lab-grown. Moissanite is almost as hard as diamonds, but the color often has a yellow or green tint. In addition, their brilliance is different than a diamond's, which is not appealing to some people. You will never find moissanite in Edwin Novel jewelry.
Why Edwin Novel Uses Real Diamonds
If lab-grown diamonds are so similar to natural ones, why does Edwin Novel exclusively use the real thing? There are two main reasons.
Value
While lab grown diamonds are more affordable up front, they do not hold their value the way natural diamonds do. Natural diamonds hold their value, even if it fluctuates from time to time. On the other hand, the value of lab-grown diamonds varies wildly and unpredictably. Many jewelers in the resale space refuse to purchase pieces made with lab-grown diamonds, and some even claim they have no value.
If you're purchasing a piece of diamond jewelry as an investment, you'll definitely want to opt for a natural stone. Similarly, a piece of real diamond jewelry is an ideal heirloom. Passing down grandma's lab-grown diamond engagement ring just isn't as special.
Scarcity
Because they are formed by a natural process, real diamonds are a finite resource. The scarcity makes diamond jewelry even more special and valuable. Lab-grown diamonds are mass-produced, with each diamond taking just one to two weeks for form. This expedited process allows labs to produce billions of carats in lab-grown stones per year, making them far less exclusive than the real thing.
Color
Most people are aware that diamonds are available in a variety of colors, including yellow, pink, and black. Lab-grown diamonds can also be colored, although they are available in fewer colors than natural stones. If you're looking for a custom piece with a colored diamond, you are more likely to get the piece you want with a real stone.
Sustainability
Edwin Novel Jewelry Design uses ethically-sourced diamonds from vetted mines. Growing diamonds in a lab requires a huge amount of high heat and pressure, which uses an incredible amount of energy. In fact, it is estimated that the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method uses the same amount of energy that the average house uses in one month.
Choose Edwin Novel Jewelry Design for Diamond Jewelry
Handcrafted by master jewelers in the United States, Edwin Novel has a reputation for creating the finest jewelry. Whether you're looking for a pendant, diamond earrings, or your new staple piece, make Edwin Novel your first choice.
