in general

The history of diamond mining and the environmental impact of mining, in general, has led to the desire for diamonds that are kinder both to people and to the earth. Lab-grown diamonds also offer the benefit of being less costly, especially as stones grow larger.

Historical Considerations

It’s important to note that the first lab-grown diamonds were created as cutting tools. Industrial diamonds can actually fulfil a number of roles, and one of them is as an addition to tools that cut hard metals. General Electric first grew diamonds in a lab as a way to confirm steady access to tool=quality gems.

Once the process had been proofed, engineers began to work on gem-quality stones. While tool-quality gems are perfectly useful even if they are discolored, blemished or full of inclusions, gem-quality stones must be graded on their

• carat, or weight
• clarity, or cleanness through the body of the stone
• cut, or faceting
• color, or shading within the body of the stone

Rare Carat offers shoppers the chance to purchase gems from various points on the scale of purity, particularly cut and color. Should you choose to shop at Rare Carat, you can also decide between mined gems and lab-created diamonds.

Risks When Shopping for Mined Diamonds

Depending on the conditions under which they form, diamonds can be loaded with inclusions. While some of these inclusions are prized by collectors and jewelry designers, most shoppers want a diamond that contains no debris. Other diamonds can appear yellow or brown, depending on the conditions under which they form. Again, most diamond shoppers want a stone that is clear in color.

Diamonds in nature are very rare. This is one of the big reasons that they are such prized items in the mining industry. Historically, mined diamonds were a large part of the drive to colonialize nations that didn’t have strong central political leadership. Colonial powers that took over these regions often wreaked horrible devastation both on the population and the environment in these areas.

If you visit Rare Carat and choose to purchase a mined diamond, you will receive confirmation that the gem was harvested in a conflict-free way as part of your certification package. However, if you choose to purchase antique pieces or to re-set older diamonds, there is no way to confirm that your diamonds were not part of the devastation of the blood diamond trade.

Social Media Influencers and Diamond Marketing

As noted above, mined diamonds are rare and large gems become even harder to find as miners dig even deeper in their search. That is one of the exciting facets of diamond marketing today. Those looking for large gems to use in their wedding band sets or engagement rings can be confident of finding a high quality diamond, ethically sourced, that is free or very low in both inclusions and blemishes.

Because Lab-Created Diamonds can easily be grown larger by leaving them in the forming chambers, those searching for large, high-quality gems are not gambling on the next mining find. Diamonds developed in labs can be purchased with less risk and are kinder to the environment.

While it does take a great deal of power to generally a lab-created diamonds, it’s important to note that there are social media influencers excited about the trend toward diamonds developed with solar power. Unlike the terrible devastation caused by the deep and destructive mines of Africa, green diamonds are truly a renewable resource.

A Lab-Created Diamond is Still a Diamond

All diamonds are made of pure carbon. All diamonds are formed under conditions of high heat and extreme pressure. Whether you’re planning on a round diamond or a Radiant Cut Diamond, you can be sure that your diamond will be of top quality, even if you purchase a lab-grown gem. Only a certified gem professional with a particular viewing device will be able to note the difference between a mined diamond or a lab-created stone. The bottom of a lab-grown gem will come with a marking and a quality code.

There is nothing fake about a lab-created diamond. It is simply new technology that allows us to create diamonds that are not tied to fouled water, damaged ecosystems or poorly compensated diamond mine workers. If you are ready to purchase a gem from Rare Carat, such as the lovely and old-fashioned Asscher Cut Diamond, you can find a wonderful old-world setting and fill it with a brand-new diamond.

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