6 Reasons to Choose a Lab Diamond Ring

There is absolutely no way to tell whether a diamond is natural or lab grown just by looking at it. Visually, chemically, and physically – a man-made diamond bears no difference to a natural diamond. Even the most advanced gemmologists are unable to make the call – by eye or under extreme magnification. Only specialist lab equipment can tell a natural and lab grown diamond apart.

While some adore the romantic history and sentimental value behind a natural diamond, a precious stone formed in the Earth over billions of years, others prioritise a more sustainable choice and appreciate the wonders of science in emulating nature’s process, amongst a host of other reasons. It’s a decision only you can make. But if you’re worried others might be able to tell your diamond ring is lab grown, rest assured that it’s physically impossible.

Learn more about lab diamonds vs natural diamonds.

Lab grown diamonds can match, if not exceed, the quality of mined diamonds. While it’s possible to buy high quality natural diamonds, you’ll see the quality reflected in the price tag. Finding larger natural diamonds with excellent clarity and colour grades can also be hard, so it’s no wonder that more people have started to choose lab grown diamonds – known for their high standards, exceptional clarity and minimal inclusions.

The rigorous quality control measures during their creation, plus the fact that they are pretty much indistinguishable from natural diamonds, ensures consumers can be confident in choosing a lab grown diamond that will rival the brilliance and durability of their natural equivalent.

Compared to the land used for mining efforts, lab grown diamonds are a less disruptive, more sustainable alternative to natural diamonds. However, not all lab diamonds are created equal when it comes to sustainability, and in most cases, they require a huge amount of power to enable their growth – often between 250kWh and 750kWh. But carbon-neutral lab diamonds do exist.

This is where Grown by Queensmith™ comes in: produced exclusively for Queensmith by a leading European diamond lab, a 1ct Grown by Queensmith™ diamond uses just half the average UK household's daily energy consumption to create. Each diamond is created partly with green energy and the rest is offset, for a net zero carbon footprint. Our collection of lab diamonds is Certified Sustainability Rated Diamonds™, verified by the SCS. This certification guarantees that our diamonds are created responsibly, supporting a more ethical and transparent jewellery industry.

Certified lab grown diamonds undergo the same rigorous certification and grading standards as natural diamonds. In today's UK diamond market, you can be confident that most new diamonds are mined or created ethically, thanks to systems like the Kimberley Process that strictly prohibit the trade of diamonds from any conflict country. However, the origins and traceability can still be unclear, and buyers can feel insecure about how ethical their diamond actually is.

That’s why we’ve created the Grown by Queensmith™ collection of lab diamonds, so you can be 100% certain of its ethical and sustainable origins. These diamonds are created in a European lab with a fair working environment, verified by the SCS for ethical stewardship among 11 other key factors that attest to their safe, fair origins. The production process has no harmful impact on humans or the environment and maintains a net zero carbon footprint through green energy use and offsets. This collection ensures full transparency when creating an ethical engagement ring and allows buyers to trace their diamond's origin, knowing it has only brought goodness into the world.

Lab grown diamonds cost 60–85% less than natural diamonds. Without the high costs associated with mining expansive areas of land, lab diamonds provide the opportunity to get a larger and higher quality diamond for the same price as a smaller, mined diamond.

The price of lab grown diamonds is lower than mined diamonds for two main reasons: first of all, the production process of lab diamonds is far more efficient, requiring very little land and labour compared to natural diamonds. Secondly, the future value of lab diamonds is unknown as they are relatively new to the market. This can cause some hesitation when choosing a lab diamond for an engagement ring, the resale value being so unclear.

Such doubts are keeping the global cost of lab grown diamonds suppressed. But with increases in ethical awareness, we’re very likely to see demand rise. In fact, nearly 80% of diamonds bought from Queensmith are lab grown, compared to less than 1% in 2020, reflecting a huge change in people’s attitudes when buying a diamond.

Since their inception in the 1980s, lab grown diamonds have come a long way. Early lab diamonds were primarily small and yellowish, often used for industrial purposes. But with the advancements in revolutionary techniques, such as Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) and High Pressure Temperature (HPHT), lab diamonds are now created larger, purer and more colourless – matching their natural counterparts in every way.

Through our exclusive partnerships, Queensmith are proud to be at the forefront of this evolving technology. Only HPHT is used to create Grown by Queensmith™ diamonds, producing purer and higher quality diamonds than CVD, which often requires post-growth treatment.

Enhanced quality, increased size options and improved availability mean you have a wealth of choices for creating a truly unique and beautiful diamond ring. Each year, lab grown diamonds become an increasingly attractive option, combining innovation with sustainability for the perfect blend of brilliance and responsibility.

Opting for a lab diamond ring means embracing sustainability, exceptional quality and ethical practices. Shop Grown by Queensmith™ to be confident in your ethical, eco-friendly engagement ring choice, knowing that your diamond is not only grown to perfection but also kind to the Earth.