“Diamonds are forever”, “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend,” and “Shine bright like a diamond”. We’ve heard all these sung in songs and sparkling on the big screen but we’re also well aware of the price that the planet pays for every single diamond we mine out of her.
Now, more than ever, people are more conscious of the choices they’re making to help the environment on the planet we call home. Sustainability is a theme all around the globe and this extends to the wedding and jewelry industries as well. This is why lab-grown diamonds have been growing greatly in popularity over the last few years.
Never heard of a lab-grown diamond and wondered if it was the same as the real deal or not. In today’s article, we’ll take you through the basics of lab-grown diamonds and, consequently, lab-grown diamond rings.
What Are Lab-Grown Diamond Rings
To know what lab-grown diamond rings are, you first have to understand what lab-grown diamonds are. To put it simply, lab-grown diamonds are also known as laboratory-created diamonds, manufactured diamonds, man-made diamonds, or cultured diamonds.
Just like the name suggests, these kinds of diamonds are the result of a laboratory manufacturing process, unlike natural diamonds that are created by geological processes and are then extracted through mines. Thanks to not having any mining involved, lab-grown diamonds also avoid humanitarian issues like child labor and the slave trade.
The most interesting point about lab-grown diamonds is most definitely the fact that they are chemically and physically no different from naturally found diamonds. Thus, you see many lab-grown diamonds used in diamond rings and engagement rings nowadays. There are loads and benefits, and advantages of lab-grown diamonds, not only for the planet and humanity but also for the wearer!
Evolution of Lab-Grown Diamond Rings
While diamond rings have been around for ages and ages (literally since 1477, when Archduke Maximilian of Austria proposed marriage with a diamond ring)! Lab-grown diamond rings are a thing of the recent past. People from the millennial and gen-z generations are way more socially aware, especially when it comes to issues of an environmental nature.
That’s why they love lab-grown diamonds so much! There’s even a growing trend of famous singers and actors professing their love to their partners with colored diamonds which makes the lab-grown route all the more appealing. Designers are also jumping on the trend and combining lab-grown diamonds with other beautiful gemstones and pearls. From all this, it’s more than clear that lab-grown diamonds have been here for a long time!
Favorite Lab-Grown Diamond Ring Styles
In the same way that there are multiple styles that traditional diamond rings come in, lab-grown diamonds have various settings too. We’ll take you through some of the most popular ones below.
- Six-Prong Solitaire Rings Ring:
A six-prong solitaire consists of a single lab-grown diamond mounted on an elevated setting that’s secured by six prongs. It’s a very popular style based on how safe it secures the stone to the ring. This type of setting works with many different lab-grown diamond shapes but stands out best with round-cut diamonds. - Petite Trellis Solitaire Ring:
Also known as a trellis, a petite trellis solitaire is an ideal way to have a lab-grown diamond with a low setting that lets light in. The style has support on both sides of the center stone that creates a sturdy structure that lends well to active lifestyles that involve frequent hand usage.
- Cathedral Solitaire Diamond Rings:
The cathedral solitaire setting has a stone in the middle that is flanked by arches of metal that rise upwards from the shank. This raised structure holds the stone in place and creates a kind of basket when looked at from the underside.
- Four-Prong Solitaire Diamond Rings:
Much like the six-prong diamond setting, another popular diamond ring setting is the four-prong setting. This setting has two prongs less than the four-prong setting, which works well with many more lab-grown diamond shapes. - Multi-Stone Diamond Bands:
In this type of setting, there is more than one lab-grown diamond placed on the ring. The stones can all be lab-grown diamonds or could be a combination of lab-grown diamonds and other precious stones. This type of lab-grown diamond is a great way to represent special numbers on your engagement ring (for instance, five lab-grown diamonds for five years together). - Twisted Wedding Bands with Lab-Grown Diamonds:
In this wedding ring style, two pieces of metal fuse together to form a lovely, curved shape. This shape can be further accentuated by embellishing it with beautiful lab-grown diamonds.
Why Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Considered the Future?
It’s really no surprise that lab-grown diamonds are so popular. To start with, these diamonds are pure. They actually have a greater chance of being pure than natural diamonds. Secondly, they’re environmentally sustainable. Thirdly, lab-grown diamonds are cost-effective. You can buy one for a fraction of a price of a natural diamond. Fourthly, you know the origin of every diamond, helping you avoid contributing to the supply and sale of conflict diamonds. And lastly, you can get them in many colors!
Now that you know what the various types of lab-grown diamond rings are, you can buy one for your partner without worrying about the impact on the environment, your conscience and your wallet!
