Lab-Grown Diamonds, Moissanite and Simulants

JEWELLERY · GLOBAL

Lab-Grown Diamonds, Moissanite and Simulants

What each actually is, how they differ, value and choosing between them

Alternatives to mined diamonds are now mainstream, and the terms are used loosely enough to confuse buyers. They describe three genuinely different materials.

Lab-grown diamond

Chemically, physically and optically identical to a mined diamond, because it is diamond — carbon in the same crystal structure, grown in a laboratory rather than underground.

It is graded on the same colour and clarity scales and requires specialist equipment to distinguish. Prices have fallen substantially and continue to.

Moissanite

A different material, silicon carbide, which is not diamond. It is very hard, at around 9.25 on the Mohs scale, so it stands up well to daily wear.

It refracts light more than diamond, producing noticeably more rainbow flashes. Some people prefer that and others find it reads as obviously different, which is worth seeing in person.

Simulants

Cubic zirconia imitates the appearance and is considerably softer at around 8, so it scratches and clouds within a few years of daily wear. It suits occasional pieces rather than an engagement ring.

Resale value

Diamonds of any origin hold a fraction of retail on resale, and lab-grown holds less than mined because supply is not constrained. None of these should be thought of as an investment.

Buying for what you want to wear is the honest basis for the decision.

Disclosure and certification

Lab-grown stones must be disclosed as such, and reputable stones come with a report from a recognised laboratory and frequently a laser inscription on the girdle.

Ask for the independent laboratory report rather than a seller's own paperwork.

The four Cs still apply

Cut matters most for how a stone actually looks, ahead of both colour and clarity. An excellent cut in a slightly lower colour grade outperforms a poorly cut stone two grades higher.

Carat weight drives price steeply, and buying just under a round weight saves a noticeable amount for a difference nobody can actually see.

Settings

A bezel setting protects the stone's edge and suits active hands. Claw settings show more of the stone and are where stones are lost, so have them checked every couple of years.

Buying online

Colour and sparkle are unreliable on a screen and vary between monitors. Buy from somewhere with straightforward returns and look at the stone in daylight before deciding.

Keep both the laboratory certificate and the receipt, since any insurer will ask for both.

Ethics

Lab-grown avoids mining entirely and uses significant energy, with the footprint depending on the energy source. Mined stones can be traced through recognised schemes.

WHERE TO BUY

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