Are you shopping for a diamond engagement ring or other piece of beautiful diamond jewelry? If you’ve been doing your research online or have been keeping an eye on the news lately, you might’ve read about “synthetic” or “man-made” diamonds.
In today’s post, we’ll talk about the differences between natural and man-made diamonds. We’ll also help you decide how you can choose the perfect diamond for you and the love of your life!
Let’s get started!
Where Do Diamonds Come From?
Diamonds are found around the world!
Diamonds are one of Mother Nature’s most amazing miracles! Believe it or not, diamonds start out as carbon (the same element that makes up graphite in a pencil). But over millions of years, carbon found deep within the Earth is subjected to incredible heat and pressure.
Over time, the carbon atoms rearrange themselves into an incredibly strong crystalline structure– what you and I call a diamond. From there, volcanoes and earthquakes force diamonds up closer to the Earth’s surface where they can be found by people.
Not All Diamonds Are Suitable For Engagement Rings & Jewelry
The natural process that produces diamonds is incredibly intense and produces incredibly varied results! Trace elements in the carbon atoms’ structure can produce red, green, pink, yellow, and even black! Of the millions of carats of diamonds discovered each year, only a fraction are suitable for use in jewelry.
Why? They may lack clarity, color, or carat size, or they may not be suitable for cutting into a beautiful shape. Remember those 4 C’s of Diamonds?
It takes a very special diamond to make its way from deep inside the Earth and become an engagement ring or other piece of jewelry here at Samuelson’s Diamonds. And even then, a raw diamond must be cut and shaped by a skilled jeweler before they’re ready to be placed into a ring, necklace, watch or other piece of diamond jewelry.
Can People Really Make Diamonds?
Yes and no. For thousands of years (pretty much ever since diamonds were discovered) people have been in love with diamonds. Diamonds have been prized for both their amazing beauty and incredible rarity. So it was only natural that people would want to see if they could make them on their own– without digging in the ground or waiting on Mother Nature.
The History of Synthetic Diamonds
Since the early 1800’s scientists have (technically) been able to make synthetic diamonds in a laboratory. Their success was pretty limited. For the most part they were only able to produce tiny, imperfect diamonds that couldn’t be used for any kind of jewelry. Plus, the processes they used weren’t often able to produce diamonds efficiently.
But lab-made diamonds were still useful! They were used for industrial cutting blades, lasers, and components for electronics devices.
Modern Man-Made Diamonds
It’s not romantic, but diamonds can be made in a lab.
But just like everything else, the science and technology needed to grow diamonds in a lab got better over time. In the past 20-30 years, scientists have been able to create synthetic diamonds that are essentially identical to natural diamonds. They have the same structure and components as natural diamonds.
Synthetic Diamonds in Jewelry Stores?
Over the past few years, several larger chain jewelry stores started stocking man-made diamond jewelry. They believed that customers would be interested in purchasing man-made diamonds at a lower cost. However, surprisingly many stores found out that customers shopping for diamond jewelry preferred natural stones. Currently, less than 0.5% of all diamonds sold for jewelry are synthetic.
How Can You Tell a Natural Diamond From One That is Man-Made?
Because modern synthetic diamonds are structurally identical to natural diamonds, it’s important to know what you’re buying. In the United States, consumer protection laws require synthetic diamonds to be labeled with terms like:
- Synthetic
- Laboratory-grown
- Laboratory-created
- Man-made
An experienced jeweler or certified diamond expert (like those at Samuelson’s Diamonds) use a variety of methods to tell natural diamonds from those made in a lab. Additionally, any certified diamond will include information on its origin and whether it is synthetic or natural.
Does Samuelson’s Diamonds Stock Synthetic Diamonds?
No. Samuelson’s Diamonds never sells synthetic diamonds.
For nearly 100 years, we’ve been committed to having the best selection of natural diamonds in Baltimore and that’s not something we’re about to change. We believe that the unique beauty of a natural diamond just can’t be matched by something made in a sterile laboratory.
If you’re thinking about buying a diamond and want to be sure you’re getting a completely natural diamond, you need to find a jewelry store you can trust. At Samuelson’s Diamonds, we’ve built a reputation as Baltimore’s premiere diamond jewelry store and we’re proud to sell only Mother Nature’s finest natural diamonds.
Remember, A Diamond Isn’t Just A Gemstone…
Diamonds are a symbol for love, unity, and togetherness.
A piece of diamond jewelry represents the eternal bond with your partner that can never be broken. In our opinion, nothing matches the beauty, style, elegance, grace and tradition of a natural diamond.
Are You Looking For a Diamond To Represent Your Love?
Are you looking for a diamond engagement ring (or any type of diamond jewelry, for that matter)? Schedule a private appointment with a diamond expert at Samuelson’s Diamonds in Baltimore.
We’ll meet with you and show you our incredible selection of diamond jewelry and loose diamonds. We can even help you design a completely unique one-of-a-kind ring for you and the love of your life!
