Should I buy a lab created diamond?

Should I buy a lab created diamond ?

Lab created diamonds have taken over the jewelry industry in the last couple of years. But what are they? I get this question almost every day in the jewelry store where I work. Many people are under the impression that they are ‘fake’, meaning not really a diamond at all. 

But they are diamonds. The only difference is in the way they are made. A natural diamond is one that is mined from the earth and a lab created diamond is man-made, but they are both the same exact crystal structure. This means that they both have the same qualities in terms of light refraction (that sparkle we all love) and durability.

So where does that leave someone looking to buy diamond jewelry? There is a large price gap between natural and lab created diamonds. The ‘labs’ are a fraction of the cost of naturals, meaning you can get a larger and better diamond in terms of clarity, color and cut for less money – typically a third of the cost. Lab diamonds have put a lot of pressure on the natural diamond market, so those prices have come down as well for many categories. Lab diamonds have made it more affordable for many people to get their ‘dream’ diamond, even as gold prices have doubled in the last few years.

Just remember, diamonds are not an investment. Prices have been coming down recently and no one really knows what will happen in the future. Just buy the diamond you love and enjoy it!