So, is a lab created diamond a cubic zirconia? They may look a lot alike and be produced in a very similar manner but lab created diamonds and cubic zirconia stones are not the same. While lab grown diamonds are considered to be real diamonds, simulant diamonds like cubic zirconia are not.
Cubic zirconia stones do not qualify as synthetic diamonds due to their chemical compositions and physical properties, which are distinct from those of lab grown and natural diamonds.
Professional jewelers and gemologists cannot tell the difference between a lab created diamond and a natural one just by looking at it with the naked eye. They will have to use a microscope to look for the tiny differences in its inclusions that indicate how it was formed.
Lab grown diamonds are as real as diamonds mined from the earth. Lab grown diamonds are identical to earth mined diamonds in every way, except that they are grown in a lab. They have the same chemical, physical, and optical properties as mined diamonds and exhibit the same fire, scintillation, and sparkle.
Lab-grown diamonds are categorized as either high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) or chemical vapor deposition (CVD) diamonds, depending on the method of their production.
Here's the Short Answer
Lab-created diamonds are chemically the same as natural, mined diamonds. They are more affordable, but their value likely will not hold up over time. They will also never have the same rarity, uniqueness and meaning as a natural stone that was formed over billions of years deep in the earth.
Moissanite Arguably the best faux diamond in existence, moissanite comprises silicon carbide, which means it is almost of the same hardness as a natural diamond. It also has reasonable colorlessness, although the glow is far more colorful than what you would see in a real diamond.
Natural diamonds often contain a small amount of nitrogen or other impurities, while lab-grown diamonds do not. Tiffany diamonds are responsibly sourced from known mines and suppliers, and the majority of our rough stones come from Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Canada.
Artificial diamonds have certain inclusions that are not clear even under a loupe. Jewelers and gemologists use special equipment to determine a diamond's origin. But, some lab-grown diamonds have inclusions that may appear under a loupe.
HOW LONG DO LAB CREATED DIAMONDS LAST? The Lab Created Diamond is an heirloom-quality diamond stimulant. This means that—just like a mined diamond—a Lab Created Diamond will last a lifetime and beyond as long as they are cared for properly.
But, while high-quality natural diamonds tend to retain their value quite well, lab diamonds are less predictable. Physically and optically identical to natural diamonds, lab-grown diamonds do not have a finite supply. Therefore, they don't offer the same type of resale value as a natural diamond.
Lab-made diamonds typically have good clarity. Like a high-quality natural diamond, lab-made diamonds won't get cloudy.
X-Ray Test: Have the diamond X-rayed if it's possible. Natural diamonds will not show up on an x-ray, but synthetic ones will. Diamond Weight: Synthetic diamonds are almost always heavier than natural diamonds (as long as the dimensions are the same or very similar).
Although lab-grown diamonds cost up to 40% less than natural ones due to their shorter supply chain, they are still significantly expensive compared to cubic zirconia. CZ costs a fraction of the price of a lab-grown diamond of the same carat weight, colour and clarity.
If you visit any jewellery shop and find it difficult to differentiate between these stones, you should observe them in the brightest light. You will see that the diamond has white or silvery sparkles only. However, cubic zirconia will give out colourful sparkles such as red, yellow or blue.
A jeweller will be able to identify a lab grown diamond in this way using a 30x jewellers loupe. Overall, the only way a jeweller can be 100% sure if the diamond is lab grown or natural is by checking its certificate and laser inscription.
In such a case, they lose their shine due to overexposure to UV light. One reason why lab-created diamonds don't lose their shine or get faded and cloudy with time is that they are created by a process called HPHT. This refers to high-pressure high-temperature.
Many traditional jewelers tell customers that Lab Created Diamonds have absolutely no value, but this could not be further from the truth. Most Earth-Mined Diamonds have resale value, and most Lab Created Diamonds will have a similar resale value, as well.
Identical to mined diamonds in every way but origin, a Swarovski Created Diamond is made using an innovative process that flawlessly replicates nature, resulting in a laboratory-grown diamond that is indistinguishable from a mined diamond in all chemical, physical, and optical attributes.
Lab-grown diamonds have been around since the 1950s, but their popularity has only recently begun to grow. The high cost of production and minimal demand in the past kept lab-grown diamonds out of reach for most consumers.
Lab-Grown Diamonds are Less Expensive
While the capital costs for lab-grown diamonds are similar to naturals, the supply chain is significantly shorter. Since lab-grown diamonds skip the mining process, they touch less hands along the way – ultimately resulting in a less expensive diamond.
Yes, some diamond simulants can pass a diamond tester.
For example, moissanite, a man made gem, may pass as a diamond on a standard tester pen. This is because moissanite also has very high thermal conductivity! Other diamond simulants, such as CZ, will not pass the tester.
Most synthetic diamonds look too good to be true all due to their extreme brilliance. Does your stone look really bright with lots of rainbow reflected colors? If so, it's most likely cubic zirconia.
If sparkle is your thing, Moissanite's higher refractive index, compared to diamond, means it flashes more and it is a hard stone too. Finally, white sapphire is a natural gemstone and while it has much less sparkle than a diamond it is hard enough for everyday wear.
Lab-grown diamonds are made of the same material as natural diamonds, and they are not treated with any chemicals or irradiation. Therefore, lab-grown diamonds will not degrade over time as long as they are protected from external factors such as heat, light, and chemicals.