Absolutely not! As we have been studying since childhood, diamonds are an allotrope of carbon. Thus, this implies that diamonds are made up of carbons, whereas Cubic Zirconia contains zero per cent carbon concentration. Besides, CZs are much weaker than diamonds. It’s not a bigger deal, however, to distinguish the CZs and diamonds. Cubic Zirconia is nothing but an inferior diamond simulant.

Undoubtedly yes! Lab-grown diamonds are also known as manufactured, man-made, grown, or synthetic diamonds. So, yes, synthetic diamonds are the same thing as lab-grown diamonds.

Lab diamonds are manufactured by artificially re-creating similar conditions under the earth that form diamonds. It is done by applying the exact amount of pressure, temperature, and carbon. The most important steps in re-creating the lab diamonds are HPHT (High Pressure-High Temperature) conditioning and CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition). The following steps are, however, followed under expert supervision.

Naturally, diamonds take years to grow. As for manufacturing them in a lab, it takes approx 8-10 working days to formulate a 1-carat lab diamond. Moreover, it takes about a month to grow a 3-carat lab diamond. These are the apt estimates. In case one tries to grow the diamonds any faster, its crystalline structure will disrupt, causing the jewel to break into pieces. It is a sophisticated process that requires a physical speed limit analysis as to how fast it can be grown.

NO. Lab diamonds are created in an artificial space, by reforming the natural conditions. Thus, they can’t always be flawless and perfect. While they possess the same color, sparkle, and variations as that of a natural diamond, their quality can still vary. Lab diamonds are produced in 4 C’s – similar to that of mined diamonds. However, manufactured even in those conditions, lab diamonds may lack the quality. Hence, you should always inspect your diamond thoroughly before purchasing.

All of the manufacturing companies that we mentioned above are well-recognized and are known to ethically make the best diamonds. However, the top five companies would be Vibranium, James Allen, Blue Nile, Clean Origin, and Vrai.

China. Accounting for a 56 per cent manufacturing share, China stands out to be the largest producer of lab-grown diamonds. The second and third largest producers are India and America with a percentage share of 15 and 13 per cent respectively.

NO. Without the employment of complex tools (loupes or microscope), it’s not humanly possible to tell the difference between a mined and lab-grown diamond. Because they look visually identical, even proficient jewelers can’t reckon the difference.

Absolutely, yes! Lab-grown diamonds are ethically sourced – and are budget-friendly. Although they are less valuable as compared to mined diamonds, lab-grown diamonds are far more affordable and toxic-free. These are physically, chemically, and visually similar to those of natural diamonds. And, they look gorgeous when you wear them!

YES. The world’s biggest jeweler, Pandora, has recently announced that they won’t be selling mined diamonds anymore. Issues regarding the environment and pollution are preventing them from retailing mined diamonds. Soon enough, they will shift to selling lab-grown diamonds. Along with Pandora, many other jewel companies, such as Tiffany, Harry Winston will be promoting lab-grown diamonds from now onwards.