Lab Diamond Jewelry Buying Guide: Quality, Cut, Color, and Clarity

You're finally ready to purchase that dream piece of jewelry. It can be an engagement ring, a birthday present, or a just because present to yourself: it is always a great time to have fun and have a good time. You certainly want that dazzle, but you do not want your wallet to bust. This is one of the reasons why lab diamond jewelry is becoming popular. You get the same appearance but not the outrageous price tag.

But buying them can seem like stepping into a minefield. Suddenly people are throwing random letters and grading scales at you. But how can you tell you aren't being ripped off? Let's cut the marketing mumbo-jumbo and provide you with the ultimate blueprint for shopping like a professional (with the help of DKL Jewelry, of course).

What Is Lab Diamond Jewelry?

First off, let's put that biggest myth to bed: lab-grown diamonds are not fake. They are not cheap glass, not cubic zirconia, nor moissanite.

A lab-grown diamond is physically, chemically, and visually identical to a mined diamond. Instead of spending billions of years buried underground, they are cultivated in hi-tech laboratories with heat and pressure.

Whether you're purchasing a ready-made necklace or creating custom lab grown diamond jewelry, you are purchasing a real diamond. Even a trained jeweller needs heavy duty laboratory machinery to distinguish between them.

Understanding Diamond Quality: The Foundation of Smart Buying

The best part about shopping for lab gems is that your money goes way further. These stones are typically 40% to 70% less expensive than the mined stones as no heavy mining is involved in the supply chain. This simply indicates that rather than settle for a plain, uninteresting rock, you really can go for a beautiful, premium stone.

The industry employs the “4 Cs” to grade any diamond: Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat weight. Consider these as a balancing act. Once you know which ones to focus on, you can save thousands.

The Most Important Factor: Diamond Cut

The only thing you must learn in this diamond guide is that cut is absolute king of diamond quality.

It is believed by many that the term cut is used to describe the shape of the diamond, however it is used to describe the capacity of the facets to reflect light. When a diamond is not cut well, the light escapes on the sides and the bottom, and the upper surface becomes dull, dark and lifeless.  

Check for a cut grade that reads "Ideal" or "Excellent. Do not skimp here. A well-cut stone can actually conceal the small imperfections and transform a slightly yellowish diamond into a bright white stone.

Understanding Diamond Color

For traditional white diamonds, color is not a good thing. Stones are rated alphabetically from D (completely clear and icy) to Z (tinted yellow or brown).

The main chunks of the scale look like this in real life:

Those who are looking for custom lab grown diamond jewelry set in white gold or platinum should choose a G or H grade. It will look blindingly white to anyone looking at your hand, and you won’t be paying the premium price of a D-grade stone.

Understanding Diamond Clarity

The industry categorizes clarity into levels. When you look at them on a certificate, here's what they actually mean:

• FL / IF: (Flawless / Internally Flawless): No flaws, not even with a high magnification microscope. They are extremely rare and extremely expensive, and honestly, you are buying a perfection you can not see without lab equipment.
• VVS1 / VVS2 (Very,Very Slightly Included): Flaws that are very hard to detect even with the aid of superpowerful magnification of expert gemologists.
• VS1 / VS2 (Very Slightly Included): Minute inclusions that can be viewed under a microscope, but not by the naked eye. The niche of engagement rings and custom lab grown diamond jewelry.
• SI1 / SI2 (Slightly Included): The imperfections are readily observed under magnification and can be easily observed under good light with the naked eye
• I1 / I2 / I3 (Included): The flaws can be easily noticed by any observer. These flaws may not allow light to reflect or even undermine the structure of a diamond. Avoid these.

Carat Weight: Finding the Right Balance

Carat is simply a measure of the weight of the diamond, not actually how big it appears from above.

The price of the lab is very reasonable so you can easily increase your carat size. However, don't be fooled by size only. Even a large 3-carat stone can seem like a poor deal if it is poorly cut and doesn't shine. Purchase a great grade cut first, then the largest carat size that is affordable.

Diamond Shape and Its Impact on Appearance

This is where you can really add your touch: your stone's shape! It also alters the size of the diamond's appearance on your skin.

The facets of round cuts are angled to make them the undisputed champions of sparkle. However, when you want to cheat and make your diamond look bigger than it is, you may want an elongated cut, like oval cut, emerald cut, pear cut or marquise cut. These shapes are extensively spread across the finger or neck and, therefore, seem much bigger than a round diamond of an equivalent carat weight.

• Max Sparkle: Round, Princess, Cushion
• Looks Larger: Oval, Pear, Marquise, Emerald

Lab Diamond Certification: What Buyers Need to Know

Do not purchase jewelry on a salesperson's verbal promise. Independent paperwork is needed.

A trusted third-party grading house will issue a certificate for legitimate lab diamonds. The International Gemological Institute (IGI) is the most popular authority for lab gems, and GIA (Gemological Institute of America) is a close runner-up. This paperwork confirms the exact 4 Cs of your stone so you know you're getting what you pay for.

How to Choose Lab Diamond Jewelry for Different Needs?

• Daily Rings: Hands take a beating, so invest in a high cut grade (Excellent) and good clarity (VS1/VS2) and it will hold up to scrutiny.
• Earrings and Necklaces: These are typically seen from a few feet away. You can easily switch to a clarity of SI1 or a color grade of I. No one would ever notice from afar and you will save tons of money.
• One-of-a-Kind Projects: For those who desire something specific, a custom designer can be of help and allow you to match the loose stone to a unique setting perfectly.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Buying Lab Diamond Jewelry

Be careful and watch out for these common pitfalls beginners make:

• Searching for a "D" Color: Don't search for a colorless grade, when the G or H looks pretty much the same under normal room lighting.
• Chasing Carats Over Cut: A large diamond without its sparkle looks like a bit of plastic. Prioritize the cut.
• No certificate: If a shop doesn't provide you with an IGI or GIA report, walk away.

Conclusion

Purchasing at the end of the day should be an exciting experience, not a stressful one. By concentrating on a good cut and eye-clean stones, you will be able to obtain one that looks like a million bucks. Don't believe it?

Check the certified collections at DKL Jewelry and discover something that truly sparkles.

FAQs

Q1: Is it good to invest in Lab Diamonds?

One hundred percent. You get a real, identical diamond for a lifetime, but you save a fortune that you can hold onto in the bank or spend on a larger diamond.

Q2: Are lab diamonds as sparkly as natural diamonds?

Yes. When placed side by side, they behave exactly the same when reflecting light, due to identical crystal structure.

Q3: What about the life span of lab diamonds?

These are passed on from generation to generation. On the scale of hardness, lab diamonds rate 10, the highest possible score. They will not scratch, discolor or haze with age.