Designer Jewelry Experts

Posts Tagged ‘cultured diamonds’

For centuries, diamonds have been evaluated using the four Cs: cut, clarity, color and carat. However, recent innovations have allowed the addition of a fifth C: created. Thanks to innovations in modern chemistry and physics, it is now possible to create jewel-quality stones. These created gems are free of the defects and inclusions that are present in most mined stones.

The first C, “cut,” refers to how the diamond has been cut by a jeweler. Even the most beautiful gem starts out as a rough stone with no facets. The way in which a gem sparkles and reflects light is dependent on how the facets are cut into it. The cut is one of the largest determinants of a stone’s value. An excellent cut can turn a the right raw gem into a stone worth thousands or even millions of dollars, while a poor cut may ruin even an excellent gem. Since a cut cannot be undone and gemcutting takes years to master, the value of the cut cannot be underestimated.

The next two Cs, “clarity,” and “color” are determined by impurities in the gem’s crystal structure. Small mineral deposits that appear as darker spots in the stone, called inclusions, are common. Inclusions do not necessarily ruin a gem; very few mined stones are given a grade of “flawless,” and those few are incredibly expensive. Only the lowest clarity grades feature inclusions that are easily seen by the naked eye, and a good cut can help to conceal small inclusions and bring out the best of the stone.

The purest of diamonds have no tinge of color. “D” denotes colorless, and the grading goes all the way to Z for light yellow. The further down the alphabet you go, the less desirable and thus, less expensive, the stone becomes. However, the right concentration of mineral impurities within the stone can be a good thing! These can create the rare colored, or “fancy,” gems that feature attractive colors, including vibrant and intense yellows, pinks, champagnes and even deep blues like the famous Hope Diamond. The more vibrant or deep the color, the more valuable the gem becomes. Very few gem-quality mined diamonds achieve the “fancy” grade.

The final C used to grade mined stones is carat size. Carat denotes the weight of the stone, regardless of its dimensions, and is a standardized measure equal to .2 grams. During the 1800s, a few rare gems of over 100 carats were discovered in remote South African mines. However, most gems used in jewelry range from .25 carats to 5 carats in size. The largest stones in this range are quite rare and very expensive. Carat weight increases a gem’s price 10-20% for each step in size difference.

The fifth C, “created”, only applies to man-made stones. These cultured diamonds are produced in a lab by accelerating the natural processes which create gems. Man-made gems are free of inclusions because they are created under controlled conditions. However, most of them have vibrant colors that rival the most desirable and rarest mined “fancy” gems. They are indistinguishable from natural stones in their chemical makeup and optical qualities, and can be cut just like mined stones to provide the same luster, brilliance and scintillation.

Cultured gems are also created in first-world laboratories and minimize the ecological impact of mining and the social impact that comes from the sale of so-called “blood diamonds.” With all of these advantages, from quality to social concerns, it’s not surprising that man-made diamonds are quickly becoming very popular.

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Both men and women admire designer and fashion jewelry. While taste in specific settings differs widely, most people have an appreciation for the look and aesthetics of diamonds. It wasn’t all that long ago that diamonds were worn primarily by the wealthy. This is no longer the case. With the introduction of man-made diamonds into the jewelry market, a beautiful single – or multiple – diamond setting is now within the budget of many more people.

Man-made, also known as cultured, diamonds are created through a process involving the combination of pressure and heat, which greatly benefits the environment while producing beautiful diamonds in far less time than mining for them. One of the most impressive qualities of these gems is that, once complete, they contain the same physical, chemical, and optical qualities as those mined from the earth itself. The naked eye cannot detect the difference, and in fact, even the jeweler’s loupe so often seen in movies cannot discern man-made stones from those formed naturally in the earth.

Whether you are interested in a custom designed pendant or bracelet, an engagement ring or wedding band, you can now find any of these pieces with beautiful stones in several colors. Thanks to new production techniques, these diamonds are also available in emerald greens, sapphire blues, pinks and yellows – at about two thirds the price of mined colored diamonds. Consumers have greater options when choosing a setting or collection of stones for a gift set, while still including the clear stone that is more commonly found in mines around the world.

These manufactured gems are, like natural diamonds, easily incorporated into a custom setting, creating a family heirloom with much less cost. Earrings that grab attention with their sparkle are easily created to suit your personal style. Individualized signet rings look even more impressive with an inset cultured diamond, or perhaps with a collection of colored stones surrounding it. Using the imagination of the customer and the skill of a craftsperson, these man-made diamonds can be made into unique engagement rings and wedding bands as well as bracelets, earrings and pendants that will last for generations.

Whether you want a traditional setting for your engagement ring and band or a more unique piece of jewelry designed specifically with you in mind, man-made diamonds raise the bar in their elegance and brilliance. They are definitely a choice worth considering for those desiring to expand their own collections or for those who want to give the perfect gift to that special someone.

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While almost everyone adores the look of diamonds, the cost associated with owning them is often prohibitive. Cubic zirconia (CZ) has enjoyed popularity as an inexpensive substitution in the past, but it is heavier and doesn’t have the same brilliance. Larger CZs don’t look genuine even to the naked eye. So how can someone obtain the fire and scintillation they desire without breaking the bank? The best way may be through a lab-created gem. Modern lab-produced stones are chemically and visually identical to natural diamonds, yet even better because they are flawless.

Carbon crystals with the same chemical, optical and physical properties as those stones that are found in mines, “cultured”, or man-made diamonds, provide the same brilliance, sparkle, fire and scintillation as their natural counterparts. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) grades cultured gems by the same standards it uses for natural ones, acknowledging that they are in fact diamonds. The primary difference is that the rating describes cultured stones as “laboratory grown.”

In nature, colored diamonds rarely occur. These are the result of certain impurities – nitrogen will create yellow, boron will create blue, and so forth. Because there are so few colored natural stones of high quality, they are quite expensive. However, lab produced stones are readily available in several different colors. In addition to being flawless, the cost for cultured colored diamonds is similar to the cost for colorless stones.

Man-made diamonds are available for purchase loose, or already set in jewelry of every kind. However, you probably won’t find these cultured stones in the majority of jewelry or department stores. They have only recently been released into the market, and still represent only a small fraction of the total diamonds available.

Regarding lab produced diamonds, here are some differences you should know about: 1. Typically, cultured stones are 1-2 carats in weight. While larger stones are made, they are less available. 2. Most man-made stones are colored, rather than colorless. This is exactly the opposite of natural diamonds. 3. Only experts can utilize very expensive special equipment in order to detect cultured gems to differentiate them from natural ones. 4. Finding “matched pairs” of natural stones for use in jewelry has historically been difficult, and thus, expensive. It is far easier to find matching identical stones in cultured gems.

If you are concerned that someone may try to pass off a created diamond you are interested in purchasing as “the real thing,” rest assured that this scenario is not all that likely. Firstly, lab-grown diamond producers are very proud of the gems they are able to create. Secondly, cultured diamonds are absolutely genuine, not “cheap” imitations. Thirdly, the difference between natural and cultured is detectable. Finally, jewelers have every incentive to preserve the integrity of the natural diamond market. Thus, a jeweler will readily help you identify the stone in question.

Basically, opting for lab-grown diamonds will allow you to purchase more for less. However, this isn’t a “champagne on a beer budget” scenario. You can expect to pay about one third less for cultured stones than for natural stones. Lab-produced stones can be easily found via the internet, and these sites proudly advertise that their offerings are “synthetics.” But, similar to other online purchases, you’ll want to investigate the vendor carefully prior to making your purchase.

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