Diamond engagement rings are expensive. They can be anywhere from two thousand dollars to tens of thousands. But now, diamond rings can come at a much lower price, thanks to man-made diamonds.

Lab-created or man-made diamonds are made entirely by humans — not found in nature like mined diamonds — but made in a lab. 

Today, gemologists create three types of man-made diamonds:

• High pressure
• High temperature (HPHT) diamond
• Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) diamond and Substrate-supported Growth (SSG)

Many jewelers, including some of the biggest brands, have started to sell man-made diamonds. 

How cheap are man made diamonds?

A man made diamond ring can cost up to 50% less than natural diamonds.

It is good news for people looking for cheaper engagement rings. And while they don’t have the exact same properties as mined diamonds, there’s no difference in how it looks and shines.

The lab-created diamond ring is quickly becoming a popular choice for engagement rings. That is also because the new generation is becoming more aware and conscious of the ethical issues related to diamond mining.

Man-made diamonds are cheaper and much easier to find than natural ones, especially when looking for colored diamonds.

Many jewelers such as Fergus James sell man made diamonds. Man made diamond rings can cost as little as six hundred to seven hundred dollars, whereas natural diamond rings can easily go for $5,000 or more depending on weight, color and clarity.

Man-made diamonds are also suitable for buying colored gemstones like the blue sapphire or pink diamond. Natural colored diamonds are expensive and can be hard to find depending on what one is looking for. And since these man-made diamonds come in every color, they’re easier to acquire than the natural ones.

The resale value:

It’s true that man-made diamonds do not have the same resale value. But when you think about it, an engagement ring is mostly a personal purchase. So the diamond’s resale value isn’t significant, to begin with.

Lab-made diamonds have been around since the 1950s but only recently gained popularity in the U.S. in 2015. Earlier, they were used only in different industries. But now, man made diamond jewelry is becoming more and more popular.

It is a fast-growing market that attracts a lot of jewelers. Some jewelers claim that their man made diamonds are of the same quality as mined diamonds.

How are lab grown diamonds made?

A man-made diamond is created when two tiny carbon crystals are put into a chamber with high pressure and temperature. Then, another chemical turns the carbon into a diamond in just 10 days.

On the other hand, it can take 100s of years for a mined diamond to be created.

What’s wrong with mined diamonds?

The mining of diamonds is hazardous to the environment and involves some unethical practices such as child labor and human trafficking for cheap labor. It can worsen in countries like India and African nations, where basic amenities like water and electricity are often scarce. Due to that, the people living there work at the diamond mines without any protective gear.

Many jewelers such as Ben Freidman prefer man-made diamonds because they don’t have those ethical issues. They’re also suitable for colored gemstones other than clear diamonds like pink or blue sapphire.

The cutting and polishing cost?

Man made diamonds are more expensive to set in jewelry. It is because the certification and cutting costs are pretty much the same.

And most jewelers don’t have the technology to cut, and polish man made stones yet. They have to work with the same tools or techniques. That may change as many companies try to make better machinery for these purposes.

For now, it might be a good idea to look for floating ring mounts so that the stone can be replaced later on with an actual mined diamond if needed.

If you’re in the market for an engagement ring or other diamond jewelry, then it’s essential to know where to purchase your man made diamonds. Fortunately, several retailers offer quality products at affordable prices. All you need is to do an online search. Make sure that you are buying from a reliable store because it is hard to tell the difference from the naked eye. It is crucial to get what you pay for.