Lab-Grown Diamonds in High Fashion: Statement Necklaces that Speak Volumes

Lab-Grown diamond necklaces have become even more popular in recent years. Click here to find out what they are and why people love them. 

According to research undertaken toward the end of 2023, lab-grown diamond sales now amount to around 17% of the diamond market. From 2021 to 2022, these sales grew by as much as 38%, increasing the specific lab-grown market from just under $1 billion in 2016 to over $12 billion in 2023. 

Statement necklaces and pendants, specifically, have soared in popularity. With celebrities like Billy Porter, Emma Watson, Lady Gaga, and Meghan Markle sparking the trend amongst their millions of followers, more people are cottoning on to their existence and unique, mystical beauty. 

But despite this, there are still a lot of people who don’t quite know what they are. They need no longer ask if they are really diamonds, or if they’re a cheaper alternative that pales in comparison to the real thing. Rather, you’ll want to know and be ready to answer the question of what is it that makes them so special, and whether they’ve become the best option in 2024.

What are Lab-Grown Diamonds?

To answer this question, it’s first important to examine what lab-grown diamonds are. The only real difference between lab-grown diamonds and mined diamonds is that they are created using technology, rather than extracted from the earth. There are two ways this can be done. 

The first way is known as CVD diamond creation, in which a tiny diamond seed is placed into a chamber of carbon-rich gas and exposed to extreme heat. In a few weeks, the carbon gas ionises and sticks to the seed, allowing it to crystallise and form a whole diamond. 

The other most popular method is known as HPHT diamond creation. In this case, pure carbon is exposed to immense pressure and heat in a metal cube, which eventually breaks down the carbon to crystallise a seed into a diamond. While natural diamonds can take millions of years to form in the earth, lab-grown diamonds take anywhere from two to four weeks! You can easily purchase them online via sites like teachjewelry.com.

Are They Real Diamonds?

Because growing diamonds in a lab is such an accelerated process, many believe that they are scrimping on quality compared to natural diamonds. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. Just as natural diamonds go through a grading assessment – likely carried out by either GIA or IGI – so too do lab-grown diamonds. Gemologists will examine everything from cut, colour, clarity, and carat, ensuring that the diamonds are top quality and worthy enough to be called a diamond.

If you were to place a 1-carat lab-grown diamond necklace alongside a 1-carat natural diamond necklace, both with a colour grade of ‘D’, a cut grade of ‘ideal’, a clarity of ‘IF’, it would be almost impossible to distinguish them with the naked eye. This is because they have the same chemical, physical and optical properties, meaning they emit the same qualities, such as diamond sparkle, scintillation, and fire. 

Why Are They So Popular?

Keeping that comparison in mind, even though both diamonds look exactly the same and have the same qualities, the lab-grown diamond will typically be around 60% to 85% cheaper. This is one of the most significant reasons for their newfound popularity. Because they’re made in a lab in just a few weeks, they are essentially a non-exhaustive commodity, meaning they can be sold at a lesser price and reach a market that might not have the budget for the mined alternative. 

Mined diamonds are not cheap, after all. If you were going to buy a natural diamond engagement ring, you could be paying anything from around $4,000 to $6,000, and this number only increases if you are looking for a diamond with a higher GIA grade listing. In a world where everyone is trying to be more cost-efficient, this has made lab-grown diamonds an immensely attractive alternative, ensuring people can buy quality without such a costly price tag. 

Another reason lab-grown diamonds are so popular is their sustainability. A mined diamond will typically consume around 126 gallons of water per carat. According to a recent study, this influx of water results in a constant discharge of waste and pollutants that ultimately damages our ecosystems, wildlife, and human populations. On the other hand, a lab-grown diamond only consumes 18 gallons, and because they are carefully created in a controlled laboratory, this makes them an environmentally friendly option that – to boot – does not compromise on style and significance. 

What Should You Buy?

With all this being said, if you’re looking to buy a statement necklace, pendant, or diamond ring, lab-grown diamonds should definitely be on your radar if they aren’t already. We’re not saying that you shouldn’t consider natural diamonds. Because of their cultural significance and singularity, there’s still a case to be made to buy natural over lab-grown. But now that you know what lab-grown diamonds are – and how lab grown diamond necklaces and pendants from retailers like Best Brilliance – you should certainly keep your eyes open and consider them as an alternative. Only then will you be one step closer to owning the perfect diamond.