Are lab-grown diamonds real diamonds?

Yes. Lab-grown diamonds are as real as their mined counterparts!

They share the same chemical, physical and optical properties, and therefore the same purity and color qualities. The only difference is the setting in which they were created. The lab-grown diamond process reproduces the extreme temperatures and pressures which, tens of millions of years ago, gave birth to mined diamonds. It begins from a carbon seed that grows in the heart of a reactor. As it crystallizes, each step is carefully observed, measured and controlled by experts. The creation is extracted only when they deem it ready, using high-precision layers to free the diamond from its polycrystalline envelope. Then it waits patiently to be faceted by a passionate artisan with a unique savoir-faire.

At Mazarin, we are proud to exclusively use lab-grown diamonds on our exceptional jewels, where they reveal their uniqueness and shine for eternity.

Are lab-grown diamonds synthetic?

No. A lab-grown diamond is a real diamond, which separates it from other stones that are meant only to look like diamonds. But indeed, marketing use of the terms “natural” and “synthetic” has created some confusion. In 2018, the Federal Trade Commission in the U.S. removed the term “natural” from the official definition of a diamond to consider both lab- grown and mined diamonds. According to the FTC, “a diamond is a diamond no matter whether it is grown in a lab or comes out of the ground.” ¹.

Are lab-grown diamonds graded?

Laboratory grown diamonds and mined diamonds are certified according to the universal 4C’s criteria by internationally recognized certification bodies such as the International Gemological Institute (IGI) and the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).

COLOR

The whiter a diamond, the rarer and therefore more valuable it is. The international grading scale starts at D to qualify the whitest diamond and follows the alphabetical order up to Z for the most colored or « tinted » diamond. The diamonds in the MAZARIN collections essentially belong to categories D, E and F.

PURITY (CLARITY)

It is determined by the amount, size, nature and position of the inclusions which, inside or on the surface of the stone. The international system measures it in five main categories: IF (internally flawless -no visible inclusions), VVS (very very small inclusions), VS (very small inclusions), SI (small inclusions) and I (visible inclusions to the naked eye). The diamonds in the Mazarin collections belong to the higher categories.

SIZE (CUT)

The cut is designed in such a way as to increase the brilliance of the stone obtained by cutting each facet with extreme precision. For each diamond, Mazarin looks for the cut whose proportions, symmetry and polish will give it the best sparkle, favoring in particular, pear, emerald and brilliant cuts.

CARAT

Carat is the unit measuring the weight of a diamond (1 carat equals to 0,2 g). The more carats the stone carries, the more valuable and rarer it is.

Are people buying lab-grown diamonds?

Yes, and the numbers are growing! Lab-grown diamonds accounted for 10 percent of diamond jewellery sales in 2022, and some experts expect the category to see double-digit annual growth for the rest of the decade². What’s more, nearly 70% of millennials would consider a lab-grown diamond for an engagement ring³.

Are lab-grown diamonds eco-friendly?

Lab-grown diamonds offer more transparent and simplified supply chains, unlike mined diamonds whose “links to financing war and forced labor are well established in the cultural consciousness” according to Business of Fashion⁴.

As the International Gem Society notes, “Producing diamonds in a lab is also far less damaging to ecosystems, wildlife, and human populations than mining diamonds. Most dramatically, lab-diamonds have less of an impact on their immediate surroundings than mined diamonds.”

The process of creating lab-grown diamonds is constantly evolving and becoming ever-more environmentally friendly. At Mazarin, for example, we choose lab-grown diamond suppliers that use renewable energy to power their processes. As gemologists and jewellery historians, we are enthralled by the beauty, possibility and values inherent in lab-grown diamonds, which share the exact same properties as mined diamonds – but with origins we are proud to stand behind.

Are lab-grown diamonds valuable?

At Mazarin, we believe that your diamond has the value of your convictions.