Watsons Jewellers often get asked what a lab grown diamond is and how does it differ from a 'natural' mined diamond. A lab grown diamond is grown in a diamond growing facility. Diamonds have been grown since the 1950’s but only recently has the technology improved enough that they can now grow high grade gem grade quality diamonds that are suitable for jewellery. Lab-grown diamonds now have the same chemical, physical and optical properties as their mined counterparts.
Why would I purchase a Lab grown diamond instead of a mined diamond?
Lab grown diamonds are substantially cheaper to purchase than their mined counterparts, approximately 50 - 70%. This means that for the same money you can get a bigger or better quality diamond in lab-grown than you could in mined.
Are lab-grown diamonds certified?
Just like natural mined diamonds only some lab-grown diamonds are certified. The most popular certification that we use in the Watsons Jewellery store for lab grown diamonds at the moment is IGI, which stands for ‘International Gemmological Institute’.
Can I make my own jewellery using lab grown diamonds?
Yes, at Watsons, we treat our lab-grown diamonds exactly the same as our mined diamonds. We can create the perfect design for you that feature lab-grown diamonds, whether it is rings, pendants or earrings.
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