We meet a lot of new clients who hold the same values as us when it comes to preserving nature and our environment. In turn, most clients want to wear a piece of nature: a natural stone. The term “lab-grown” makes them feel uncomfortable and as if they are choosing something unnatural. However, one of the best things that eco-friends can do for the environment is invest in a lab-grown, synthetic or cultured stone.
Does that mean that a lab-grown gemstone is not a real gemstone? No! The only thing that differentiates a lab-grown stone from a mined gemstone is its point of origin. Here are some benefits to a synthetic or cultured stone:
• They are REAL gemstones in every sense: chemically, physically, atomically and optically.
• Lab-grown gemstones have a significantly lower impact on the environment. Lab-grown diamonds use 86% less water and 50% less energy, and produce a whopping 95% less in carbon emissions than their mined counterparts, making them a much more eco-friendly choice.
• They are typically created by skilled laborers that receive fair wages and benefits, unlike most foreign mining practices.
• Lab-grown diamonds are rated with the same rating system as mined diamonds--the Four C’s--which are Clarity, Cut, Color and Carat Weight, and are available in different colors.
Another type of gemstone is a simulant (not to be confused with a synthetic gemstone). Some common simulants are diamond simulants--stones that resemble diamonds--such as cubic zirconia, Moissanite, white sapphire, and lead crystal. These stones are usually much less expensive than mined or synthetic diamonds.
If you’ve really got your heart set on a non-synthetic or non-cultured stone, a recycled diamond or other gemstone may be another option for you. These are diamonds that are naturally occurring in nature and were previously set in jewelry which has since been removed, re-polished, then sold as loose diamonds.