Understanding the 4Cs is a useful place to begin, but choosing the right diamond involves more than selecting the highest grades available. Shape, proportions, light performance, setting design and your personal preferences all influence how a diamond ultimately looks.
This guide will help you understand what matters, what may not be worth paying more for, and how to find the right balance for your engagement ring.
ARE LAB-GROWN DIAMONDS REAL DIAMONDS?
Yes. Lab-grown diamonds are diamonds.
They have the same crystal structure and essentially the same chemical, physical and optical properties as natural diamonds. They are composed of carbon, display the brilliance and fire associated with diamonds, and are designed to last for generations when properly cared for.
THE DIFFERENCE IS IN THEIR ORIGIN.
Natural diamonds are formed beneath the earth over an extremely long period. Lab-grown diamonds are created in controlled environments using advanced technology that recreates the conditions in which diamonds grow.
They should not be confused with diamond simulants such as moissanite or cubic zirconia. These materials may resemble diamonds, but they have different chemical compositions and visual characteristics. Choosing between a natural and lab-grown diamond is therefore not a question of whether one is “real”. It is a question of which origin, story and allocation of budget feels right for you.
Read more here about lab-grown diamonds in our journals.
The 4Cs — CUT, COLOUR, CLARITY AND CARAT — PROVIDE A STANDARDISED WAY OF DESCRIBING A DIAMOND.
They are important, but they should not be treated as four separate scores to maximise. The best diamond is usually the one that balances them intelligently. At The Better Diamond, we begin with what can be seen and appreciated, rather than encouraging clients to pay for differences that may only exist on a grading report.
