Are Lab Grown Diamonds More Sustainable?

Purchasing a diamond, whether for an engagement ring, a right hand right, earrings, or a necklace, requires trust. It can be overwhelming trying to understand the technical aspects of each stone—things like cut, color, clarity.

That’s the benefit of shopping at Hingham Jewelers—being able to sit down with an expert who will walk through the details of each diamond, answering your questions along the way.

Increasingly we’re fielding questions about lab grown diamonds, which are becoming more and more popular. While nearly chemically identical to natural diamonds, which are mined from the ground, lab grown diamonds are offered at a far lower price point. They can be grown in weeks or months in a lab setting, as opposed to over millions of years within the earth.

We often hear people way they want to look at lab grown diamonds because they are “more sustainable” than natural mined diamonds. The celebration of Earth Day presents an excellent opportunity to dive into the truth of that statement.

In nature, natural diamonds are formed under intense heat and pressure of the earth. In a lab, technology is mimicking that intense heat and pressure to create a diamond. That takes tremendous energy. In many cases, lab grown diamonds are being produced in places like China and India. Those factories are often fueled by coal, or other non-renewable sources.

If you truly want a “more sustainable” diamond, you need to make sure you’re asking about the source of your stone. You should not just assume that every lab grown diamond is produced using clean energy.

Some of lab grown diamonds we sell are produced in a facility outside of Washington, D.C. That factory is certified by a third-party verification source to use sustainable methods during production.

The bottom line is that simply saying all lab grown diamonds are more sustainable than natural diamonds is incorrect. Some may be, but not all.

Lab grown diamonds and natural diamonds each have pros and cons. The up front cost, value over time, environmental and social impact, as well as intrinsic value should all be considered during your purchase.

If you’d like to discuss your diamond options with one of our specialists, either in person or virtually, please make an appointment. We’d love to help you make the decision that is right for you.