Choosing a lab-grown diamond of the highest quality requires remembering the same things you should consider when buying a natural diamond. It is because you are grading a lab diamond on the same fundamentals used to grade natural diamonds.
What to check when shopping for a lab-grown diamond
Carat weight
The carat weight is measured in carats . lab diamond is produced over a whole scale of sizes, just like natural diamonds, so if you prefer larger stones, you can get them, and the lower price point of lab diamonds means you’ll likely be able to buy a larger stone than you would when buying a natural diamond. Larger carat weights mean that inclusions and color tints are more noticeable.
Cut
The cut of a diamond is another significant factor. It can only do so much with a dull cut. If that diamond is less sharp, it can’t create those facets, which results in less brilliance, fire and scintillation. There will be less light play; the diamond will reflect light poorly. The lab diamond should have an excellent or ideal cut to perform to its best in light.
Clarity
Clarity is relative to the degree of inclusions and blemishes in the stone. Most diamonds, including those made in the lab, have inclusions and tiny dark blemishes to some extent, so this is the most crucial factor to consider when buying a diamond that won’t break the bank. You can’t discount the fact that the fewer inclusions, the higher the clarity grade of a diamond.
Color
A diamond’s color grading goes from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow or brown). The most desirable and priciest diamonds are the colorless ones. Lab diamonds come in almost any color you want, including fancy colored stones. To play it traditionally and classically, go for colorless or near-colorless grades. And it pays to go as high as you can afford: the larger the diamond, the more it will show any color tint.
Fluorescence
Fluorescence is a diamond’s characteristic soft glow when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light. Depending on the intensity of this glow, a strong fluorescence can give a diamond a white appearance, particularly in lower color grades. Conversely, a strong fluorescence can make a lab diamond in a lower color grade appear slightly whiter. If you buy a lab diamond with strong fluorescence, see it side by side, in person, with its colorless counterpart, or ask for additional images and videos to check that its appearance is not compromised.
Compare prices and value
Though lab diamonds are generally less expensive than similarly graded natural diamonds, there is still a considerable price range between retailers. Take your time to look for several of the most credible sources so that you can compare and get the best deals for your money. Price alone needs to be considered with an awareness of what it could be trading away.
In the end
The value of a high-quality lab diamond is a matter of taste. It is all about education, asking for reports on every potential stone, self-awareness, and finding a manufacturer or store which can open the truth to you. Then you’ll be the smart consumer, shopping for an elegant, honest piece at the right price.