Purchasing quality and pricey jewelry must be done right. It’s a form of investment, disguised in sparkly stones and beautiful designs. Enthusiasts see diamond, gold, and platinum jewelry pieces as worthy investments that they can use for a long time. Plus, these pieces hold good value even with years of usage.
However, sourcing the pieces on your own can be an incredibly difficult task, especially if a lot of people are also after them. That’s why it’s better to partner with a jeweler you can trust and rely on.
Now, collectors and jewelers alike are setting their eyes on lab created diamonds for more reasons aside from their financial advantages. Read on to know more about lab grown diamonds and how to pick the ideal jeweler for your wants.
What Are Lab Created Diamonds?
Simply put, lab created diamonds are sustainable, authentic diamonds. They are made up of the same components as naturally-sourced diamonds. This simply means that they share the genetic makeup that makes a diamond a diamond.
Moreover, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) defines a diamond as pure crystallized carbon. Whether a diamond is mined or lab grown, it is pure crystallized carbon. A distinction between whether one is not a real diamond is basically unfounded.
The difference only lies in how these loose lab created diamonds are sourced. Instead of being mined or sifted, these diamonds are basically formulated, produced, and extracted from manned laboratories through different methods.
The primary methods for producing lab grown diamonds are the following:
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Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD)
In this method, a small piece of diamond is enclosed in a sealed chamber and subjected to a mixture of hydrocarbon gas. Along with the gas, the piece of diamond is also exposed to moderate heat and pressure inside the chamber. This results in the literal growth of diamonds using manned equipment.
Because of this, diamonds produced through this process are marked with a distinct feature—a unique strain pattern not found in any naturally-grown diamonds.
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High-Pressure High Temperature (HPHT)
Synthetic diamonds are also produced through this HPHT method. Here, a piece of a diamond—diamond seed—is exposed to extreme heat and pressure. This process mimics the pressure that builds mined diamonds.
The mixture of the elements produces carbon which then precipitates on the diamond seed, making it grow within the closed quarters. Once the diamond seed grows to the ideal size, it goes through the same process of cutting and polishing to come up with the desired diamond cut.
Aside from the specific process that a diamond goes through, they are real, authentic diamond pieces that are worth a lot of money. As such, both mined and lab produced diamonds are eyed by jewelers and collectors.
If you do want to start investing in pricey diamond pieces, it’s best to pair up with an industry jeweler. Here’s what you need to consider when looking for one.
Things to Consider When Picking the Right Jeweler
You’ll be dealing with large sums of money. Make sure you are transacting with someone who knows what they’re doing like the back of their hand. Here’s what you need to keep in mind before making the decision.
1. Ask for Recommendations
This is the easiest thing you can do and can do almost immediately. Ring up someone you know who is also into collecting jewelry pieces. Ask them where they got their favorite pieces. You can even ask them if someone else introduced them to that shop or seller so you can ask them too.
A strong, webbed network is also necessary for this industry. Ask someone who knows someone. As such, don’t be hesitant to ask. You’re in it for the business so there’s no need to worry about reaching out.
If a jeweler has the seal of approval of someone you trust, then that definitely counts for something, right?
2. Go Online and Do Some Research
Online stores are proliferating on almost every social networking site available. If you have some leads from your friends or family, look them up online. Check out if they have online store portals or if they partnered with another brand to handle eCommerce for them.
If you don’t have leads, however, now is the time to find some. Look through lifestyle blogs, and filter through the information to get your needed information. Aside from the services they offer, look into their track record and client reviews.
No matter how nice their current jewelry collection is, if the reviews are full of one or two stars, that jeweler doesn’t seem too promising anymore.
If provided, do some research on when they began their business, what brands they work with, and who they have provided for before. These are hallmarks of their career as jewelers. If they try to cover up some details or provide false information, those are major red flags.
3. Check Out Their Education
By education, we don’t mean their college degree or high school diploma. The education we pertain to here is if they have accreditation and credentials from board-certified associations.
For the diamond industry, make sure that your jeweler has credentials from either of the following:
- Gemological Institute of America (GIA)
- American Gem Society (AGS)
- Jewelers of America
You won’t have a hard time looking for either of these organizations’ stamp of approval on any accredited and competent jeweler because they are marks of excellence. If you need to push your potential jeweler for this detail, that’s another red flag right there.
4. Trust Your Intuition
You already did your research. But if all the jewelers you come face to face with don’t seem trustworthy to you, then don’t go for it. Your last-minute decision might clash with all the research you did, but sometimes this saves you from future problems too.
Conclusion
Lab created diamonds are often in the midst of controversy regarding their authenticity. Time and again, gemological societies have announced that lab grown diamonds are real diamonds. They just differ in how they are sourced. Albeit it may result in some physical differences, the chemical components are all the same.
Because of this, lab grown diamonds are also growing to be more in demand in the market. More collectors are adding them to their prized possessions. If you want to get into the market, make sure to pair up with a trustworthy jeweler. We hope you can find one by following our tips above.