Lab created diamond studs have become a favorite choice for those desiring genuine diamonds with modern technology. The earrings retain all characteristics of a natural gemstone including chemical structure and optical qualities. These pieces come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and settings to suit everyday wear or a special event. This buying guide discusses how lab diamonds are created, highlights factors to consider when comparing various options, and describes popular cuts. Additionally, frequently asked questions about purchasing diamond studs are addressed.
Why are Lab Created Diamond Studs Gaining in Popularity
Lab created diamonds are real diamonds formed under controlled laboratory conditions. Scientists use advanced technological methods to recreate the natural growing process occurring hundreds of miles underground. These efforts allow for producing a gemstone with identical physical properties to a natural diamond.
Many people are choosing lab diamonds as an affordable substitute to natural diamonds. By selecting lab-created gemstones, shoppers can afford larger center stones or opt for higher quality diamonds within the same budget constraints.
Moreover, the earring options are available in a wide range of traditional and contemporary styles and sizes. Although simple solitaire styles remain the preferred choice, halo and bezel settings are also gaining in popularity.
How are Lab Diamonds Produced
The lab grown diamonds can be produced using two distinct methods.
- High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) simulates the extreme pressures and temperatures found several miles below the earth’s surface. Under these conditions, carbon atoms fuse together forming a diamond crystal.
- Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) enables a carbon-rich gas to crystallize inside a chamber. Following this growth process, masterful diamond cutters cut and polish each gemstone using traditional tools and techniques.
Additionally, lab diamonds are appraised using the same grading systems as natural gemstones. This includes assessing the cut quality, color, clarity, and carat weight of the diamonds.
The Four Cs
The 4Cs remain the established industry standard for identifying and defining a diamond’s quality.
Cut
The cut of a diamond is the most important factor affecting its beauty. The masterfully cut gemstone reflects the maximum amount of light resulting in desirable sparkle. It is widely accepted that the round brilliant cut offers the optimal mix of sparkle, fire, and brilliance for a diamond engagement ring. The same holds true for diamond stud earrings as this style also reflects the most light among available options.
Additionally, many people ask how many facets does a round brilliant diamond have? Typically, the round brilliant cut has 57 facets or 58 facets including the culet. The multiple facets are needed to fully capture the light resulting in the characteristic brilliance of these popular diamonds.
Other frequently asked questions relate to the number of facets found in a round brilliant cut diamond. In general, these diamonds have 57 or 58 facets depending on whether the culet is present.
Color
When shopping for diamond earrings, buyers should be aware of the color grading system used for diamonds that range from D (colorless) to Z. For most white gemstone options, the ideal diamond color grade falls between D and H. This applies to both engagement rings and diamond stud earrings.
Clarity
Diamond clarity refers to the number and visibility of internal flaws found in a gemstone. Using a specialized microscope, these imperfections are assessed and classified using the grades ranging from Flawless to Included. Since diamond stud earrings are typically viewed from a distance, most buyers prefer VS or SI clarity grades because these diamonds appear eye-clean without additional flaws.
Carat Weight
Diamond carat weight is a measure of the gemstone’s weight. Although it is common to think of carat weight as a measure of size, this characteristic does not correlate directly with the dimensions of a given diamond. Rather, buyers should always focus on achieving the desired visual appeal when selecting earrings. For example, when comparing 1-carat vs. 0.5-carat diamond stud earrings, the difference in appearance will be considerable. Moreover, the shape and size of your ears should also impact your decision when choosing smaller carat weights.
Choosing the Right Setting For Diamond Studs
The setting also plays an essential role in selecting the right stud earrings. First, a prong setting allows for maximum light entry resulting in desirable brilliance. Moreover, most buyers are choosing either a four or six-prong style as this setting option provides the optimal combination of sparkle and security.
Second, bezel settings offer an additional level of security and protection for your investment. Furthermore, this closed design is also beneficial for those with active lifestyles.
Halo settings present another popular option for diamond stud earrings. These unique pieces utilize smaller accent stones to add extra brilliance and visual appeal to the piece. In essence, halo stud earrings make an excellent choice for those seeking larger center diamonds with increased sparkle and visual interest.
The choice of metals also impacts the overall appearance of your stud earrings. For example, white gold contrasts nicely against colorless diamonds while yellow gold enhances the warm undertones of natural yellow diamonds. Additionally, platinum is a more affordable option that also offers excellent durability.
The Benefits of Lab Created Diamond Studs
There are several advantages of lab created diamond studs. First, because these are real diamonds formed in a controlled environment, buyers can often expect higher color grades, clarity, and carat weight for the same price as natural gemstones. Second, lab diamonds are just as durable as their natural counterparts. On the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, these gemstones score a 10 meaning they resist scratches from most materials.
Third, lab created diamonds are produced in a controlled environment offering consistent quality and predictable results. This also simplifies the entire buying process as buyers can rely on standardized measurements and accurate grading reports.
Finally, many shoppers are choosing lab diamonds because of an increased level of quality control provided by reputable manufacturers and independent grading companies.
How to Compare Diamond Studs for Purchasing
When comparing stud earrings, always ensure that you are shopping from a trusted and reliable dealer. Reputable sellers offer the independent gemstone grading reports certifying the cut, clarity, color, and carat weight of each diamond. Always ensure that you are comparing like-for-like options when shopping for diamond stud earrings. For example, it is critical to pay attention to a diamond’s color grade, clarity, and cut, since these factors will determine the overall visual appeal of the piece. Furthermore, when shopping online, always request high-resolution photos or videos highlighting the beauty of the diamond. With video content, always pay close attention to how the gemstone reflects the light when rotated.
Another essential consideration relates to the back of the stud earrings. For example, screw backs offer a more secure option than push backs that require minimal effort to open. As such, this feature should always be taken into account when selecting earrings for everyday wear.
Moreover, proper storage is also vital when you want to preserve the beauty of your stud earrings for years to come. Always store these delicate pieces separately in a secure jewelry box lined with felt or another similar material to help prevent unwanted scratches. Furthermore, always ensure the security of the prongs setting to avoid losing the diamonds due to a broken prong. Finally, a professional-level cleaning at least once or twice a year is a must in order to prolong the lifespan of your investment.
Common Myths About Lab Diamonds
There are several common myths and misconceptions about lab created diamonds. For example, some people mistakenly believe that lab diamonds are actually diamond simulants such as cubic zirconia or moissanite crystals. This is incorrect because laboratory-grown diamonds possess the same optical and physical properties as natural gemstones.
Another common myth involves the optical properties of lab diamonds. Some people argue that these gemstones lack brilliance, fire, and sparkle. In reality, the quality of a given diamond depends on several factors including the cut, clarity, color, and carat weight. As such, a properly cut lab diamond will display desirable brilliance and fire levels just like any other masterfully cut gemstone.
Furthermore, many people believe that it is possible to distinguish between a lab grown and a natural diamond using simple visual inspection. This statement is also inaccurate because standard naked eye examination is not sufficient to identify the unique growth patterns found in each type of diamond. Rather, specialized equipment is needed to differentiate between these two types of diamonds.
Lab created diamond studs offer an affordable option without compromising on quality. Selecting stud earrings made from lab diamonds can be a wise choice considering their wide range of colors, clarity levels, and carat weights available in various shapes and settings. Additionally, understanding the 4Cs of a given diamond is essential in order to fully appreciate the unique beauty of your investment. As a result, those seeking an everyday pair of diamond stud earrings made from real diamonds can confidently browse the wide variety of options available.
