Natural vs. Lab Grown Diamond Engagement Ring

Have you ever stared at an engagement ring online, zoomed in on the diamonds, and wondered why some cost so much more than others? Believe it or not, you’re not alone. Picking between a lab grown diamond engagement ring in Canada and a natural diamond is one of those confusing choices that can leave even the most expert jewelry shoppers scratching their heads.

Luckily, there are ways to figure out which diamond fits your style, budget, and values, whether it’s a sparkling lab grown gem or a classic natural diamond. 

Let’s get into the details.

Lab Grown Diamond Engagement Ring in Canada: What’s a Lab Grown Diamond?

Lab grown diamonds are real diamonds. Yes, really! And no, they’re not some fake knockoff. The difference is just in where they come from. Scientists create these diamonds in a lab instead of digging them out of the Earth over billions of years.

What’s more? Chemically, physically, and even visually, they’re exactly the same as natural diamonds. In fact, they sparkle just as brilliantly, feel just as strong, and are just as tough. Basically, if you held one in your hand, you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.

So, what’s the main difference then? Well, it’s all about how they’re made. While natural diamonds take forever (like billions of years) to form deep inside the Earth’s mantle, lab diamonds take a much quicker route. Under the right conditions, they can grow in just a few weeks or months. 

Even with the faster growth, a lab grown diamond engagement ring still comes out looking every bit as stunning as natural ones. That means whether you’re picking a classic solitaire or a unique engagement ring design, a lab grown diamond in Canada gives you all the beauty and sparkle you’d expect.

How Lab Diamonds Are Made

A lab grown diamond engagement ring sounds futuristic, but the science behind them is actually pretty fascinating, and it all starts with a tiny diamond “seed.” From there, the diamond grows either by mimicking how nature forms diamonds deep in the Earth, or by using a super controlled gas-based method. 

High Pressure, High Temperature (HPHT): 

This method basically tries to copy the natural diamond-making process. In the Earth, diamonds form under intense pressure and extreme heat over billions of years. HPHT recreates those conditions in a lab, but in a much quicker way.

Technicians place the diamond seed inside a growth chamber with a source of pure carbon and a metal catalyst. Then they crank the chamber up to extreme pressure (up to 870,000 psi)and heat it to around 1,300 to 1,600°C. Under these intense conditions, the carbon dissolves into the metal catalyst and gradually crystallizes onto the diamond seed. Layer by layer, the diamond grows until it turns into a sparkling gem.

Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD): 

CVD takes a slightly different approach, building a diamond from the ground up. Instead of pressure and heat, it uses a vacuum chamber and carbon-rich gases, usually methane and hydrogen. The diamond seed goes inside this sealed chamber, and the gases are heated to around 800°C until they form a plasma.

From there, the plasma releases carbon atoms that slowly settle onto the diamond seed. Bit by bit, layer by layer, a new diamond crystal comes into being. Some CVD diamonds also get extra heat or pressure treatments afterward to improve clarity or color, but the main process is all about controlled growth.

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What’s the Difference?

Either way, the result is a genuine, sparkling diamond. The differences between HPHT and CVD are so subtle that even trained jewelers can barely tell them apart without using special equipment. 

Are Lab Diamonds “Fake”?

Not at all. Some people still think a lab grown diamond engagement ring in Canada is fake, but that’s just a myth. Lab diamonds:

• Look exactly like natural diamonds.\
• Have the same hardness (10 on the Mohs scale).
• Can have tiny inclusions or flaws, just like natural diamonds

Lab Grown vs. Natural Diamonds: Side-by-Side

Feature	Lab Grown	Natural
Durability	10/10 on the Mohs scale	10/10 on the Mohs scale
Brilliance	Same sparkle as natural	Same sparkle as lab grown
Color	Mostly colorless, but can also be made in any colors of the rainbow.	Mostly near-colorless. Fancy colors like pink, blue, yellow, green, brown,and black exist, but are much rarer and pricier
Grading	Cut, color, clarity, carat	Cut, color, clarity, carat
Origin	Lab over weeks	Deep in the Earth over billions of years
Rarity	Can be produced as needed	Limited supply
Price	Usually lower	Usually higher

Why Have Lab Diamonds Become a Popular Choice Today?

A lab grown diamond engagement ring in Canada comes with a few amazing perks that make it attractive to people:

• Eco-friendly: Because experts grow them in labs, they don’t need to mine diamonds. That means less disruption to the environment, less land damage, and a smaller carbon footprint overall.
• Affordable: Lab diamonds cost less than natural ones. Hence, you can get a bigger stone and even a higher-quality diamond without blowing your budget. 
• Unique colors: Labs can create diamonds in stunning colors like pink, blue, or yellow, shades that are much rarer and more expensive in natural stones.
• Ethical sourcing: Since manufacturers grow lab diamonds in controlled environments, you don’t have to worry about supply chains or conflict diamonds. You can enjoy your gorgeous ring knowing the makers produced it responsibly.

Looking for high quality, authentic lab grown diamond engagement rings?

Check out the collection at AAA Diamonds today!