Lab Diamonds Vs Real Diamonds

The lab diamonds vs real diamonds debate has been going on as long as manufactured diamonds have been in existence.  A real diamond spends most of its life deep in the crust of the earth where immense pressure and heat form it into one of the hardest substances on earth.  Volcanic activity then spews it out into the surface layer of earth where it discovered by man, cut, and polished into the gem that glows atop a lucky woman’s engagement ring.  

A Lab diamond begins its life much the same as real one, but finds that it must quickly harden under the immense artificial pressure and heat from a scientist’s laboratory.   After only a week, it is virtually identical to one that has spent years undergoing the same process naturally.

Which one is better?

To the untrained eye, there is no difference whatsoever between natural and man made diamonds.  When they are both cut and polished, even the trained eye cannot tell the difference without the use of special equipment.  There is no difference in the strength, color, or appearance, but the price will knock your socks off.  A 3.1 carat real stone might fetch at least 45,000 dollars, but a manufactured one of the same size and weight will cost only 600 dollars.

Which is more important, price or pride?

If you are looking for an engagement ring for your soon to be bride, you have an important decision to make.  If you choose an artificial diamond, chances are you will be happy with the price, but you will always feel a little embarrassed when anyone asks if it is real or artificial. 

Even though there is no difference in the appearance, public opinion is that synthetic diamonds are not as special as real ones.  If you settle for lab created diamonds, if you want to save your pride, you can just say it is natural if anyone asks and no one will know the difference.