In your search for the perfect engagement ring, the usual questions come to mind. Solitaire or halo? Pear or princess? Now there’s another question to add to the list. Mined or lab-grown diamonds?
We used to only focus on cut, colour, clarity and carat when choosing this sentimental stone, but now its origin has become an important part of the conversation.
From poor working conditions to environmental devastation, unethically mined diamonds can weigh as much on your conscience as your finger. Thankfully, technology has given us a sparkling alternative!
Today the expert jewelers at Clean Origin are sharing the unique benefits of lab-grown diamonds with us to help you choose the best engagement ring for you.
Better for the Planet
When we talk about environmental protection, it can sometimes feel as though a huge, life-altering change is needed to make an impact. Although there’s a ton of work to be done, it’s the accumulation of small changes that ultimately add up.
Mined diamonds carry some pretty heavy baggage, with 5,798 pounds of mineral waste, 125 pounds of carbon, nearly 100 square feet of disturbed land and 538.5 million joules of energy created for every carat.
One of the easiest ways to help eliminate this is to purchase jewelry made with lab-grown diamonds. To the surprise of many, these stones possess the same chemical makeup, physical and optical appearance as their mined counterparts, without all of that unnecessary wastage!
Better for People
It’s hard to be sure that the mined diamond you receive came from a place with good working practices and high moral standards. We’ve all heard of blood diamonds, and it’s clear that the violence, exploitation and corruption behind them is just wrong. Measures have been taken to try and help fix these problems, but loopholes have been found and inconsistencies have arisen. The only way to be 100% positive that your diamond was ethically sourced is to go with a lab-grown stone.
Better for Your Wallet
Ready for some more good news? Lab-grown diamonds can be anywhere from 20-30% less expensive than those mined from the ground! By removing some of the links in the supply chain, jewelers are able to price these stones much more competitively.
There are a few ways you can think about this saving. For starters, you could put those new-found dollars towards your wedding or honeymoon, or just back in your pocket. You could also upgrade the size of your diamond. To put the difference into perspective, a 2 carat diamond would become 2.5 carats. Finally, you could talk with a diamond expert about improvements to the 4 C’s of your original stone. If you had the budget for a 1 carat, Good, H color, SI1 diamond, that 20-30% could help move you further up the scale on a few of those specifications.
Thanks to Clean Origin for sharing these great insights with us! They provide stunning lab-grown diamond engagement rings that are 100% conflict-free and environmentally friendly.
Want to share your wedding tips with our readers as a guest author? Find out more about our editorial partnerships.
