What the 4C’s are for lab-grown diamonds
The reason that the GIA International Diamond Grading System was developed was to standardize how diamonds are graded across the world. Buyers can clearly understand what they are buying, by relating the 4 characteristics of the diamond; namely, cut, color,clarity and carat on the GIA diamond grading chart.
Since lab grown diamonds are real diamonds, they are graded exactly as per the GIA natural diamond grading system, with the same exact parameters used for mined diamonds.
Lab grown diamonds are physically, optically, and chemically identical to mined diamonds. This means that quality lab-grown diamonds are also officially graded using the 4Cs by independent gemological organizations. The 4Cs of lab-grown diamonds will vary, just like in natural diamonds, and they can range in grade from poor to excellent.
Now that you know why the 4Cs are important and that lab grown diamonds are graded according to these characteristics, let’s talk about each one so you can think like a professional when selecting your diamond.
Diamond Cut
The diamond's cut determines the amount of light it reflects. A well-cut diamond can appear dazzling and stunning regardless of hue or clarity, while a poorly cut diamond will look dull and lifeless.
Well-cut diamonds not only appear more brilliant, but they also appear larger than other diamonds of the same carat weight. An "ideal" diamond has more brightness and diameter than diamonds with deeper cuts.
Cut refers to a diamond’s proportions, symmetry, and polish of the facets by the expert cutter. Cut does not refer to the shape of a diamond, such as cushion or princess. Cut determines a diamond’s ability to reflect and refract light, which directly affects a diamond’s beauty.
With a better cut, the diamond will exhibit more fire, brilliance, and scintillation. Cut is graded by experts as Fair, Good, Very Good, Excellent, and Ideal.
Diamond Color
It is typically preferred to select a diamond with the least amount of color when looking for the perfect one. Five broad types of diamond color are distinguished on a scale from D to Z. (colorless, near colorless, faint, very light, and light).
A fun fact is that diamonds exist in every hue imaginable. A diamond's predominant color is yellow, which is brought on by the trace element nitrogen.
Diamond Clarity
A diamond’s clarity refers to the presence of impurities on and within the stone. Even when grown in a lab, tiny imperfections might be visible. These are called flaws or inclusions. They form during the growing process and are unique to each stone. The term "eye clean" refers to diamonds whose inclusions generally cannot be seen without magnification, and are typically graded SI or higher on the clarity scale. Diamonds that have few to no inclusions tend to be considered particularly high valued and rare.
It's important to choose a diamond with no inclusions if you're after a diamond that’s look will not detract from the diamond's overall brilliance and durability. Stick with diamonds rated "VS2" or higher if you want to be certain that your diamond is absolutely free of "eye-visible" imperfections.
Diamond Carat
The term "carat" refers to a diamond's weight. Carob seeds, which were tiny and homogeneous and worked well as a counterweight to the diamond before the 20th century, were used to measure diamonds. The term "carob" is where our modern word "carat" comes from.
Carat is the unit of measurement for the physical weight of diamonds, and is one of the most objective measurements of the “Four Cs” for determining the value of a diamond. One carat is equal to 200 milligrams, or 1/5 gram, and is subdivided into 100 “points”. This allows very precise measurements to the hundredth decimal place.
Round
Oval
Emerald
Cushion
The carat weight of a diamond determines how big it is. Up to two-thirds of the total carat weight may be lost when raw diamonds are cut and polished into finished diamonds.
FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions
If you want to invest in a high-quality lab-grown diamond, you don't need to worry about it getting rusty or fading with time. These diamonds are well tested and are winning the hearts of many people.
The first advantage of lab-grown diamonds is that natural diamonds and lab-created diamonds can hardly be distinguished from one another. The untrained eye can never tell whether you’re wearing a man-made or natural diamond. In addition to their stunning appearance, they are also:
Environmentally friendly because lab-created diamonds don't harm any land surfaces.
Free of conflict and are ethically sourced. The production of lab-grown diamonds never involves harming or taking advantage of diamond miners. As a result, you will never have to worry that you are buying a "blood diamond."
On the other hand, the disadvantage refers to rarity. If you are looking for a natural gemstone coming from the earth without caring about the previous characteristics, then you probably won't prefer a diamond made in a laboratory.
Diamonds created in a laboratory have the same thermal and electrical conductivity as mined diamonds. As a result, they will pass the diamond tester exam.
