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Mined Diamonds

Mined Diamonds

The truth about how and where they come from.

SHOP LAB GROWN DIAMONDS
Mined Diamonds

What is a mined or natural diamond?

What is a mined or natural diamond?

Diamonds are one of the most sought-after and coveted gems in the world. Natural diamonds are those that are formed deep within the earth over the course of billions of years and brought to the surface through a process called mining. This process involves excavating the earth using heavy machinery and explosives, also called the kimberlite process. These diamonds are also called mined diamonds. These diamonds have a significant negative impact on the environment and local communities. In recent years, there has been increasing concern about the ethical and environmental impact of buying mined diamonds, and many consumers are seeking out alternative options like lab-grown diamonds.

What is a mined or natural diamond?

Impacts:

Moral

Funding wars, conflict diamonds and smuggling are just a few issues surrounding mined diamonds, even today.

Environmental

Deforestation and destruction of entire settlements, not mention the pollution caused by the mining practices, are harming the earth with no way of reversing the impact.

Compromise

When compared to a lab grown diamond, most people who choose a natural diamond compromise on the quality, due to budget restrictions and the unavailability of higher quality mined diamonds.

Moral Impact

Moral Impact

There are several concerns regarding conflict diamonds. One of the main ethical concerns surrounding natural diamonds is their potential connection to global conflicts. Mined diamonds have been used to fund conflicts and wars, particularly in Africa for many years. This practice, known as "blood diamonds, " has led to widespread human rights abuses and violence. In response to these concerns, the Kimberley Process was established in 2003 to certify that diamonds are conflict-free and to prevent the trade of blood diamonds. While the Kimberley Process has helped to reduce the incidence of conflict diamonds, there are still concerns about its effectiveness and the possibility of diamonds being smuggled and sold illegally. Recently, one of the largest producers of smaller natural diamonds in the world, Russia, has been using funds from mined diamonds to finance its war efforts against Ukraine. Read more about conflict diamonds by clicking below.

Moral Impact
Environmental Impact

Environmental Impact

Environmental Impact

In addition to ethical concerns, mined diamonds have a significant environmental impact. The process of mining diamonds requires the excavation of large amounts of earth, which leads to deforestation and habitat destruction. On average, miners must move 250 tons of earth to find a single carat of diamond!

Mining for natural diamonds results in the pollution and depletion of nearby water sources, thereby displacing the local communities. To put things in perspective, over 120 gallons of water are needed to mine just 1 carat of diamond. In contrast, lab-created diamonds use 85% less water, at only 18 gallons per carat.

The use of natural or mined diamonds releases carbon and other greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere. In addition, maintaining these expansive facilities also requires energy. On average, 160 kg of greenhouse gasses is released per polished carat of natural diamond. However, there are alternative options that can provide the same beauty and value without ethical and environmental concerns.

Despite these concerns, many people continue to buy mined diamonds because they are considered to be more valuable and prestigious. Diamonds are often associated with love and commitment, and they are often given as engagement rings and other sentimental gifts. While mined diamonds are a traditional and popular choice for jewelry, they have significant ethical and environmental concerns. Lab-grown and recycled diamonds offer alternative options that provide the same beauty and value without the negative impact on the environment and local communities. As consumers become more aware of the impact of their purchases, it is important to consider the implications of buying natural diamonds and to consider alternative options that are more sustainable and ethical.

Compromise

Compromise

Lab-created diamonds, also known as man-made diamonds, are diamonds that are grown in a laboratory rather than mined from the earth. They are chemically, physically, and optically identical to natural diamonds, but they are typically sold at a lower price point due to their laboratory origin. There are several reasons why consumers may choose to compromise on the traditional sourcing of diamonds and opt for lab-created diamonds instead.

First and foremost, lab-created diamonds are an ethical and sustainable alternative to natural diamonds. The diamond mining industry has been plagued by controversies surrounding human rights abuses, environmental degradation, and funding of conflict. Lab-created diamonds, on the other hand, are produced in a controlled and transparent environment, with no negative impact on the environment or communities.

In addition to their ethical appeal, lab-created diamonds are also more affordable than natural diamonds. Because they are grown in a laboratory, they do not incur the costs associated with traditional diamond mining, such as extraction and transportation. This allows lab-created diamonds to be sold at a lower price point, making them more accessible to a wider range of consumers. Grown Brilliance lab-created diamonds are approximately 50-60% less expensive than its mined diamond counterpart.

Another advantage of lab-created diamonds is that they can be customized to the consumer's specific preferences. Natural diamonds are often graded based on the Four Cs (cut, color, clarity, and carat weight), but lab-created diamonds can be grown to meet specific criteria, such as a specific color or clarity. This level of customization is not possible with natural diamonds. Hence all Grown Brilliance diamonds offered on this site range from SI – VVS2 clarity and H-F color in grade. This type of diamond quality is hard to find in mall jewelers across the U.S.

Lab-created diamonds offer a range of benefits over natural diamonds, including their ethical and sustainable sourcing, affordability, customization options, and lack of negative impact on the environment and communities. While they hold the same chemical and optical properties of a mined diamond, you can now purchase a lab-grown diamond with a higher color, clarity, carat size and cut grade than what you would have purchased in a natural diamond with the same budget. Also, all Grown Brilliance diamonds over 2ctw are certified by independent laboratory like IGI (International Gemological Institute), so you can be rest assured you are getting the precise quality that you paid for.

Compromise

What’s the alternative to mined and natural diamonds?

What's the alternative to mined and natural diamonds?

One alternative to mined diamonds is lab-grown diamonds. Lab-grown diamonds are created using advanced technology that replicates the conditions under which diamonds are naturally formed. They are chemically, physically, and optically identical to mined diamonds, and they are becoming increasingly popular as a more ethical and sustainable option.

Lab-grown diamonds are typically less expensive than mined diamonds, and they are not associated with the ethical and environmental concerns of mining. They also offer the added benefit of being available in a wider range of sizes and colors, which can be difficult to find in mined diamonds.

Another alternative to mined diamonds is recycled diamonds. Recycled diamonds are diamonds that have been previously owned and are repurposed for reuse. These diamonds can be used in new jewelry or resold to consumers, and they provide a more sustainable option compared to mining new diamonds.

What's the alternative to mined and natural diamonds?

So why settle on Ethics & Quality?

Lab-created diamonds, also known as man-made diamonds, are diamonds that are grown in a laboratory rather than mined from the earth. They are chemically, physically, and optically identical to natural diamonds, but they are typically sold at a lower price point due to their laboratory origin. There are several reasons why consumers may choose to compromise on the traditional sourcing of diamonds and opt for lab-created diamonds instead.

So why settle on Ethics Quality? So why settle on Ethics Quality?

First and foremost, lab-created diamonds are an ethical and sustainable alternative to natural diamonds. The diamond mining industry has been plagued by controversies surrounding human rights abuses, environmental degradation, and funding of conflict. Lab-created diamonds, on the other hand, are produced in a controlled and transparent environment, with no negative impact on the environment or communities.

In addition to their ethical appeal, lab-created diamonds are also more affordable than natural diamonds. Because they are grown in a laboratory, they do not incur the costs associated with traditional diamond mining, such as extraction and transportation. This allows lab-created diamonds to be sold at a lower price point, making them more accessible to a wider range of consumers. Grown Brilliance lab-created diamonds are approximately 50-60% less expensive than its mined diamond counterpart.

So why settle on Ethics Quality? So why settle on Ethics Quality?
So why settle on Ethics Quality?So why settle on Ethics Quality?

Another advantage of lab-created diamonds is that they can be customized to the consumer's specific preferences. Natural diamonds are often graded based on the Four Cs (cut, color, clarity, and carat weight), but lab-created diamonds can be grown to meet specific criteria, such as a specific color or clarity. This level of customization is not possible with natural diamonds. Hence all Grown Brilliance diamonds offered on this site range from SI – VVS2 clarity and H-F color in grade. This type of diamond quality is hard to find in mall jewelers across the U.S. Lab-created diamonds offer a range of benefits over natural diamonds, including their ethical and sustainable sourcing, affordability, customization options, and lack of negative impact on the environment and communities. While they hold the same chemical and optical properties of a mined diamond, you can now purchase a lab-grown diamond with a higher color, clarity, carat size and cut grade than what you would have purchased in a natural diamond with the same budget. Also, all Grown Brilliance diamonds over 2ctw are certified by independent laboratory like IGI (International Gemological Institute), so you can be rest assured you are getting the precise quality that you paid for.

The process that natural diamonds go through takes several billion years to complete. It occurs when carbon deposits deep below the earth’s surface are exposed to high temperatures and pressure causing the carbon atoms to bond together and slowly form a crystal.

The eruption of rare volcanos move the diamonds from deep below ground to the surface and they are then excavated through a process called mining. Mining involves the digging and blasting of the ground to excavated the desired minerals from the soil. Mined diamonds have a significant environmental impact. The process of mining diamonds requires the excavation of large amounts of earth, which leads to deforestation and habitat destruction. On average, miners must move 250 tons of earth to find a single carat of diamond. Additionally, pollution and depletion of water sources, common effects of the mining process, can affect the local communities.

One alternative to mined diamonds is lab-grown diamonds. Lab-grown diamonds are created using advanced technology that replicates the conditions under which diamonds are naturally formed. They are chemically, physically, and optically identical to mined diamonds, and they are becoming increasingly popular as a more ethical and sustainable option.

Lab-grown diamonds are typically less expensive than mined diamonds, and they are not associated with the ethical and environmental concerns of mining. They also offer the added benefit of being available in a wider range of sizes and colors, which can be difficult to find in mined diamonds.

The main difference is how each one is made. The mineral diamond is formed by a natural process dependent on extremely long natural factors. On the other hand, the laboratory diamond is a more efficient approach to producing diamonds with the same appearance and physical, chemical, optical, and atomic properties.

Furthermore, there are many difficulties in extracting mineral diamonds, while those made in laboratories are much more ethical and eco-friendly.