Education Section

FAQ

What are Lab Grown Diamonds?

Lab-grown diamonds are in fact real diamonds, providing the same durability and made of the same chemical, physical, optical properties as natural diamonds. They are grown in laboratories, using advanced technological processes that replicate the natural conditions under which diamonds for in the Earth. Lab-grown diamonds are of similar quality, exhibit variations in cut, clarity, and color, and are also certified and graded using the same criteria.

Why Lab Grown Diamonds?

It has progressively become a preferred alternative to its counterpart, naturally mined diamonds, due to its ethical sourcing, lower environmental impact, careful approach to managing impurities and defects, transparent supply chain, quality and customization options, and cost-effective accessibility.
Most importantly, this alternative provides a production process that does not violate human rights. Due to such an advanced, efficient and controlled production process, consumers are given significant cost savings to that of mined diamonds, making diamonds much more accessible and affordable.

How are Lab Grown Diamonds made?

LGD diamonds are grown either by the high pressure, high-temperature method (HPHT) or by using chemical vapor decomposition (CVD). HPHT places a small fragment of natural diamond to “seed” in a chamber with carbon in high pressure and high temperatures. This carbon crystalizes around the seed, allowing the diamond to grow about a millimeter a day. This method replicates the extreme conditions deep within the earth that caused natural diamonds to slowly form.
The CVD method involves heating a gas mixture of hydrocarbon and hydrogen in a vacuum chamber, causing the carbon atoms to separate from the gas and deposit as a layer of diamond onto a surface. The process can take several hours to create a thin layer of diamond, then repeated to create layers that are many millimeters thick. What takes mined diamonds billions of years to form only takes LGDs weeks.

How are Lab Grown diamonds certified and graded?

Lab-grown diamonds are certified and graded using the the same criteria as natural diamonds, using the 4 Cs: carat, cut, color, and clarity. They are certified by well-known gemological laboratories, such as the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the International Gemological Institute (IGI).
This certificate verifies the diamond’s
characteristics and authenticity. The grading process involves examining the diamond under controlled lighting conditions with specialized equipment. Each of the 4 Cs is assessed. Lastly, the certification will indicate whether a diamond is natural or lab-grown, often with specific symbols or notes on the report to ensure transparency. The grading process ensures that consumers can trust the quality and origin of their lab-grown diamond.

Ring Size Guide

Not sure what your ring size is? We’ve got you. We’d be more than happy to send you a complimentary ring sizer. Click here to enter in your information so that a copy can be mailed within the next few days.

In a rush? Find your measurement with our printable ring sizer guide below.

ring sizer guide

Helpful Tips:

If possible, get your finger sized professionally at a jewelry store using a ring sizer for the most accurate result.
If you have large knuckles, you might want to go up a half size to ensure the ring can slide over comfortably.
Your dominant hand might be slightly larger than your non-dominant hand, so measure the hand you intend on wearing your ring on.
Measure your finger when it’s at room temperature and during the day, as it provides more of an accurate idea of the size of your finger. Cold fingers tend to be smaller.
For wider rings, consider going up a half size as they can feel tighter.

Precious Metal Guide

Platinum, 18K WG, 14K Rose Gold, Yellow Gold

Yellow Gold

White Gold

Rose Gold

Platinum

Diamond Guide

Diamonds have long been associated with love, commitment, celebrations, achievements, and a luxury item that is adorned by its fashion, beauty, brilliance, and rich history. It is very important for a client to conduct their research on what it is they are looking for, since a diamond is based on personal preference and taste. When starting your search, it is essential the 4 C’s are examined:

Carat

The carat size of a diamond measures the diamond’s weight, not its size. When considering carat size, consider how the carat weight translates to visual size. A wellcut diamond may appear larger than a poorly cut one of the same carat weight. Consider the setting and style, as the design of the ring or setting can affect how large the diamond appears. Consider how the diamond’s size complements the overall design. Larger diamonds generally come at a higher price per carat, so determining your budget and balance size with other quality factors (cut, color, clarity) may be something to consider. Lastly, personal, practical, and aesthetic preferences are important decision factors when it comes to determine carat size.

Cut

The cut of a diamond refers to how well a diamond has been cut, shaped and faceted, affecting its brilliance and reflection to light. The most commonly used grading system ranges from excellent to poor.

Excellent: Maximizes brilliance and sparkle. Reflects light beautifully with optimal proportions and symmetry.
Very Good: Almost as brilliant as an Excellent cut, with minor differences. Well proportioned and offers great value.
Good: Acceptable performance but may lack some brilliance compared to higher grades. Generally well-proportioned,but not optimal.Fair: Light performance is noticeably affected. May have uneven proportions or symmetry, leading to reduced brilliance.
Poor: Reflects very little light. Poor proportions and symmetry significantly diminish the diamond’s overall appearance.

The cut is crucial because it greatly influences a diamond’s brilliance and overall visual appeal. A well-cut diamond can appear more dazzling and valuable than a larger, poorly cut stone.

Color

A diamond’s color scale typically ranges from D to Z, measuring the presence of color in the diamond, from colorless to shades of yellow and brown.

D – Colorless: The highest grade, completely devoid of color.
E – Colorless: Very slight traces of color, virtually indistinguishable from D.
F – Colorless: Slight traces of color, but still considered colorless.
G – Near Colorless: A slight hint of color; often still appears colorless to the untrained eye.
H – Near Colorless: A bit more noticeable color, but still acceptable for many buyers.
I – Near Colorless: Noticeable color, but can still look attractive in certain settings.
J – Slightly Colored: Color is more noticeable, especially in larger stones.
K – Faint Yellow: A light yellow tint that is visible to the naked eye.
L – Faint Yellow: Similar to K, with a more noticeable yellow tint.
M – Faint Yellow: A more pronounced yellow color.
N to Z – Light Yellow or Brown: Increasingly noticeable yellow or brown coloration that may affect the diamond’s appearance and value.

A diamond’s clarity can influence how its color is perceived, as inclusions may affect light performance. Some buyers prefer the warmth of slightly colored diamonds, while others seek completely colorless stones.

Clarity

A diamond’s clarity scale evaluates the presence of inclusions or blemishes. The scale ranges from Flawless to Included and is typically defined as follows:

Flawless (FL): No inclusions or blemishes visible under 10x magnification. Extremely rare.
Internally Flawless (IF): No inclusions visible under 10x magnification, but may have minor surface blemishes.
Very Slightly Included (VVS1 and VVS2): Inclusions are very difficult to detect under 10x magnification. VVS1 has fewer and smaller inclusions than VVS2.
Slightly Included (SI1 and SI2): Inclusions are noticeable under 10x magnification and may be visible to the naked eye in SI2. SI1 inclusions are less visible.
Included (I1, I2, and I3): Inclusions are visible to the naked eye. I1 has noticeable inclusions, while I2 and I3 may affect the diamond’s durability and appearance.

Assessment factors to consider are the type of inclusions and visibility. The size, number, position, and nature of inclusions can impact the clarity of grade. The location of inclusions can affect how noticeable they are. While clarity affects a diamond’s value and appearance, many people prioritize cut and color per clarity, as well-cut diamonds can still look stunning even with slight inclusions