6. Can a jeweler tell if a diamond is lab created? Professional jewelers and gemologists cannot tell the difference between a lab created diamond and a natural one just by looking at it with the naked eye.
Man made diamonds are difficult to spot because of their chemical, physical and optical properties similar to their natural counterparts. Professional jeweler services and pawn shop brokers often have the equipment needed to tell the difference.
The only way one could distinguish a lab grown diamond from a natural diamond is with the help of a microscope. Natural diamonds will have small amounts of nitrogen, whereas lab grown diamonds will not.
Check stamps and mounts: Real diamonds will be set in metals that are stamped for purity (14K, e.g.). Also, if you see CZ, that means cubic zirconia, a synthetic diamond. Heat it up: Hold a lighter to the stone for 30 seconds, then drop it in cold water.
Most jewelers will not buy lab-grown diamonds, but it's possible to resell lab-grown diamonds to third parties or individuals where lab-grown diamonds are in high demand. While you won't get 100% of your money back, you will get significantly more than the small amount some retailers would offer.
Lab grown diamonds resale value
The resale value of a lab diamond ring will be around 30% to 40% less than you paid, and the same is true of a natural diamond ring - so be sure not to view this transaction as an economic investment!
Here's the Short Answer. Lab-created diamonds are chemically the same as natural, mined diamonds. They are more affordable, but their value likely will not hold up over time. They will also never have the same rarity, uniqueness and meaning as a natural stone that was formed over billions of years deep in the earth.
Professional jewelers and gemologists cannot tell the difference between a lab created diamond and a natural one just by looking at it with the naked eye. They will have to use a microscope to look for the tiny differences in its inclusions that indicate how it was formed.
The most obvious reason to buy diamond jewelry second hand is that it costs less. Diamonds are expensive and prices are rising. You can get quality diamond jewelry from a pawn shop for a fraction of the price you would pay retail. This means you can get a higher quality diamond for your price range.
Pawnshops will authenticate any jewelry and provide an opinion on whether the jeweler is trustworthy. If the jeweler is honest, your piece of jewelry will have a unique number and will have been verified by the pawnbroker.
Lab grown diamonds and mined diamonds are anatomically, chemically & physically exactly the same which means that it is very difficult to tell them apart. The truth is that jewellers and gemologists cannot tell the difference between mined and lab grown diamonds without specialised equipment.
Natural diamonds often contain a small amount of nitrogen or other impurities, while lab-grown diamonds do not. Tiffany diamonds are responsibly sourced from known mines and suppliers, and the majority of our rough stones come from Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Canada.
Lab grown diamonds are just as hard and scratch resistant as mined diamonds and are cut with the same precision mined diamonds are. In fact, each lab created diamond is laser inscribed on the diamond's girdle (the widest part of the diamond) and a report.
First, the great news: Pawnshops absolutely buy broken jewelry! Unlike most items typically found in a home, like a television or a computer, jewelry maintains its value even when it is broken.
One carat is equivalent to 0.2 grams. A 1 carat diamond is about 6.5mm in diameter on average. Whereas a 2 carat diamond is approximately 8mm in diameter.
Like a car, a diamond is a depreciating asset since it loses a large portion of its value the second you buy it. Think about gold and silver. The market for them is very liquid and fungible since you can store coins, sell them at any time or even trade them later on.
Will Lab Made Diamonds Pass The Diamond Tester? So, because both earth-mined and lab-grown diamonds are formed from crystallised carbon, lab-made diamonds will pass any diamond tester they come across.
If you have a loose diamond to test, fill a regular glass about ¾ of the way full with water. Gently drop the diamond into the glass. If the diamond sinks to the bottom, it's real. If it floats at the surface or just underneath, it's likely a fake.
Many jewelers will appraise your stone free of charge and experts will often be able to tell immediately if your diamond is authentic or not. If your stone came with a certificate, your jeweler should be happy to take a look at it and tell you whether it is from a trustworthy source.
Unlike natural diamonds mined from the earth, lab diamonds won't usually gain value. In fact, in recent years, their value hasn't kept up with inflation, mostly due to the increased availability of lab-grown gemstones. So, to put it simply: a lab-grown diamond isn't going to bring much, if any, return on investment.
From a monetary standpoint, however, your lab grown diamonds aren't going to hold very much value after they are taken out of the store. Almost all diamonds you buy will drop in price once worn, but lab grown diamonds are particularly susceptible to losing value after purchase.
In conclusion, lab-grown diamonds age in the same way as natural diamonds. The internal structure of lab-grown diamonds is identical to that of natural diamonds, which means that they will age in the same way.
As outlined, we believe that lab-grown diamonds may not be a good financial choice because they may not retain value in the future. We also think they lack the romance and allure of natural diamonds while not necessarily providing any environmental benefits (this is still up for debate).
Some people may refer to lab created diamonds as “fake diamonds”, imitations or simulants, but this is incorrect. Lab created diamonds share the same or similar chemical and physical properties as a natural diamond produced by the geological processes of Mother Nature.
So, is a lab created diamond a cubic zirconia? They may look a lot alike and be produced in a very similar manner but lab created diamonds and cubic zirconia stones are not the same. While lab grown diamonds are considered to be real diamonds, simulant diamonds like cubic zirconia are not.