Jama Jewels – Choosing Lab Grown Diamonds vs Natural Diamonds

Over the past decade, the popularity of lab grown diamonds has been growing steadily and they have become a viable option for individuals shopping for engagement or wedding rings for their significant others. The concept of a lab grown, or synthetic diamond has been met with much skepticism over the years, with people unsure of how “real” it looks or whether it is considered as valuable or romantic as a naturally occurring diamond. However, if you’ve had a chance to familiarize yourself with synthetic diamonds up close, you might be pleasantly surprised.

To help better understand what a lab grown diamond is, we asked Mr. Jemis Patel, Chairman & CEO of Jama Jewels DMCC, one the premiere lab grown diamond jewelry makers in the GCC region. Headquartered in Dubai, UAE, Jama Jewels has become a key player in the GCC diamond market, and a big part of that success is Mr. Patel’s expertise in the art of diamond manufacturing.

What is a Lab Grown Diamond?

A Lab Grown Diamonds are, as the name suggests, diamonds made using a chemical process in a laboratory, physically and chemically speaking, they are identical to naturally occurring diamonds, they have the same level of hardness & durability and like natural diamonds are available in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and clarity. Like natural diamonds, lab grown diamonds are also awarded diamond certifications based on their physical and chemical attributes.

So, how do you tell them apart? Mr. Patel explained that the singular method to tell natural and synthetic diamonds apart is the presence of trace amounts of Nitrogen in the chemical composition of natural diamonds, which is absent in lab grown ones, however this only further reinforces the idea that on a fundamental level, lab grown diamonds and natural diamonds are identical.
How Are Lab Grown Diamonds Made?

In order to create a synthetic diamond, one needs to essentially replicate a natural process that takes millions of years to complete. As an expert in the field, Mr. Patel explained that there are 2 primary methods of diamond manufacturing, the first is CVD or Chemical Vapor Deposition, in which, a small diamond “seed crystal” is placed in a chamber filled with gases and then heated, once the optimum temperature is reached, the gases form layers of carbon on the seed crystal which grows and forms a square-shaped diamond crystal. This method can produce a 1 carat diamond in about a month’s time and is Jama Jewel &Mr. Patel’s preferred method of diamond manufacturing.

“The other method”, Mr. Patel continued, “is HPHT or High Pressure High Temperature, this process more closely resembles natural diamond formation in that it involves placing natural graphite in a large machine which proceeds to apply high temperatures and extreme pressure which in turn transforms the graphite into diamond. However, one of the reasons, we prefer not to use this method is due to the high amounts of heat energy used in it.”

Why Choose A Lab Grown Diamond?

Lab Grown Diamond usually retail for 30-50% less than their natural counterparts which is a significant saving, that you can choose to invest towards a larger diamond. Mr. Patel exclaimed that one of the primary reasons for Jama’s success was the price difference between natural and synthetic diamonds, “We could offer designs and makes that would’ve considerably more expensive had they been made using a natural diamond”.

A Quiet Revolution

Over the years, lab grown diamonds have slowly become quite a phenomenon amongst the masses, their identical make to natural diamonds, their lesser cost, and the fact that they can be tailored made to your specifications has led to their immense popularity. As a closing remark, Mr. Patel stated, “Lab Grown Diamonds have become a game-changer for jewelry makers, not only has it allowed us to provide customers the exact specs for their diamonds but due to its lower cost, has also enabled us to reach a whole new demographic who previously would have been unable to even think about purchasing diamond jewelry”. Ultimately however, when choosing a diamond, the most crucial decision remains your budget, your partner’s preference and whether resale value is important to you.