Consumers have increasingly begun to choose lab-grown diamonds for their engagement rings and other fine jewelry because of its appeal and its perceived ethical value. However, how do the retailers check if these diamonds are authentic? The procedure is essential for proving the authenticity of the diamond’s origins. Rare Carat is one of the strap names in the diamond industry, and there is no doubt about how seriously they take the verification of lab-grown diamonds. At Rare Carat verification comes with the guarantee that every single stone will be compliant with ruthless standards of quality and integrity.
If you decide to shop at Rare Carat, you will see that the platform boasts a large selection of diamonds, both natural and lab-grown. The process of verifying a synthetic diamond entails sophisticated technology and detailed examination of records to ensure the diamond’s genuineness. Rare Carat makes it their duty to ensure that all the diamonds, lab-grown or not, are unambiguously described of an outsourced with clear labeling so that buyers know exactly what they are offered and what they are paying for.
What are Lab-Grown Diamonds?
Before examining how to determine the validity of such diamonds, it’s worth looking at what a lab-grown diamond is. Also known as synthetic diamonds, lab-grown diamonds are created in a laboratory where conditions are controlled to simulate how diamonds form in nature. These types of diamonds have the same chemical, physical, and optical properties as natural diamonds which makes them widely preferred by customers who wish to be more environmentally friendly.
Types of Lab-Grown Diamonds
There are two primary methods of creating lab-grown diamonds:
- High Pressure, High Temperature (HPHT) – This process replicates the natural environment where diamonds HPHT.
- Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) – This method utilizes a gas mixture to deposit carbon atoms onto a substrate which then crystallizes into a diamond.
Both methods produce diamonds of comparable quality to natural ones, although the verification processes differ slightly.
How Do Retailers Verify Lab-Grown Diamonds?
Retailers such as Rare Carat use various techniques to verify lab-grown diamonds and assure their clients of the diamonds’ authenticity. The verification process involves using specialized tools and technology to check the origin, structure, and makeup of the diamond.
1. Gemological Certifications
A prerequisite in the verification of lab-grown diamonds is obtaining a gemological certification from a reliable body. Rare Carat partners with gemological laboratories like the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the International Gemological Institute (IGI) who certify the diamonds sold to them.
Said certifications mark whether a diamond is natural or lab-grown, as well as detailing the cut, color, clarity, carat weight, and any treatments the stone has received. Certifications also verify the diamond’s growth process: whether it was made in a lab, or formed naturally deep within the Earth.
2. Diamond Detection Machines
Rare Carat and other retailers use specialized machines for detecting lab-grown and natural diamonds. These machines study the specifics of the diamond in question, such as the light reflection and the chemical composition of the stone. Natural and lab-grown diamonds may look identical to the naked eye, thus requiring the use of more sophisticated equipment such as UV (ultraviolet) fluorescence, which caters to the more subtle differences between the two.
A gemstone identification device that works with UV light, DiamondView, is one of the earliest tools used to detect lab grown diamonds. Gemologists have a higher accuracy detecting diamonds as lab grown ones usually show different structures compared to natural ones.
3. Spectroscopic Analysis
Spectroscopic analysis is another method of lab-grown diamond verification that Rare Carat employs. The technique involves measuring the light that a diamond does not reflect. Analyzing the chemical composition of the diamond can also provide useful information about its origin. Since lab-grown diamonds differ from natural ones because of the inclusions and trace elements that lab-grown diamonds have, spectroscopic analysis can assist revealing the truth of the diamond.
It is possible to identify the presence of nitrogen in a diamond, which indicates that the diamond is lab-grown. Spectroscopy gemologists can also differentiate whether the diamond is natural or synthetic. With technology advancing, this means additional verification from consumers becomes more accurate.
4. Patterns of Inclusion
Inclusions are naturally occurring imperfections found in diamonds and they can give one an insight into the diamond’s flaws and indiscretions. While some natural diamonds contain inclusions due to their long journey on Earth’s surface, lab-grown diamonds may contain inclusions due to the process employed in its making. Rare Carat utilizes high-powered magnification to scrutinize a diamond’s inclusion patterns.
Lab-grown diamonds tend to contain inclusions in the middle or towards the edges of the diamond, which are usually not present in natural ones. These traits assist gemologists in distinguishing and identifying natural from man-made diamonds during the verification steps.
5. Advanced Diamond Certification and Grading
Along with gemological instruments and certifications, vendors such as Rare Carat use various verification techniques, including examining the stone under a microscope. Microscopically, lab-grown diamonds show features that readily distinguish them from natural diamonds. For instance, CVD diamonds potentially have a unique pattern left by the growth process absent in natural diamonds, otherwise known as “striation.” While HPHT diamonds may exhibit different inclusions that are clear markers of being synthetic.
Gemologists utilize these features to authenticate a diamond’s origin. Immense magnification ensures every minute discrepancy is accounted for, making it invaluable for distinguishing natural and synthetic diamonds.
Rare Carat’s Commitment to Transparency and Ethical Sourcing
Rare Carat’s distinctive feature is providing utmost transparency when purchasing diamonds alongside their easy comparison platform. Rare Carat guarantees that all listings are correct which means all diamonds are featured as described.
Rare Carat’s customers can easily validate the authenticity of their lab-grown diamonds by remarkable certifications and reports provided by Rare Carat. The outstanding sustainability efforts of this company is what sustainably mined diamond consumers are looking for.
Conclusion
Verifying lab-grown diamonds is important for upholding the trust of transparency, quality, and the consumer’s confidence. Retailers like Rare Carat integrate sophisticated technology, gemological certifications, and expert analysis to guarantee that every diamond meets set quality standards. Through ethical sourcing and holistic verification measures, Rare Carat is redefining the diamond industry’s future, one ethically sourced lab-grown diamond at a time. Rare Carat guarantees that all customers, whether shopping for engagement rings or other pieces, get genuine and eco-friendly products.