Lab-grown round and oval cuts:
Alternatively, there is a massive incline in lab-grown diamonds. This is an exciting industry advancement, as a lab stone offers the same fire and brilliance as that of a mined diamond, but at a far lower price point. Lab-grown diamonds can also be incredibly sustainable, when made in a laboratory that offsets their energy usage, creating diamonds from carbon that bears an identical crystal structure to their mined counterparts. This means lab-grown diamonds are the real deal, just without the emissions used to retrieve them from under the earth’s crust.
For a round lab-grown diamond that offers the same premium quality as the natural ones listed above, you can currently expect to pay around £1,500. Likewise, the oval cut lab diamond is priced at a similar cost of £1,200.
It’s important to note that the lab-grown versions may not maintain their market value in the same way a natural diamond might. This is because the industry is rapidly expanding, with the future generation of lab diamonds predicted to cost just 10% of Earth-mined diamonds. However, we believe that the sentimental (and ethical) value remains a priceless factor when considering this option.
How do oval diamonds show imperfections compared to round diamonds?
Finally, let’s look at the importance of clarity to both cuts. The main thing to consider at this stage are the “imperfections” that will affect both, known as inclusions.
Inclusions are very common, as a “perfect” diamond is incredibly rare. In fact, almost every diamond will feature an imperfection of some kind. So, what to look for?
Inclusions are internal “imperfections” that are part of your diamond’s story, usually occurring during the diamond’s geological formation. For example, you might find slight streaking (known as graining) or small crystals that appear inside the diamond. This is due to the heat and pressure that formed your stone.
