LAB CREATED DIAMONDS: THE LATEST ENGAGEMENT RING TREND

1477 marks the first year engagement rings were first recorded in use. It is the year that Archduke Maximilian of Austria gave an engagement ring to Mary of Burgundy when they were betrothed. If 1477 sounds like a long time ago, that’s because it is. Since the first engagement ring was given over 500 years ago, a lot has changed. Diamonds have become a symbol of love, commitment, and marriage. However, they have also become increasingly rare. Even beyond that, diamond mining has become an ethical concern. In the past, diamonds and other rare gemstones were passed from generation to generation. It wasn’t until 1938 that diamonds gained their reputation as the must-have gemstone for marriage.

Once diamonds hit the mainstream market, a lot changed. They started to be mined more frequently and at increasingly lower costs. In order for diamonds to be affordable, some jewelers within the industry began cutting corners. As a result, the environment and the miners suffered. Today, the ethics of diamonds is an important issue that conscious consumers care deeply about and the jewelry industry has responded accordingly.  Ethical diamonds are now readily available. However, in the past few years there has been another interesting shift within the industry: lab created diamonds. Created in response to consumers’ ethical concerns, lab-created diamonds have taken the engagement ring industry by storm. If you haven’t heard of them yet, you’re in for a treat. Here is everything you need to know about these innovative gemstones.

No One Will Ever Know

We all know that technology has advanced the world in countless ways throughout the past few years. But what you probably didn’t know is that technological advances have also been occurring within the jewelry industry, specifically with lab-created diamonds. In fact, technology has advanced the industry so much that it’s impossible to tell lab-created diamonds and mined diamonds apart. Even beyond that, the two types of diamonds have the exact same physical and chemical properties. Lab diamonds are not “fake” diamonds and they are not cubic zirconia. They are manmade stones that perfectly mimic mined diamonds.

100% Eco-Friendly

Although this varies depending on the jewelry designer you choose to work with, many lab-created diamonds are ethical in more ways than one. All Mark Schneider engagement rings can be made with lab-created diamonds that are created in the USA, but that’s not all. All of Mark Schneider’s jewelry is crafted from reclaimed gold as well. In other words, the entire ring is ethically sound and ecologically friendly. You can feel good about the ring that will be on your finger for the rest of your life. Even beyond that, when a jewelry designer works with lab-created diamonds, it is often a sign that they have ethical designs across the board.

More Affordable

In addition to feeling good about the fact that you’re not harming the earth, you’ll also feel good knowing that you’re saving money. Although the figures vary depending on the type, design, and cut, lab-created diamonds are generally 20-30% less expensive than their mined counterparts. The truth is that the stones are ethical and identical. The affordability of lab-created is merely a bonus. However, if you are strapped for cash or trying to save money for your wedding but don’t want to sacrifice quality, then lab-created diamonds are the perfect solution. Regardless of your budget or taste, there is guaranteed to be a lab-created diamond that is perfect for you. After all, they’re the real deal.