What A Conscientious Consumer Needs To Know About Diamonds
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Lately, there’s been a drastic increase in society’s humanitarian and environmental consciousness in how people consume things, and it’s closely followed by the rise in demand for change in several industries. The diamond industry is not scathed free – as conscientious consumers are now increasingly inquisitive on the methods of procurement and production. They are paying more attention and asking more questions on the diamond products they are buying and the associated implications.
How Diamonds Are Mined From The Earth
To find out the effects of a diamond has to the environment, we’d have to first dive into detail on how diamonds are mined. Depending on the geographical locations, most diamonds are extracted via 2 methods: pipe mining and alluvial mining. Regardless of its approach, state-of-the-art technology and equipment are used to dig into the Earth’s surface to attain these gems.
There is also informal alluvial mining, also known as artisanal mining, which is an approach performed by hand. This process includes stripping the topsoil, which will leave the land stripped off from its nutrition. Furthermore, these lands are also heavily deforested, polluted and eroded. They are often small-scale operations that typically occur outside of the law, and may not conform to regulatory standards or safety practices. According to the World Diamond Council, 3.36% of the world’s diamonds are informally sourced. While most companies have stringent ethical and environmental standards in place, consumers might still have mixed feelings about mined diamonds as they seek to shop more consciously.
The Mined Diamond Alternative: Lab Grown Diamond
To assuage the guilty conscious and abide by their respective moral codes, consumers are looking into diamond alternatives. They want the sparkle and brilliance of a mined diamond, while still remaining eco-friendly – and there are options! Consider the alternative in the market right now: lab grown diamonds.
Lab grown diamonds, as their name suggests, are grown in strict and regulated environments. Diamond seeds are procured and later placed in either carbon-rich gas chambers or HPHT diamond machines to be exposed to the same geological environment as mined diamonds. This effectively promotes their growth as diamonds that are physically, chemically and optically identical to their mined counterparts.
Thus, these lab created diamonds not only come with significantly lower environmental risk and no mining involved, but they are just as captivating and stunning as mined diamonds – made from the same carbon material.
A Conscious Diamond Worth The Money
Now that we know that lab created diamonds are not as detrimental to the miners and the environment, it begs the question of whether this conscious diamond is worth to be included in your jewellery collection.
As we’ve touched on before, lab grown diamonds are physically, chemically and optically similar to mined diamonds. For instance, a lab created diamond scores a 10 on the Mohs scale, making it a perfect everyday jewellery item to accompany your outfits as it can withstand the daily wear and tear. This also means they’re the ideal jewellery to keep your legacy going as a family heirloom, seeing as how they can easily last for a lifetime.
Think about how your engagement ring holds great significance and memory; it would be a sentimental piece that you’d wish to carry for decades to come. Diamonds make the best stone for a long-lasting jewellery piece that you can pass on from one generation to the next, and you can even pass on the value of being eco-friendly with the choice of lab grown diamonds.
These attributes are even more appealing if you consider their price points. A 1 carat lab grown diamond cost can easily amount to that of a 0.4 carat mined diamond – so essentially, you’d be paying half the price for a bigger stone! And just like mined diamonds, you can also refer to the 4C diamond grading rubric as a guide when choosing the ideal lab grown diamond.
Final Thoughts
Bear in mind that not all mined diamonds are shrouded in humanitarian and environmental exploitation. There are diamond corporations that limit their carbon footprints and strive to procure diamonds ethically. While you can be well-informed of the diamonds you’re purchasing, lab grown diamonds certainly offers greater advantages and a peace of mind when it comes to being environmentally friendly.
During this period of time, our virtual concierge service is available through our website to offer one-to-one consultation. You can speak to our friendly jewellery consultant for assistance in your diamond jewellery shopping. Don’t miss our current promotion – enjoy 7% off storewide for all Star Carat products until the end of May! You can also stand to receive an additional $50 off your purchase when you make a virtual consultation with us.
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