A diamond engagement ring is the ultimate symbol of emotional commitment to a marriage and can be a family heirloom that will be treasured for generations. You may have heard that the diamonds for the rings can now be grown in a laboratory rather than mined. Which type is best for an engagement ring?

Lab-grown diamonds

Lab-grown diamonds are exactly the same material as natural diamonds — they are in no way fake or an imitation. They look the same and do not fade or become cloudy over time, so they will look just as good on an engagement ring.

However, they have the advantage of being sustainable. Mining can have a damaging effect on the environment and is ultimately an unsustainable form of production. Many people will feel uncomfortable wearing an engagement ring if they think it was not produced in an eco-friendly way. There are also ethical problems associated with the production of diamonds which may not be in keeping with the emotional investment in an engagement ring.

Against this, it is worth remembering that ethically sourced natural diamonds are widely available nowadays and that standards in the mining industry are constantly improving. It is also true that the production of diamonds in a laboratory can itself use a lot of energy and have a large carbon footprint.

Mined diamonds

The main advantage of a mined diamond is that it is natural. Although a lab-grown diamond is chemically and structurally the same, your intended may place a higher value on a diamond that took millions of years to form.

You should also bear in mind that although an engagement ring with a lab-grown diamond will have the same emotional impact and keep the same memories, it may not hold its financial value. As laboratory techniques become more efficient and less expensive, the diamonds themselves will become more widespread and cheaper. A ring with a mined diamond by contrast is likely to hold and even increase its value.

You may also find that there are more designs available for natural diamonds, which can be important if you want your engagement ring to be unique. This is because the technology for lab-grown diamonds is relatively new so the diamonds themselves are still in short supply compared to natural stones.

Conclusion

The decision to use a natural or artificial diamond for your engagement ring depends on your feelings and those of your intended! Contact a jeweller today if you have any questions.