Do Lab-Grown Diamonds Last Forever?

You know it, we know it, everyone knows it — diamonds are forever. That branding slogan, created in 1948 to help boost sales of engagement rings following the Great Depression, is one of the most universally known and successful ad campaigns of all time. It makes sense, not just because a diamond is one of the strongest substances in the world, but also because we desire love to be just like diamonds — so strong that it lasts forever. If you’re considering making the switch to a lab-created diamond, you may be wondering if they will hold up to the old adage of lasting forever. In this blog, we’ll put your worries to bay as we explain exactly why grown diamonds do indeed last forever.

Lab-grown diamonds are as tough, durable, and chip-resistant as mined diamonds

Diamonds, formed from pure carbon, are regarded as one of the world’s strongest materials because they rank at the top of the Moh’s Scale. This is a qualitative scale that characterizes scratch resistance of various minerals. Whether a diamond is created in a lab or in the Earth’s crust, it shares the exact same chemical, optical, and physical properties. In the case of testing durability, having the same chemical and physical properties is the most relevant since the reason for a diamond’s strength lies in its molecular structure. So in short, the setting in which the diamond was created is simply insignificant in determining how long it will last. If you’re interested in learning about this more in-depth, you can read this blog we wrote on the durability of lab-grown diamonds.

Lab-grown diamonds offer a unique, conflict-free legacy to pass on

One of the major reasons the mining industry has been so successful with their “Diamonds are forever” campaign is because it hints at the value of a legacy that can be enjoyed for generations to come. Fair enough — we agree that it’s a beautiful tradition to pass on beloved, sentimental jewelry to our loved ones.

However, lab-created diamonds offer a legacy that you can actually feel good about passing on. As we’ve covered in previous blogs, the mining industry is riddled with problems, both for the environment and for workers alike. From the civil war conflicts in the 1990s to the issue with child laborers both in mines and polishing/cutting factories, through to the decline of Earth’s natural resources — the journey of a mined diamond is murky at best. Even with a Kimberley Process certificate, there are certain unknowns about the diamond’s legacy thanks to widely-acknowledged gaps in the certification process.

Lab-grown diamonds, however, are not just ethically made — they’re also better for the environment thanks to being produced in a controlled environment. In the case of mined diamond, “roughly 200 to 250 tons of earth must be mined and sifted through to find 1 carat of diamond — not to mention the water and fossil fuels required to complete the job.”

Are you ready to make the switch to the most affordable, beautiful, ethically-made lab-grown diamond that will indeed last forever?