LAB-GROWN DIAMONDS, there’s been a lot of talk of them of late, but what exactly are they, how are they produced, and commonly asked, are they real diamonds?
It’s a minefield—or not, when it comes to these precious stones. In short, lab-grown diamonds are just as ‘real’ as natural diamonds, offering the same physical and chemical properties. They also have the same grading system that takes into account shape, size, colour and clarity, and they even come with diamond certifications.
What’s more, they’re a purse-friendly option, and importantly, as they are machine-made rather than mined from the earth, there are huge environmental and ethical advantages; with all these pluses it’s easy to see why buyers are increasingly opting for these diamonds.
One brand leading the lab-grown way is idyl—a jewellery label that its Co-Founder, Ornella Siso calls trustworthy, transparent, and democratic as it uses sustainable, traceable materials to produce ethically crafted pieces. At the heart of the brand is environmental responsibility to offer modern, stylish luxury that celebrates ethical choices.
What are lab-created diamonds and their production process?
A diamond is undeniably a remarkable object. It is made of pure carbon, compressed under extreme pressure and heat, transforming into a unique stone. Recreating the conditions in which diamonds naturally grow, creates lab-grown diamonds identical to their natural equivalent. What takes the earth millions of years can be achieved in a matter of weeks in a lab.
How are they sustainable?
We are a diamond jewellery brand with sustainable principles at our core. By using renewable energy during the manufacturing process, we significantly reduce the impact of each idyl piece on the planet.
We can offer full transparency in the provenance of our cultivated diamonds; from the moment they are conceived, to the cutters and graders hand selecting the finest diamonds, through to our local diamond setters and polishers, we master the complete process.
idyl’s lab-grown diamonds offer an alternative to naturally mined diamonds as they are chemically, physically and optically identical but come guilt-free. And without compromise.
Do you use the standard grading system?
Lab-grown diamonds use the same grading mechanism as natural diamonds. At idyl, we pride ourselves in using the best quality as every diamond is verified using the world-renowned International Diamond Grading System and the famous 4Cs to ensure your diamond has a sparkle of the best quality and clarity.
All diamonds are hand-checked by the in-house Certified Diamond Graders and come with a certificate of authenticity. We are proud to say we solely work with the highest quality lab-grown diamonds on the market for the ultimate sparkle with the colour: DEF, clarity: VS+, and the cut: excellent.
Can you tell us about the gold that it used too?
Alongside our ethically made diamonds, we only use certified ‘green’ traceable solid gold (not vermeil or plated gold) that comes from conflict-free regions. Solid gold is used for endurance and shine so you can wear your jewellery on the daily for many years to come without tarnishing.
by Felicity Carter