When we think about diamonds, most of us imagine stones forged deep in the earth for millions of years. However, due to increasing environmental concerns over mined gems, more and more people are choosing more reasonably priced man-made stones instead.
A beautifully cut diamond is a joy to behold, and traditionally, it has been a token of love and commitment. Unfortunately, most people don’t realize the impact that mining these gems has on the Earth. It can require the removal of as much as a ton or rock and earth to recover a single one-carat stone. Open pit mining is definitely not a joy to behold. It leaves a tragic and ugly scar upon a once beautiful landscape.
Unfortunately, open pit mining is much more than merely unpleasant to look at. It destroys the local ecosystem and causes a great deal of serious pollution, affecting local flora and fauna as well as humans. Cyanide and mercury are used to free diamonds from their rock casings, and these chemicals are released in large quantities into local rivers and streams. Fortunately, man-made diamonds are an environmentally friendly option now available to those who would like to have their diamonds without guilt over the environment.
Created stones are produced in the controlled environment of a lab. A diamond seed is placed in a carbon environment, heated and pressurized, and allowed to grow “molecule by molecule” just as it would deep down in the Earth’s crust. The only resource used in lab creation is a small amount of electricity. No harmful products like cyanide or mercury are involved, no tearing apart the earth is required, and no local residents have to suffer, as occurs in some of the diamond mines. Up to four percent of the total mined supply of these gems is composed of conflict or “blood” diamonds, which are sold to fund acts of war and terrorism.
Diamond mining in countries like Canada still impacts the environment to some degree, but war and terrorism is not an issue. Also, Canadians have created much higher standards to protect the environment. Canadian mines are strictly regulated and carefully monitored. Most Canadian stones can be identified via a microscopic polar bear or maple leaf inscribed on the gem. While this certainly helps identify natural stones that are more eco-friendly, man made gems still have the most minimal effect on the environment.
Lab grown gems are genuine in every sense: they feature the same brilliance and sparkle of mined gems and are also identical physically, chemically and optically. They are even recognized and graded as diamonds by leading gemological laboratories. Furthermore, while colored “fancy” diamonds are rare in nature and extremely expensive, lab created gems in vibrant shades like pink, green, blue, yellow, and red cost about one-third less than their mined counterparts.
Cultured diamonds are so new that not many jewelry stores carry them yet. However, these lovely stones can be purchased through reputable companies online. No matter if you’re buying for yourself or purchasing a gift for a loved one, man made diamonds are a high quality, eco-friendly choice.
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