Diamonds have been favored for centuries as the go-to engagement ring stones. This is a major trend even today, to the point where such a jewelry piece even sounds like a cliche. The first custom diamond engagement ring was presented by Austrian Archduke Maximillian to Mary Burgundy at the end of the 15th century. Since then, this jewelry piece first gained traction among the rich and in the second half of the 20th century – among commoners.
However, something has changed in the diamond market in recent years. We are talking about the creation of lab diamonds. Researchers made a major breakthrough in the mid-1950s by creating the first batch of these stones under laboratory conditions. Even though researchers knew well before that diamonds are 100% pure carbon, some technical capabilities hadn’t allowed them to recreate these stones for a long time in the lab (the actual attempts to create synthetic diamonds started as early as the end of the 18th century). The first gem-quality pieces became available in the 1970s to the chosen few, while their emergence in the market is associated with the 1980s. However, it wasn’t until just several years ago that synthetic stones became more or less popular with the general population. Nowadays, lab-grown stones constitute about one-fifth of the global diamond trade.
The technology behind synthetic diamond creation is quite complex and involves a great deal of pressure (about 800,000 psi) and heat (up to 2,900 degrees Fahrenheit). A small piece of an existing diamond (the so-called “seed”) is placed in carbon material which begins to form layers of actual stone on top of the seed under extreme conditions. Although this process was first used to create diamonds for technical purposes, it became more widespread in the jewelry industry over time.
Lab diamond crystals selection process
Some customers mistakenly believe that lab-grown diamonds are somehow less valuable than naturally occurring stones. It’s true that they are cheaper but it doesn’t mean that their quality is subpar. On the contrary, artificial diamonds may have fewer defects than natural ones and do not ever have inclusions. Furthermore, it is much easier to create colored diamonds with this technology than to source rough diamonds with a desirable color. Plus, if you aren’t a jewelry expert, it’s very hard to tell synthetic diamonds from the natural ones (and even then, you might need some advanced tools like spectroscopy).
It’s up to you whether to choose lab-created diamond engagement rings. Some argue this is the most sustainable option as it doesn’t involve mining. Others raise concerns about excessive energy consumption associated with synthetic stone production. Both points have some merit, however, one thing remains clear: human lab creations are no less special and beautiful than natural ones and can be used in engagement jewelry in a really meaningful way.
By the way, your engagement rings may not just contain diamonds. If you want to mix things up, other gemstones are a good way to do it. A sophisticated moonstone, a noble aquamarine, or a fiery ruby are some of the options. Just remember that your stones should match the exquisiteness of the king of stones.
For a custom engagement ring, people commonly choose an elegant, classic, and sometimes vintage design with smooth gentle lines. To this day, a round solitaire ring remains a timeless classic. The second most popular style is halo pieces that feature a large oval diamond encircled by some smaller stones. Less popular options include three-stone and minimalistic pieces. The former celebrates a couple’s commitment to their relationship in the past, present, and future, while the latter emphasizes simple beauty that gets easily overlooked nowadays because of all the flashy stuff and wow effects. If you want to stand out from the crowd with something edgier and more modern-looking, you could explore other options and create your own concept for an engagement ring. The Olertis Jewelry team is here for you to make your custom engagement jewelry truly special and something your future spouse simply wouldn’t be able to resist.
