Here are some key distinctions between Lab-Grown Diamonds (Lab Stone/man created) and Natural Diamonds (Mined Diamond) that you won't typically find in online descriptions (When examined under 14x loupe)
1. Appearance under 14x Magnification: Lab-Grown Diamonds - Lab-grown stones may appear slightly darker under 14x magnification, particularly when their cut proportions are less than ideal. This darkness can be attributed to suboptimal light transmission caused by improper angles. Generally, many diamond factories struggle to achieve the right proportions needed for a brighter appearance.
Natural Diamonds - Natural diamonds, even with less-than-ideal proportions, often maintain better light transmission, allowing them to appear brighter under the same magnification.
2. Blueish or Milky Appearance: Lab-Grown Diamonds - Some labstone may display a subtle blueish milky appearance, which can be observable under 14x magnification or even to the naked eye. However, it's worth noting that natural diamonds can also exhibit milky appearances on occasion.
Natural Diamonds - While mined diamonds can have milky appearances, they typically lack the pronounced blueish hue seen in some lab-grown diamonds.
3. Inclusion Location: Lab-Grown Diamonds - Inclusions in lab-grown stone may sometimes appear on the diamond's surface, even if they are actually situated deeper within the stone. This can be misleading when examining the diamond face-up under a 14x loupe.
Natural Diamonds - In mined diamonds, the location of inclusions can often be determined by examining the stone face-up under a 14x loupe. Deeper inclusions are generally more challenging to discern in this manner.
4. Black Colored Crystal Cavities: Lab-Grown Diamonds - Labstone may exhibit small, isolated black-colored crystal cavities as inclusions, which can be more prevalent compared to natural diamonds.
Natural Diamonds - While mined diamonds can have various inclusions, they may not exhibit the same concentration of black-colored crystal cavities.
5. Naked Eye Distinction: Both Lab-Grown and Natural Diamonds - It's important to note that, with the naked eye alone, it is often extremely challenging to differentiate between a natural diamond and a lab stone. Many of the subtle distinctions mentioned above become apparent primarily under higher magnification.
6. Gemstone Testers: A natural diamond scores a perfect 10 on the Mohs scale, and a man created diamonds also achieve this top rating, making them the closest match to mined diamonds. Neither cubic zirconia nor moissanite comes as close to replicating the characteristics of a natural diamond as labxstone do.
These distinctions are valuable for gemologists and professionals in the diamond industry but may not be readily discernible to the average consumer without specialized equipment. When choosing a diamond, factors such as budget, personal preferences, and ethical considerations are often more critical than these nuanced differences between man made and natural diamonds.