Lab-grown diamonds are expanding their share of the global diamond market. According to Statista, lab diamonds are forecast to have a market share of more than 21% by 2025. Compared to natural diamonds, lab-grown diamonds cost 60-70% of the price for comparable quality (Caratiny's products are sourced from the world's largest lab diamond production base, which offers better prices). In addition, consumers prefer the ethical and environmentally friendly production of laboratory diamonds.

There has also been a shift in how people think about buying diamond rings, with many now focusing more on pleasing themselves. In this article, we'll discuss some of the key points to keep in mind when customizing your lab ring to help you find the perfect piece of jewelry.

Article Catalog

1.Understanding Laboratory Diamonds

2.Defining needs

3.Choosing a Ring Style

4.Choose a reliable business.

5.Customization process

6.Maintenance

1. Understanding Laboratory Diamonds

Laboratory diamonds are grown in a laboratory environment by either the high temperature, high pressure (HPHT) method, or chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method, which mimics the formation of natural diamonds. They are virtually indistinguishable from natural diamonds in terms of physical and chemical properties, but are usually more affordable and feature environmentally friendly, conflict-free diamond sources.

2. Defining needs

Choosing diamond quality
The 4Cs—color, clarity, cut, and carat weight—are the universal criteria for assessing a diamond's quality.

Color

Diamond Color Grading:

D-F: Colorless, the highest grade, and the rarest and most expensive color.
G-J: Nearly colorless, very faint in color, and a high-quality choice.
K-M: Slightly yellowish, with a slight yellowish tint to the color.
N-R: Medium yellow, with a more pronounced yellow color.
S-Z: Deep yellow, rich and heavy color, belongs to the lower level.

Recommended Color Choices:

For those seeking the highest quality, a colorless diamond with a D-F grade is the best choice. Diamonds at this level are brilliant and highly valuable.
For those with a limited budget, a near-colorless diamond in the G-J range is a more cost-effective choice. They offer sufficient quality at a relatively affordable price.
For those who want to get a better value for their money, K-M diamonds with a slight yellow color are a good choice. Diamonds at this level are subtle in color and relatively inexpensive.
When choosing a diamond color, you should weigh your budget against your desire for quality. If you have the means, the higher the grade, the better. However, even if you choose a low to medium-grade diamond, as long as the cut and clarity are up to standard, you can still get a beautiful piece of diamond jewelry.

Clarity

FL (Flawless) The highest of the diamond clarity grades, where no internal or external flaws are visible when viewed under magnification.
IF (Internal Flawless) The diamond has no internal imperfections.
VVS1/VVS2 (Very, Very Slightly Included) The diamond has very minor internal inclusions that are extremely difficult to see.
VS1/VS2 (Very Slightly Included) The diamond has a few small internal inclusions that are not readily visible.
SI1/SI2 (Slightly Included) The diamond has some small internal inclusions that are noticeable upon close inspection.
I1/I2/I3 (Included) The diamond has visible internal inclusions that are easily seen.

Recommended:

For those who value the highest quality, a laboratory diamond with an IF or VVS grade is the best choice. These grades are virtually flawless internally, beautifully cut, and of excellent quality.
For those on a more limited budget, a VS-grade lab diamond is a good choice. The inclusions in this grade are so small that they are virtually indistinguishable from the naked eye, and the price is relatively affordable.
For everyday wearers, SI-grade lab diamonds are also a good choice. Inclusions at this level are slightly visible but usually do not detract from the overall beauty of the diamond. It is also relatively inexpensive.
When choosing the clarity of a diamond, you should weigh your budget against your desire for quality. Even if you choose low to medium clarity, you can still have beautiful diamond jewelry with a good cut.

Cut

Recommended Cut Options.

Excellent Cut.
This is the highest level of cut that maximizes the fire and brilliance of the diamond. Even slight imperfections in color and clarity can be compensated for with an excellent cut. It is the best choice for those who seek the ultimate in quality.
Very Good Cut.
This level of cut is also very good and brings out the full splendor of the diamond. For most people, the Very Good Cut is sufficient for everyday wear and is more cost-effective.
Good Cut.
This is an average cut but still gives a good visual effect. For those on a budget, the Good Cut is a good choice.
It is recommended that you choose the most appropriate cut level among these three levels, depending on your budget and the quality of the diamond you are looking for. Cut is one of the most critical factors that affect a diamond and should be taken very seriously.

Carat(weight)

0.30-0.50 Carat. Ideal for delicate jewelry, this size offers small, elegant diamond jewelry at a relatively low cost.
0.50-1 Carat. Ideal for everyday wear and a classic engagement ring diamond size, this size is not overly ostentatious but offers just the right amount of elegance.
1-2 Carat. Suitable for formal occasions, this size of diamond is more prominent in terms of visual impact and aura and is ideal for wearing formal dresses or fine jewelry.
2+ carat. It is ideal as a gift for anniversaries or special occasions.
Overall selection advice: choose jewelry sizes and shapes that are coordinated with body proportions, pay attention to the unity and coordination of the overall style of the accessories, and make choices based on personal preferences and aesthetic pursuits.

3. Choosing a Ring Style

Shapes and Styles:

Lab Cultured Diamonds offers a wide variety of shapes to choose from, ranging from classic rounds and princess squares to trendy ovals and pears.
For the most popular round brilliant cut, with its 58 facets offering unparalleled fire and brilliance, it's a favorite with consumers, accounting for more than 75% of the market.
The popular oval cut gives diamonds an elegantly elongated aesthetic that makes hands appear more slender.
The Princess cut, on the other hand, is visually striking with its sharp lines and angles that reflect the light, making it ideal for those who seek a square silhouette.
Depending on the style of the engagement ring, we can suggest some combinations.
Classic solitaire rings: round or cushion cuts
Halo rings: oval, pear, or marquise cuts
Cluster ring: round cut is best, other shapes are also compatible

Ring Material:

The most common materials are gold, platinum, and karat gold. Platinum is tough and resistant to fading, while 18K gold is hard and comes in a variety of colors.
The material used for the setting will affect the sensation of the diamond. For a colorless lab diamond, a white metal setting will work particularly well, with white gold and platinum both echoing the nobility of a colorless diamond.
Alternatively, consider two-tone or colored metals to add a unique character to your custom jewelry and make it stand out from the rest.

4. Choose a reliable business

Qualification:

Check whether the merchant has relevant gemstone identification qualifications, such as GIA (Gemological Institute of America), and IGI (International Gemological Institute) certification, to ensure that the quality of diamonds is guaranteed.

Word-of-mouth evaluation:

Search for online evaluations, ask friends and relatives about the credibility of the merchant and the quality of after-sales service, and choose a merchant with a good reputation.

Customized service details:

Ask the merchant whether they can provide personalized design, such as engraving, and unique ring shape; how long the customization cycle, generally 2 - 6 weeks is more reasonable.

5. Customization process

Communication design:

Fully communicate with the designer to exchange ideas, provide reference pictures, and describe the preferred style, according to the demand for customized diamond cut, and setting.

Production and processing:

Maintain communication during the customization process, and check the rendering to ensure that the final product meets your expectations.

Finished product inspection:

After receiving the finished product, check the overall appearance of the jewelry and the firmness of the diamond setting against the requirements of the order, and remember to check the information on the certificate such as IGI or GIA.

6. Maintenance

Daily cleaning:

Use gentle soapy water and a soft brush to brush diamond jewelry, remove surface oil and dust, rinse with water, and dry with a soft cloth.

Storage points:

Separate storage, avoid friction with other hard objects scratch, can use jewelry boxes, and cloth bags, to prevent oxidation and discoloration.

Regular inspection:

Check every once in a while to see if the diamond setting parts are loose, if there is any problem promptly send for repair, to ensure that the jewelry is as good as new for a long time.