Diamonds have been a girl’s best friend for as long as we can remember, but with the rise of conscious living, there has been a shift in the traditional market. Lab-grown diamonds could be the answer to how to have beautiful bling without the sometimes controversial origins of the most famous gemstones. 
Ring set with a 0.51 carat lab diamond and green tourmaline
Man-made diamonds have been around since the 1950s, but they have only recently become popular. This may have something to do with the perceived differences between lab-grown and natural diamonds. Some of the differences are perfectly reasonable, while others are a bit far-fetched. But where does the truth lie in these assumptions, and how can we decide between the two?
The most influential factor in the original hype was the marketing of diamonds by De Beers in the early 1900s. The diamond was romanticized to make it an extremely desirable object. They created an expectation among consumers that it was the most superior gemstone there was. And in many ways this thought is justified, as a high quality, well cut diamond sparkles like no other and due to its hardness (a perfect 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness) is an excellent and durable gemstone for everyday wear. However, the price is increasing dramatically and since it is a scarce commodity, this is unlikely to come down anytime soon.
The perfect way to 'cheat' this system was to ethically create the gemstone in a lab. Over the past few decades, this process has been perfected and made widely available.
IGI report with unique specifications
There are essentially two methods to create them: HPHT (high pressure, high temperature) and CVD (chemical vapor deposition). Each process results in diamonds with different specific qualities and takes several weeks to complete. After growth, they can be graded and cut according to the customer's wishes. Many grown diamonds over 0.3 carats are laser engraved with a unique certificate number and an accompanying report.
So besides the process, how else are they different? The answer is simple: they are not. Today, there is no way to tell a man-made diamond from a natural diamond once they are finished. The only way to tell the difference is by examining the structure of the atoms. So not only are they the exact same quality as natural diamonds, but they are also much more attractive financially. The choice is completely up to you!
Bespoke ring with certificate