Jeweller shares images of two almost identical diamond rings, but one is £500 cheaper… can you tell them apart?
All recommendations within this article are informed by expert editorial opinion. If you click on a link in this story we may earn affiliate revenue.
A JEWELLER has claimed that diamonds grown in laboratories are "exactly the same" as ones that have been earth mined.
Gary Ingram, CEO of has shared two images of near identical diamond rings - one from a lab and one traditionally mined - to prove that there's "no difference", apart from the price, with the lab diamond being £500 cheaper.
Speaking to the , he explained: "Laboratory diamonds are diamonds, and as such contain the same physical, optical and chemical properties as that of earth mined diamonds, with the only difference in the process and place of growth.
"Laboratory grown diamonds are cut and polished by the same craftsmen as earth mined diamonds.
"There is no visible difference between them that any jeweller can discern, they're identical. They can only be identified using highly specialised equipment found in laboratories."
He also explained that lab created diamonds are better for the environment and more ethically grown.
This is thought to be because the energy needed to transform diamonds from carbon is "negligible" in comparison to the power used to mine the jewels.
Added to that, the diamond expert also claims a lab grown diamond could be better clarity, explaining that earth mined gems often contain specks of carbon (also referred to as inclusions).
And with lab grown diamonds being cheaper - essentially you could get a 50 per cent larger stone for your money - Gary thinks they'll become especially popular with savvy young buyers.
But money conscious, ethically minded millennials aren't the only ones to be taking advantage of the jewels.
Meghan Markle was recently spotted wearing a pair of Kimai earrings which featured lab grown stones while Leonardo DiCaprio is also a fan and has even invested in lab jewellery business, Diamond Foundry.
Could you tell the two stones apart?
MOST READ IN FABULOUS
In other fashion news, we told you Boohoo is looking for mystery shoppers who will get £150 and can KEEP all the clothes they buy.
We also revealed Primark is selling Mulan pjs ahead of the film’s release next year and shoppers can’t wait to snap them up.
And we showed you one woman has created an Instagram account dedicated to clothes her boyfriend hates – but followers say they’d ‘love to go shopping with her’.