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Lab Grown Diamond
Gemstone Birthstone
Garnet Birthstone
Aquamarine Birthstone
Emerald Birthstone
Ruby Birthstone
Peridot Birthstone
Sapphire Birthstone
Opal Birthstone
Tanzanite Birthstone
Natural Diamond
Amethyst Birthstone
Diamond Birthstone
Topaz Birthstone
Pearl Birthstone
Lab-grown diamonds, also known as synthetic or cultured diamonds, are diamonds created in a controlled lab environment using advanced technology. They have the same properties as natural diamonds but are more environmentally friendly and ethically produced. They offer excellent value and come with quality certificates. Lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds and are virtually indistinguishable from mined diamonds. The choice between lab-grown and natural diamonds depends on personal preference.
Environmental Friendly
Diamond mining harms the environment, but efforts have been made to reduce the impact. Lab-grown diamonds provide a greener alternative to mined ones.
Ethical
Blood or conflict diamonds, mined unethically and exploiting workers, have faced criticism. The Kimberley Process, established in 2003, aims to address these issues, but blood diamonds remain in circulation.
Beauty & Quality
Lab-grown diamonds have the same optical, chemical and physical properties as naturally mined diamonds. They look the same, are made under the same condition and cannot be differentiated by sight no matter how close the scrutiny.
Value
Synthetic diamonds offer value and are more affordable than natural diamonds of the same quality. They are not cheap, but their production costs are similar to mined diamonds. Lab-grown diamonds are more affordable due to their shorter supply chain.
Yes. Lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds, just like mined diamonds. The conditions that create naturally occurring diamonds deep in the earth are recreated in a lab and the same end product is produced.
According to mined diamonds geologists, diamonds formed deep within the Earth between 1 billion to 3 billion years ago. The process begins with carbon dioxide buried roughly 100 miles beneath the Earth’s surface.
The carbon dioxide is exposed to intense heat and put under extreme pressure. The diamonds are formed during these processes and then transported to the earth’s surface from deep within its core by way of deep volcanic explosions.
There are two processes used to make diamonds in the lab and both are similar to the way diamonds are naturally formed.
An HPHT diamond begins as a small diamond seed placed into carbon. Using the production process above, the seed is exposed to extreme temperatures and pressure. The pure carbon melts and begins to form a diamond around the starter seed. It then cools to form a pure carbon diamond.
A CVD diamond begins as a thin slice of diamond seed. The seed is placed in a sealed chamber and heated to about 800 degrees Celsius. The chamber is then filled with a carbon rich-gas, like Methane, and other gases. The gases are ionized into plasma using technology similar to that of lasers. The ionization breaks down the molecular bonds in the gases, and the pure carbon sticks to the diamond seed and slowly crystallizes.
Yes. Lab-grown diamonds have the same physical and chemical properties as natural diamonds and look exactly the same. The only way they can be told apart is by using special laboratory equipment.
Lab-grown diamonds display exactly the same chemical, optical and physical characteristics as natural diamonds. Both natural and lab-grown diamonds exhibit the same fire, scintillation, and sparkle.
Lab-grown diamonds are impossible to differentiate from natural diamonds even when a jewelry loupe is used for scrutiny. In stores, they always come with a gem certification tagging them as laboratory grown.
The chart below illustrates the similarities between lab-grown and natural diamonds:
PROPERTIES | LAB GROWN DIAMOND | MINED DIAMOND | DIFFERENCE |
---|---|---|---|
Chemical Composition | 100% Carbon | 100% Carbon | No |
Reflective Rate | 2.42 | 2.42 | No |
Reflective Diversity | 3.52 | 3.52 | No |
Colour Diffusion | 0.044 | 0.044 | No |
Hardness | 90 GPA | 90 GPA | No |
Thermal Conductivity | 2xl03 W/M/K |
2xl03 W/M/K |
No |
Thermal Expansion | 0.80 x |0.6K |
0.80 x |0.6K |
No |
Transparency | Deep UV to Far TR | Deep UV to Far TR | No |
Resistivity | |0|6 CHM-CM | |0|6 CHM-CM | No |
Compressibility | 8.3 X |0.3 M2/N | 8.3 X |0.3 M2/N | No |
Yes. Just as natural diamonds are born with different colors, inclusions and sizes, lab-grown diamonds also come in all forms with varying qualities.
Yes. Just like natural diamonds, lab-grown diamonds come with a diamond certificate.
No. Lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds.
Just like ice formed in a glacier (natural) has the same chemical properties as the ice in your freezer (synthetic), natural and synthetic diamonds are both diamonds, sharing the exact same optical, physical, and chemical composition.
Whatever type of diamond you decide to buy – lab-grown or natural - we promise you luxury with confidence. What’s important is picking a beautiful piece of jewelry that speaks to your person.
Gemstone jewellery refers to jewellery pieces that incorporate various types of gemstones. Gemstones are naturally occurring minerals prized for their beauty, rarity, and durability. They come in a wide range of colours, shapes, and sizes, making them highly sought after for use in jewellery.
Gemstone jewellery can feature a single gemstone as a focal point, such as a solitaire diamond in an engagement ring, or it can combine multiple gemstones to create intricate designs. Common gemstones in jewellery include diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, amethysts, topaz, and many others.
gemstone jewellery is often worn for both decorative and symbolic purposes, and it can be passed down as heirlooms or gifted on special occasions.
Each month is associated with a specific gemstone believed to have unique properties and significance. So whether you're looking to treat yourself or give a special gift to someone you love, birthstone jewellery is a perfect choice. Abelini offers a wide selection of stunning birthstone pieces perfect for any occasion. From classic and timeless designs to modern and trendy styles, we have something for everyone. Our birthstone jewellery collection includes a variety of styles and designs, from dainty and delicate pieces to bold and statement-making necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings. We use only the highest quality materials to create beautiful and durable jewellery. Our selection of birthstone jewellery makes the perfect gift for birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, or any special occasion. So whether you're looking for a unique and personal gift for a loved one or want to treat yourself to something special, our birthstone jewellery collection is a perfect choice.
Garnet is thought to bring vitality to anyone born in January and is commonly worn by Capricorn and Aquarius zodiac signs. The traditional gemstone is a guiding light for the Aries sign as well. As a birthstone, it is meant to boost confidence while taking away negative thoughts and feelings, allowing you to live life to the fullest.
Garnets are made by the same forces that create diamonds. Wherever enough pressure and heat is applied to silica minerals, you will likely find garnets. As they are made in similar conditions, garnets often signify that diamonds can be mined in the area.
Pyrope and almandine - these garnets come in a range of rich reds and regal purple hues
Spessartine - from fiery oranges to sunshine yellows, these garnets bring warmth
Andradite - these garnets range from yellow to vibrant green tones
Grossular - these have the largest range of colours and can be red, orange, yellow and green
More recently, the lotus garnet has been discovered. Found in 2015, it has a unique blend of pink and orange that is captivating. They were found in Tanzania and are rare finds.
Aquamarine is a beautiful gemstone cut from the mineral beryl in the green-blue to blue variety. It's a stunning stone known for its large size and cleanliness. The durability of aquamarine makes it particularly valuable to jewellers, while its well-formed structure makes it attractive to collectors of mineral specimens.
Aquamarine is a very rare stone, especially in its colour and source. Its rarity, size, high quality and long history as a gem make it a desirable stone too. However, it's also expensive. Much more expensive than a common stone such as blue topaz, it’s worth every penny due to its rich history and beautiful colour.
When styling aquamarine jewellery, it’s very hard to go wrong. Such a beautiful gem with delicate colour compositions tends to be very complementary. However, we advise avoiding wearing it every day and saving it for special occasions instead. Aquamarine is not made to withstand the bumps, knocks and wear and tear of day-to-day life, so we don’t recommend it for an engagement ring.
Emerald is one of the most popular gemstones in the world today. It is a beautiful green gem, and it is considered to be the May birthstone. The name “emerald” comes from the Greek word “smaragdos” which means “green gem”, and it is often used as a symbol of wealth, abundance, love and passion, success and wisdom. Emeralds have been associated with many different cultures over the years across the globe. In this article, we delve a bit deeper into the emerald birthstone, including the history of the birthstone and its characteristics, the symbolism and modern uses of emeralds and how to choose a quality emerald.
You must know what to look for when shopping for an emerald and how to test it if you want to buy a quality stone. The first thing you should look at when evaluating an emerald is its colour and clarity. Emeralds come in many shades of green, ranging from light to dark green. Generally speaking, the lighter the shade, the higher the price. Also, an emerald with good clarity will have less haziness or cloudiness and reflect light easily to appear bright and sparkling.
Ruby, the July birthstone, is a gemstone that has been treasured for thousands of years. It's no wonder that ruby is the traditional gift for those born in July. This beautiful red stone is not only a symbol of passion and love, but it also symbolises strength and confidence. The deep red colour of the jewel has commonly been associated with blood and the power of life itself. With its rich red colour and natural brilliance, ruby makes an elegant, meaningful gift for those born under the sign of Cancer or Leo. This birthstone could be made into any type of jewellery or decorative piece for your home. In this article, we explore everything about the ruby birthstone, including its history, characteristics and how to look after a ruby birthstone.
Choosing a quality ruby is all about looking for the right colour. The ruby must be neither dark nor light to be considered the finest quality. The best colour for ruby is an intense red with a hint of blue, but it should not have any hint of yellow or brown.
The birthstone for those born in August is peridot. This is a glorious green jewel and is actually rare in that it only comes in one colour. The name peridot actually originates from the Arabic word ‘fairdot’ which means gem. It is the perfect gift for anyone with a birthday in August as it has symbolism of prosperity and good fortune. This is a meaningful present for anyone born in the summer month and shows the thought behind your gift. Necklaces, rings and bracelets are great options for August-born loved ones. Read on to find out more about why these gems make such perfect gifts for your loved ones or even just as accessories for yourself.
Peridot jewellery, including rings, necklaces, earrings and bracelets, is the perfect addition to any outfit. A pear cut can be hung from a necklace dazzlingly, while an emerald cut looks perfect set into a bracelet or as earrings. These can be incorporated in a vintage style or art deco design. They can also work beautifully in modern, contemporary styles or minimalist looks with simple chains.
To find the best peridot gems, there are a few factors to look at, including colour, cut, and clarity. The simplest way to find the perfect gem is by eye. You should check for any visible imperfections to find gems of high clarity. The cut refers to the shape and cutting style – for peridot, emerald cuts are generally the best to accentuate the colour.
The sapphire has been a coveted gemstone for many centuries, and it is not difficult to see why. They exude class and elegance in their exquisite appearance - sapphire rings have long been associated with royalty. There are various settings for sapphire rings, and the stones themselves come in many cuts and shapes. The rings can be made from a range of different precious metals to create the right effect.
Sapphires are actually considerably rarer than diamonds, hence the reason why royalty tends to choose sapphire engagement rings over diamond ones. Read on to learn all you need to know about sapphires and how to buy a sapphire ring that will be loved for a lifetime and beyond.
Wearing a sapphire ring is about much more than simply putting it on your finger. They possess a rich blue colour and are certain to draw the gaze of onlookers with their stunning appearance no matter the size or cut. Sapphires pair well with other gemstones like diamonds, so they can produce a unique variation on the traditional engagement ring or be worn as part of an ensemble of jewellery.
As October's traditional birthstone, opal is believed to be a precious and powerful symbol of love, with the ability to promote romance, passion and hope. Both extremely valuable black and more common white opals have been seen as romantic and celebratory gifts worldwide for thousands of years, from Cleopatra to Queen Victoria. Alongside being a birthstone, opal is also a customary 14th wedding anniversary gift, further reflecting this stone's romantic history and precious nature.
Over the decades, there have been many beliefs surrounding opals. As a gem once known as a way to view the future, it's no surprise that one of the most significant benefits of opal covers the health and care of the eyes and vision. Other suggested benefits include aiding in blood purification, boosting memory, improving immunity and handling symptoms related to PMS and similar health concerns.
Tanzanite is a relatively new gemstone on the market, having only been discovered in 1967. However, its interesting origin story and rich blue colour have made it an instant hit with jewellers and buyers alike. It is a semi-precious stone that comes from the zoisite mineral. Its stunning blue comes from a small amount of vanadium present in the mineral.
It is completely unique as it is a pleochroic gem. If you view it from different directions and under different lights, the stone will change colour. It rates at 6.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, making it more delicate than stones like rubies and emeralds.
One of the first things to consider when you are buying tanzanite jewellery is its durability. At 6.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, it is not as strong as other popular gemstones. It is far more likely to scratch than a sapphire or a diamond, so you should bear this in mind before you make your purchase. While this may be fine for earrings and necklaces, it will be harder to keep tanzanite rings free of wear and tear.
The best investment for tanzanite jewellery is a piece with excellent colour clarity and a high-quality cutting grade. As a stone, tanzanite is almost crystal clear. This means you can easily see any imperfections. The higher the clarity, the more expensive the piece.
What Is Natural Diamond
A natural diamond is a mineral composed of carbon that has been formed deep within the Earth's mantle under high pressure and temperature conditions. It is the hardest known substance and has a cubic crystal structure. Diamonds are prized for their exceptional clarity, brilliance, and durability, making them highly valuable gemstones.
Natural diamonds are typically formed over billions of years through a process called carbon crystallisation. This process occurs when carbon atoms are subjected to intense heat and pressure deep within the Earth, around 90 to 120 miles below the surface. The carbon atoms bond together in a crystal lattice structure, resulting in the formation of a diamond.
The 4cs Of Diamonds
Diamond Clarity
Clarity grades assess the number, size, relief, and position of inclusions and blemishes.
Diamond Color
Lesser the colour, the higher the grade of the diamond. Even the slightest hint of colour can make a dramatic difference in the value.
Diamond-Cut
Cut (proportions, symmetry, and polish) is a measure of how a diamond’s facets interact with light.
Diamond Carat Weight
Rarity means larger diamonds of the same quality are worth more per carat.
Diamond Shape
Clarity grades assess the number, size, relief, and position of inclusions and blemishes.
Diamond Certification
Clarity grades assess the number, size, relief, and position of inclusions and blemishes.
Gemstones offer many healing and spiritual powers, so it's not hard to see why they've become popular in recent years. If you're interested in crystals and what they represent or simply love to wear bold jewellery, then you should know about amethyst. As one of the most popular crystals, amethyst would make a great addition to your collection. Read on for our extensive guide to amethyst below.
What Does An Amethyst Birthstone Say About You?
As amethyst is a beautiful gemstone that offers spirit protection, wisdom and love to whoever is wearing it, we can assume that having amethyst as a birthstone has some positive connotations. Not only does the amethyst birthstone provide benefits such as wellness, clarity and strength - which can impact numerous parts of your life, such as your relationships, your career and your passions - but it can also say a lot about you.
If your birthstone is amethyst, we can infer that you are gentle, kind and intelligent. People with the amethyst birthstone are often highly spiritual too.
The traditional birthstone of April is the diamond. For those born in the month, a diamond is thought to offer better relationships and increased inner strength. Further, diamonds provide clarity and balance for those born in April. Many consider the first discovery of diamonds to have been in India over 2,500 years ago. At the time, they were enjoyed in their natural state since there was no way to cut and polish them as we can today. In the modern day, diamonds can be naturally mined from areas including South Africa, Australia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Angola.
How To Choose A Quality Diamond?
Diamonds are graded in four main areas: cut, clarity, carat and colour. You should be aware of each scale to ensure you get the best. For example, clarity is how many irregularities there are. Higher colour grades mean a clearer and brighter diamond. Each factor is important in choosing a high-quality diamond.
Topaz is a precious stone that comes from a rare silicate material. It is known to occur in a range of countries, including Brazil, Madagascar and the United States. Topaz is used in all types of jewellery, including rings, pendant necklaces and earrings. This is because it is durable, affordable and available in a vast array of colours.
One of the reasons for the popularity of topaz is that it is November’s original birthstone. It is the gemstone associated with the Scorpio Zodiac sign. A topaz stone is an emblem for love and affection. Wearing it in a piece of jewellery is meant to bestow increased intellect and strength upon the wearer.
What Colour Is Topaz Stone?
Topaz is a versatile stone that can take on a selection of colours. These are created either by naturally occurring impurities or by treatment with radiation or heat. You can find natural topaz in shades of red, orange, yellow, pink, purple and blue. Topaz is most commonly found without any colour, and this is the cheapest option.
The pearl birthstone is a symbol of purity and innocence. Pearls are widely appreciated in the fashion scene and are often given as gifts or wedding presents due to their positive connotation. Since pearls are naturally occurring, it is hard to say who first found them. However, it is most likely that they were first found by ancient tribes whilst looking for food. They have been used historically as far back as the Egyptian and Roman periods when they were used as decoration.
Pearls have retained their popularity over the years, with some of the most famous including the Hope Pearl, La Peregrina and the Abernathy Pearl. They are admired due to their links to femininity, purity and peace. They are also often compared to the moon.
How To Choose A Quality Pearl?
There are a few factors that affect the quality of a pearl, including:
Lustre – Good quality lustre means you should be able to see your reflection on the surface of the pearl. If it looks dull, then it has a low lustre.
Shape – You cannot expect perfect spheres since pearls are created naturally. Therefore, finding those which are as rounded as possible is positive. However, some of those with unusual shapes are used in more creative pieces.
Size – Ordinarily, the ideal size for pearls is between 7 and 7.5 millimetres. However, a bigger pearl is likely to have a higher value.
Surface – The surface of the pearls should be smooth and clean with no cracks or bumps.
Click on clarity grades to view sample images of different diamond clarity grades.
Diamonds in this grade have no visible flaws even when examined at x10 magnification.
Diamonds with a VVS1 or VVS2 grade have barely any inclusions and these can only be found under very high magnification.
Diamonds with a VVS1 or VVS2 grade have barely any inclusions and these can only be found under very high magnification.
VS1 diamonds have a series of tiny inclusions that is common with the VS1 grade and can only be discovered using x10 magnification.
VS2 diamonds have a series of tiny inclusions that is common with the VS2 grade and can only be discovered using x10 magnification.
Slight inclusions are easily seen under x10 magnification. SI1-graded diamonds have small inclusions that will be visible to the naked eye.
Diamonds have a greater number of inclusions that will almost always be visible to the naked eye. In comparison to I1 clarity, they sparkle more due to less number of inclusions.
Diamonds have numerous inclusions that can be seen easily. Diamonds of this clarity represent incredible value compared to higher clarity grades. These diamonds are perfect for people not sensitive to the presence of inclusions, but want a larger size (or weight) of diamond.
Click on clarity grades to view sample images of different diamond clarity grades.
D-colour diamond possesses the highest color purity and is a symbol of perfection. It is considered extremely rare and has no recognizable shades of color.
E-color diamond is visually stunning and has very high color grading. It is incredibly rare and has almost no recognizable color shading.
F-color diamond has excellent beauty and contains a minute shade of color that is undetectable by the untrained eye.
G-color diamond is exquisite and the warmth of colour present can be noticeable when compared with better colour grading.
H-color diamond is considered a white diamond that does not compromise on the stone’s sparkle. A slight tinge of color can reflect but it is not very obvious.
I-color diamond is scintillating and considered a white diamond that does not distract from the diamond’s sparkle. Noticeable color may be detectable to the untrained eye. It looks best in yellow gold settings.
Diamond certificates are specialist reports created by a dedicated team of diamond experts who are trained and qualified to grade all varieties of diamonds. You may have heard of these certificates referred to as quality documents or grading reports. These are all the same thing, the basis of which will be an impartial assessment by a qualified expert. They’ll consider the clarity, colour, cut, carat weight, and a host of other characteristics whilst making their determination.
Once complete, the certificate will be an accurate record of the diamond’s quality.
The purpose of the certificate is to give a thorough description of the diamond’s quality so that it can be accurately valued. This ensures that buyers have the confidence that they’re buying what they think they are.
Whilst the value is ultimately determined by the quality of the stone, a certificate can help in two key ways:
Diamond certification must be carried out by a gemological expert under strict laboratory conditions. This can incur a large cost on the part of the seller, and so only larger and more valuable diamonds are sent away for certification as a matter of routine. If every small stone was sent for certification then the impact on the prices available to customers and buyers would be significant in comparison to the value it adds. For bigger and higher-valued orders, GIA or IGI certificates are recommended.
As part of our ongoing efforts to make luxury your new everyday, we include certification as ‘standard’ at no extra cost. We’re proud to give every customer the peace of mind they are looking for, free of charge. We also offer GIA or IGI certificates as an option except for lower carat sizes and clarity like “I1”.
At ABELINI, we employ exactly the same rigorous standards as the laboratories which specialize in certification. Our experts have studied gemological practices all of their working lives and are as skilled as they come.
GIA and IGI standards are highly regarded worldwide, and the certificates are recognised as among the very best in the diamond industry. GIA follows strict quality control procedures and uses state of the art instrumentation to ensure the highest possible grading standards.
Whilst smaller laboratories with less prestige may offer to grade diamonds for less money, they will most likely work to lower quality standards and lack some of the expertise needed to conduct a truly accurate certification.
We specialize in using our local contacts all over the world to buy in bulk at the most affordable times by spotting unique opportunities in the market. This allows us to take advantage of seasonal variations and leverage the power of bulk buying. We then pass these on to you, our customers, in the form of low prices that include comprehensive certification as a standard.
The main reasons for variation in prices are Certification costs, the time it takes for certification, Certified Stone supply and availability and the economy of buying non-certified stones in bulk.
We think of it like this: If we want to make luxury your new everyday, then we need to show you exactly why our diamonds are of the highest quality that money can buy. The only way we can do that is by certifying every single precious stone that we work with in-house to ensure it meets our exacting standards. It doesn’t matter how big or small they are, we believe that you deserve to know exactly what they’re worth, and of how high a quality they are.
The certificate only contains the grading criteria so whilst it is an important indicator of the likely value should you wish to sell it, you will need to get it independently valued if you want to have its price formally agreed for the purposes of insurance.
At ABELINI, we offer a Free Valuation Certificate with every purchase in addition to a comprehensive diamond grading report. The valuation certificate clearly displays the RRP, the name and address of the buyer, and the date of purchase. This makes it the perfect proof of ownership to submit to any insurance company. Also included are photos of your specific piece, and a unique certificate number that can be used to trace your diamond’s origins.