Why Lab-grown Diamond

Lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds with the same composition and structure as natural diamonds, artificially produced in a laboratory.

Lab-grown diamonds are diamonds "grown" in a "lab," meaning they are artificially produced by human hands.

They are made of the same carbon as natural diamonds, have identical crystal structures and chemical properties, a Mohs hardness of 10, and brilliance comparable to natural diamonds. Therefore, they cannot be distinguished from natural diamonds by a professional's naked-eye examination or simple testers; they can only be identified using specialized equipment.

The GIA (Gemological Institute of America), a diamond grading organization, also recognizes lab-grown diamonds as "real diamonds."

Differences from Natural Diamonds

The main differences between lab-grown diamonds and natural diamonds are their "formation environment" and "formation period."

While natural diamonds are formed deep within the Earth over billions of years, lab-grown diamonds are produced in a few weeks to several months.

Whereas 98-99% of natural diamonds are classified as "Type I" containing nitrogen, lab-grown diamonds are classified as "Type II," containing almost no impurity elements (only 1-2%). Their beauty stands out with exceptional transparency and brilliance, and they are produced at a reasonable cost.

Problems with Natural Diamonds

〜Behind their beautiful brilliance〜

Natural diamonds are associated with numerous issues, including conflict, environmental concerns, human rights abuses, and child labor.

As a mother of two, I placed particular emphasis on the issue of child labor associated with natural diamonds.

Work in diamond mines is strenuous. Children work alongside adults, carrying 50-60kg of gravel from the mine to the sorting area, or sifting through mud in the sorting area, endlessly searching for tiny, sparkling rough diamonds. Because children are small, they can navigate narrow shafts using ropes for mining, and since they can be hired cheaply, they are easily exploited.

In diamond mines, working in shallow water collected in countless holes creates breeding grounds for malaria-carrying mosquitoes, leading to high rates of malaria infection. Furthermore, as holes are dug deeper, there's a risk of falling and injury, and children can be caught in disputes over diamonds, facing the danger of being killed.

If the diamond you hold in your hand was mined by young children forcibly working instead of attending school... would you still be able to wholeheartedly consider that diamond beautiful?

Why aren't they popular in Japan?

1. Consumer misunderstanding

There is a persistent misconception about lab-grown diamonds that "artificial equals fake."

Consumers often do not understand their intrinsic value and may confuse them with moissanite or cubic zirconia, which have completely different structures from diamonds.

2. Pricing

While lab-grown diamonds are inherently significantly lower in price than natural diamonds, they are sometimes sold at comparable prices in the Japanese market. This pricing is unattractive to consumers and hinders the widespread adoption of lab-grown diamonds.

3. Low market awareness

While there is growing interest in sustainable products among younger generations, many people are still unaware of the existence of lab-grown diamonds themselves. As a result, demand has not been sufficiently stimulated.

At AURORA BY KOH

AURORA BY KOH, based in Hong Kong, is committed to directly contracting with local suppliers and OEM factories to provide the highest quality lab-grown diamonds at fair prices and to promote them globally.

May the brilliance and energy emitted by lab-grown diamonds bring vitality to your daily life.