It is a well-known, and commonly stipulated fact, that most diamonds are millions, even billions, of years old. Let’s put that into context:
Natural diamonds are (much) older than most things found on earth (even Betty White).
- Our first human ancestors appeared between five and seven million years ago.
- 180 million years ago the supercontinent Pangea split into Laurasia and Gondwana.
- Dinosaurs roamed the earth between 225 million and 66 million years ago.
- The first mammals appeared 225 million years ago.
- The first known plant species can be traced back to 445 million years ago.
According to the British Jeweller’s Association, all natural diamonds have existed for at least 900 million years, with the oldest specimens being 3.2 billion years old.
The diamond(s) that you wish to purchase (or have purchased) from Stonz is older than humankind, continental splits, the first mammals, dinosaurs, and the first known plant species. That’s pretty impressive. Diamonds have even “outlived” two snowball earth periods, at least four ice-ages, and a massive comet.
Stonz stocks natural diamonds and has a large selection of white, fancy-colour, salt & pepper, and black diamonds. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, ask us and we’ll source it for you. Once you have the stone of your choice, we can make a ring, pendant, earrings, or any other desired jewellery piece, manufactured to your exact specifications.
Creating diamonds in a lab is a much quicker affair.
Although the composition of lab-grown diamonds is identical to that of natural diamonds, the methods in which they are derived differs greatly. There are two methods for farming lab-grown diamonds (High-Pressure High-Temperature and Chemical Vapour Deposition). These methods take between six to ten weeks to make a diamond. Let that sink in – six to ten weeks. Six to ten weeks vs. 900 million to 3.2 billion years.
Six to ten weeks – in some instances that’s shorter than a South African school term and definitely shorter than most relationships.
The differences between natural diamonds and lab-grown diamonds.
The value proposition between natural diamonds and lab-grown diamonds is abundantly clear. Natural diamonds are believed to have been formed from ancient carbon found in magma within the crust of the earth. Lab-grown diamonds are synthetically made within a laboratory, so although you may be paying less for a lab diamond the value of these does not hold a candle against natural diamonds.
Many people are concerned about the ethical mining of natural diamonds and would therefore rather buy lab-grown diamonds. However, Stonz only stocks ethically mined, conflict-free diamonds.
Age before beauty…except now you can have both.