How Diamond Pendants Are Made

Diamond pendants are necklaces with a central diamond linked by a tiny loop to a jewelry chain of precious metal. The word ‘pendant’ means to hang down.  Often, diamond pendant necklaces and chains are gifted as symbols of love and appreciation. That’s why they are commonly used as wedding jewelry. Initially, many people couldn’t afford to buy natural diamond jewelry because of its high prices. 

But, the technology proved otherwise and paved the way for sparkling lab grown diamonds. As a result, it became easier to manufacture the lab-cultured diamond pendants which made them more accessible to some for their affordability. The lab-cultured gems became the cheaper alternative to the natural earth-mined diamonds. They were almost half lower-priced than natural diamonds, yet they look identical to the real gems. It is also worth noting that lab grown diamonds are ethically sourced and more environment-friendly.

You have the right to choose whether to go for a naturally-made or lab-made diamond for your diamond pendant. Regardless of its source, what’s more important is how valuable it is for you. But have you ever wondered how these diamonds are crafted into pendants? Let’s find out below.

The Origin of Stones Used in Diamond Pendants

Diamonds are formed when carbon deposits far down within the earth. The carbon is deposited deep about 90 to 125 miles beneath the earth’s surface. Afterward, they get subjected to extremely high pressure and temperature. While some gemstones may materialize in days or months, most take millions of years to take shape.

Unlike natural diamonds, which you have to wait for many years to have them grow naturally beneath the earth’s surface, lab grown diamonds grow in a facility. Advanced technology is applied to produce the gems over days or weeks. 

They are grown in environments with similar but controlled conditions under which the natural diamonds develop during formation in the mantle below the earth’s crust. The cultivated diamonds contain carbon atoms arranged in a similar diamond crystal trait as the natural, mined diamonds.

You can also refer to the lab created diamond pendants using names like:

• Pure-grown diamonds
• Man-made diamonds
• Above-the-ground diamonds
• Cultivated diamonds
• Cultured diamonds

Despite different origins, lab grown diamonds have basically the same physical and chemical properties as natural diamonds.

How Diamond Pendants are Crafted

Before the 15th century, no one knew that diamonds could be crafted by polishing the stones using their own dust. Previously, the only way to wear diamond pendants was in their rough form. It is evident in the diamond necklaces made during this era.

However, the creation of diamond pendants nowadays is much different. Diamond cutting and polishing can now be done using tools and machines. These technological innovations helped a lot in producing quality diamonds used in diamond pendants.

To have the diamond crafted, it all starts with the basic steps of cutting, which includes: 

• Sorting out the rough stones
• Planning for the manufacturing process
• Cleaving or sawing the rough stones into a preliminary shape
• Shaping the girdle
• Polishing the facets.

The decisions made at every crafting step affect the value of the polished gem’s end product. So, once diamonds are mined, they get sorted using both hand and machine. They are sorted into categories by size, shape, clarity, and color to enhance their value for sale. They examine them in diffused daylight.

The diamond manufacturing process varies for different rough types: 

• Makeable rough: it’s polished into one stone
• Sawable rough: it is sawn in two before it’s polished
• Near-gem or cleavage-rough: it’s cleaved into two or many more pieces before polishing
• Industrial-grade diamond rough: it’s crushed into powder or cut into tools.

The final shape of each gem is next in a procedure known as bruting or girdling. To create a round diamond, you need a computer-controlled bruting machine applied to spin a diamond against another diamond.

This creates a great outline of fancy diamond shapes. You’ll find uniquely shaped and beautiful diamond pendants that may take more time to create than the round diamond jewels. One most challenging but beautiful to create is the heart-shaped diamond pieces of jewelry. They are made with deep clefts and changing curves.

The final steps in the crafting process are faceting and polishing. Each facet is held in an arm called a tang and then ground into the diamond. The process of grounding is done against a spinning wheel covered in diamond powder. The procedure is repeated for individual facets. The diamond is moved and angled right to keep the diamond symmetrical.

Natural and Lab Grown Diamond Jewelry: What’s the Difference?

• Origin

Lab-grown diamonds originate from above the ground. On the other hand, mined or naturally-made diamonds originate from beneath the ground.

• Creation Span

Science and technology make lab-grown diamonds develop within approximately a month. Contrary, naturally-made diamonds form within millions of years.

• Cost

The present technology makes lab-created diamonds economical and easier to budget. They cost around 40% less than the mined gems. This enables you to purchase similar lab-grown diamond pendants for less. You can also acquire different high-quality lab-grown diamond jewelry for the price you would have spent on single natural diamond jewelry.

• Environmental Effect 

Lab grown diamonds made in the labs are safe compared to the dangerous mines. They are conflict-free and tend to cause lesser adverse effects on the environment. It helps to opt for sustainable and ethical jewelry pieces when selecting your diamond pendant. It’s definitely worth your consideration. Sustainable diamonds are much more environmentally- friendly, ethical, and likely to save you cash. 

A sustainable diamond is a diamond that is sourced ethically. It’s a lab-cultured diamond created in a laboratory using sound environmental practices. It may also involve recycled diamond that has been reset, reused, or resized. As the rising problem of climate change forces everyone to prioritize being more environmentally-friendly, sustainably-made diamonds are becoming a more popular option for manufacturers.  Thus, we find more diamond pendants in the market which are made from sustainably created diamonds.

Custom-Made Diamond Pendants

The decision to have your diamond pendant customized is fantastic. You can have it creatively made and also to suit your desired budget. It’s a great option if you have adequate time to work with your designer and wait for the tailor-made product. 

When Can You Go For a Customized Diamond Pendant?

People tend to believe that having a custom-made diamond pendant is difficult and expensive. But, when you find the right jeweler, you can have an affordable customized diamond pendant to suit your style. Then, you get to enjoy the benefits of custom-made jewelry.

So, you can go for a customized diamond pendant when:

• You got a specific design in mind, yet you can’t find it at an affordable cost
• You have a particular budget to work around
• You bought a gem and need it designed as a diamond pendant
• You’re looking for a uniquely-made design

Key Takeaways

Diamond pendants originate either from naturally made or lab grown diamonds. The lab-cultured gems are now more popular amongst jewelry manufacturers. This is because they are the cheaper alternative to natural earth-mined diamonds.  You’ll find that the lab created diamond pendants are almost half lower-priced than the naturally-made diamond jewelry. But, both the lab-made and naturally-made gems look identical.

Indeed, lab-cultured diamonds now used to manufacture thousands of diamond jewelry are a great alternative to natural diamonds. They are cost-efficient and still contain the same physical and chemical elements as natural diamonds. Nonetheless, you can never substitute the distinctiveness of natural diamonds. So, in the long run, you have the liberty to choose either the lab grown or naturally-made diamond jewelry. The choices will differ based on your likes, preferences, and budget.

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