IN THE KNOW

In the Know: ECO 4 Lab Grown Diamonds

So, what exactly are lab-grown diamonds? They're diamonds, plain and simple. The only thing that makes lab-grown diamonds different from Earth-mined diamonds is where they come from. Apart from their origin story, lab-grown diamonds are indistinguishable from traditional, mined diamonds.

Even though they look the same, that origin story matters. Environmentally, in the world of gemstones, you can't do better than a lab-grown diamond. Here's why:

Traditional, mined diamonds are deep within the earth, and that means you have to move a whole lot of earth to get to them. Try, thousands and thousands of acres. That's a lot of natural habitat destroyed.

In fact, on average, 98 square feet of Earth is moved for every carat of diamond retrieved.

Lab grown diamonds, which are every bit as hard and long lasting, are made in a laboratory, and therefore require less than one square foot per carat of diamond.

Let's talk water: Mining is a thirst operation. To retrieve one carat of diamond from the earth requires 127 gallons of water.

Labs have all kinds of ways to reduce water waste, meaning from start to finish, producing a one-carat lab-grown diamond requires only 18 gallons of water.

For some perspective, beef requires 106 gallons of water just to produce one ounce! Mangoes and Asparagus... they take over 20 gallons of water per ounce, and none of those things last forever the way a diamond does.

Mining is also a dirty business. In fact, 2011 ounces of air pollution are produced just to retrieve one traditional diamond.

Lab grown diamonds, however, produce negligible air pollution-.001 ounces per carat. (Yes, sticking with food, that is less air pollution than it takes to produce a single steak. It's also less than it takes to eat mangoes, unless you are lucky enough to live with a mango tree, and therefore eliminate transit.)

Did we mention lab-grown diamonds can be produced anywhere that there's a lab?

If saving resources and natural habitats and reducing pollution isn't a convincing enough reason to go for lab-grown diamonds, how about your wallet?

With lab-grown diamonds, what is saved in production costs is passed directly to you, the buyer, meaning lab grown diamonds cost 30-40% less than traditional diamonds, even though in every meaningful way, they're the exact same thing!

Oh, and if all of this isn't exciting enough, because lab-grown diamonds are grown in sterile, controlled environments, they often have higher clarity scores than traditional, mined diamonds.

From tennis bracelets and solitaires to diamond studs and engagement rings, our incomparably beautiful lab-grown diamonds will have you looking and feeling radiant.

And just like every other piece sold by Guild Facet, our lab-grown beauties are covered by our industry-leading lifetime warranty. Now that's a win-win. We are so proud to be the Twin Cities' leader in lab-grown diamonds.

CUT

A diamond's cut will determine its sparkle

The higher a diamond's cut grade, the greater the stone's brilliance. You'll be able to see the difference in sparkle and fire when you compare an Excellent cut to a lower cut grade.

Color

A diamond's color refers to lack of color

Color measures the "whiteness" of a diamond. For an exceptionally white diamond, choose a color grade of D, E or F, and we suggest a white metal setting to maximize its brilliance. If you are looking for the best value, consider a diamond with a near-colorless grade G, H, I or J.

CLARITY

Every diamond is different

All diamonds have natural characteristics or tiny imperfections. The actual clarity grade of a diamond is only as important as you want it to be. We recommended that you choose a diamond based on what you see, and buy with your eyes, not with your ears.

CARAT

A diamond's weight is measured in carats

Carat weight is the total weight of a diamond regardless of how it's distributed. From the top, a poorly cut diamond may appear smaller than a diamond of equal weight. Diamond value is determined by all the 4Cs, not by carat weight alone.

• Round
• OVAL
• Pear
• Cushion
• Emerald
• Radiant
• MARQUISE
• PRINCESS
• ELONGATED
  CUSHION
• ASSCHER

There are many ways to set a diamond. Some settings can make a diamond appear larger while others suggest a vintage-inspired style. Choosing a setting is a personal choice, and the options run from traditional to sophisticated and more.

PRONG

The prong setting is the most popular and classic way of setting diamonds. It allows the most amount of light to travel through the diamond and is most commonly set with four or six prongs which is the most secure way to set a diamond. In a prong setting, your center diamond traditionally sits above the rest of the ring.

CHANNEL

The channel setting is a sleek and smooth design where a row of diamonds is placed between a metal pathway. The metal channel hugs the diamonds allowing for a very secure setting. Not only will a channel setting allow a breathtaking and continuous line of diamonds, it will not catch on anything because it does not have any prongs that could get in the way.

PAVE

Pave settings have many small diamonds that are set close together in between tiny little prongs, giving the appearance of a solid diamond surface. Micro pave refers to even smaller diamonds and smaller prongs becoming more intricate and delicate.

BEZEL

The bezel setting is one of the most secure ways to set a diamond and offers a contemporary and simple look. A bezel setting is when the center diamond is completely surrounded by a rim of metal. You can also find half bezels allowing more light to enter from the side.

BAR

The bar setting is very similar to channel setting. It consists of a long thin bar shared between two diamonds. Unlike a channel setting, where there are multiple diamonds in a row, the bar setting is in between each individual diamond.

Even though the diamond might be of high quality on paper, its brilliance could be far less than a diamond with lower qualities. So keep in mind that diamond certificates are simply a guide to determine the VALUE of the diamond, not the BEAUTY. And some are more reliable than others. These certificates can be important in understanding the true rarity of the diamond, but always remember to buy with your eyes! It's your opinion that matters most.

What's your Bridal Style? What's Your Ring style?

Have you been planning or thinking about your dream wedding since you were very young? Do you peek at bridal magazines in the checkout lane or magazine stand? Perhaps you haven't done any of these things and are still trying to figure out what style is yours. Well, we've created some basic categories to help you find the perfect ring based on the wedding you've dreamed of and the style you love.

VINTAGE

Are you drawn to the glamour of old Hollywood? Or the charm of an antique store? Chances are a vintage inspired ring might be perfect for you. Often designed with intricate details and engraving, there is no style as romantic. Your antique inspired ring from Wedding Day would perfectly accent a wedding full of muted colors, pearls, and lace.

Common Vintage Characteristics

• Halos
• Pave Diamonds
• Engraved Detail

MODERN

If sleek and contemporary designs catch your eye, a modern wedding set is what you seek. Clean lines and unique designs set these rings apart and are sure to make you stand apart. With designers that are on the cutting edge of style, Wedding Day has a ring that will never fade in with the crowd.

Common Modern Characteristics

• Asymmetrical
• Swirl
• Bezel
• Channel

CLASSIC

If you're a classic bride, chances are you've been dreaming of the perfect ring for a while. You love tradition and can't wait to get married in the church you grew up in. Sophisticated yet simple, a ring that will never go out of style- that's what you've always wanted to say 'Yes!' to. From classic solitaires to three stone engagement rings, Wedding Day has the classic ring for you.

Common Classic Characteristics

• Solitaire
• 3 Stone
• Atia 81

NON-TRADITIONAL

You're happy just having found the right person, and a lavish party sounds exhausting. Maybe you want to have a quiet ceremony on a beach somewhere, go to the courthouse, or elope in Vegas. You're fairly relaxed and all those traditional rings are boring. Chances are, we can still find you a ring that expresses the commitment your making. Check out these non-traditional options for an engagement ring.