Originally published on Global Garbs in November 2019

LET'S START HERE.

The stories of an earth grown diamond and a shiny 14k gold band both begin in a mine. Mining is the extraction of minerals and other geological materials from deposits far beneath the earth’s surface. Gold, diamonds and other gemstones are mined around the world with the vast majority coming from small-scale “artisanal” operations often within the informal sector.

It’s estimated that about 90 million carats of rough diamonds and 1,600 tons of gold are mined for jewelry every year, generating over $300 billion in revenue. When sustainability is a top priority for a consumer...

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A LAB GROWN DIAMOND AND A NATURALLY GROWN DIAMOND?

The one difference between the two is origin. One is grown in a lab and one below the Earth’s surface.

HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?

A lab grown diamond is made with technology that replicates the process of a naturally made diamond by simulating the conditions of extreme heat and pressure. The result is...

SOLID GOLD

Solid gold is a term used to refer to various designations of karat gold. Pure 24k gold is actually too soft and weak to be used for jewelry production, thus the creation of gold alloys. Technically speaking an alloy is a mixture of metals (ex.: gold + silver + copper).

14k and 18k are the most commonly used in jewelry production. 14k gold is comprised...