Frequently Asked Questions | AMA

Yes. Lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds in every respect. They have the same chemical composition, the same crystal structure and the same physical and optical properties as diamonds mined in nature. The only difference is their origin: • natural diamonds form deep within the earth over billions of years; • lab-grown diamonds are created in a laboratory by replicating the same conditions under which a natural diamond forms. Even professional gemologists need specialized instruments to tell them apart, and it is impossible to distinguish them with the naked eye. They sparkle exactly like mined diamonds, last forever and are cut and certified by the same cutters and certifiers. It is not "like" a diamond: it is a Diamond, in every respect.

The main difference is the origin. A natural diamond is born in nature, while a lab-grown diamond is grown in a laboratory using advanced technologies that reproduce the natural process of carbon crystallization. From an aesthetic, chemical and structural point of view they are equivalent. Both: • sparkle in the same way; • have the same hardness; • can be certified; • are graded according to the 4Cs: cut, color, clarity and carat. Many consumers choose lab-grown diamonds because they make it possible to buy high-quality stones with a more contemporary and conscious approach. AMA diamonds, in particular, are certified from half a carat upwards and come from suppliers selected for their environmental impact.

No! With the naked eye it is impossible to distinguish a lab-grown diamond from a natural diamond. Not even with a jeweler's loupe can they be told apart. Even an expert gemologist needs specific equipment to first presume and then ascertain the origin.

Yes. AMA diamonds of half a carat and above, if not drilled, have a lab certificate exactly like natural diamonds. The certificate is issued by IGI, the leading independent global certifier that certifies both mined and lab-grown diamonds. The certificate reports: • carat weight; • color; • clarity; • cut; • proportions; • identifying laser inscription. The inscription is visible under a microscope on the girdle of the diamond.

Lab-grown diamonds keep over time the same physical and aesthetic characteristics they had at the moment of purchase: they do not lose brilliance, hardness or quality. From an economic point of view, just as for natural diamonds and for jewelry with natural diamonds, an increase in value over time cannot be guaranteed. AMA does not present its jewelry as an investment and believes that no piece of jewelry — save for very rare exceptions of jewelry of extreme rarity and importance — can be considered an investment, regardless of whether it is set with lab-grown or natural stones. We like to be transparent and clear with our clients: those who choose a piece of jewelry, and in particular an AMA piece, choose a unique, artisanal work, handmade in Italy by the finest craftsmen in the world. We are not financial advisors and we do not sell an investment, but an emotion, a conscious luxury, a piece of jewelry that can be handed down for generations.

The first real reason is that, unlike natural diamonds — whose monopoly is in the hands of two global companies that set their "value" — lab-grown diamonds rely on open-source technologies that are freer on the market. In addition, a mined diamond has an environmental cost: it requires extraction activities, large mining infrastructure and lengthy processes. It must be considered that, on average, 15,000 liters of water are needed for every carat of mined diamond. One carat of weight corresponds to 0.2 grams. And these 0.2 grams, which require 15,000 liters of water, also include the diamonds not used for jewelry purposes.

Lab-grown diamonds have a lower environmental and social impact than traditional mining, especially AMA, which chooses suppliers that mainly use energy from renewable sources and transparent supply chains. Lab-grown diamonds: • do not require extraction activities; • do not leave irreparable environmental damage; • allow greater traceability of production; Every AMA piece of jewelry has a unique code that traces the diamond, production that is 100% made in Italy in Valenza and a tree dedicated to whoever receives the precious piece.

Lab-grown diamonds are created by replicating in the laboratory the natural conditions under which a diamond forms. The main technologies used are: • HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature), which reproduces high pressures and temperatures; • CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition), which allows the diamond to grow layer by layer through carbon-rich gases; The result is a real diamond with the same chemical, physical and optical properties as a natural diamond.

Yes. Lab-grown diamonds have the same hardness as natural diamonds: 10 on the Mohs scale, the maximum hardness level of natural materials. This means they are extremely resistant to everyday wear and also suitable for jewelry meant to be worn every day, such as engagement rings or wedding bands. With proper care and maintenance, a lab-grown diamond keeps its brilliance and beauty over time exactly like a natural diamond.

Do you still think you have to prove your love by spending three months' salary on a solitaire? Don't be a victim of the marketing built by those who have to sell a piece of jewelry. We believe that a couple today goes through important choices before deciding to get married. We believe in love that has no need for economic demonstrations, and in conscious choices. AMA offers beautiful rings starting from a few hundred euros up to several thousand. Every piece is unique, certified, numbered. Remember that a lab-grown diamond offers the same beauty, brilliance and resistance as a natural diamond, making it perfect to be worn every day. For many people it also represents a modern, conscious choice tied to values of innovation, awareness and sustainability.

The quality of a diamond is assessed through the 4Cs: • Cut • Color • Clarity • Carat (carat weight) Among these, the cut is often the element that most influences the brilliance of the stone. AMA sets only diamonds of the highest color (F or above), clarity (VS or above) and excellent cut.

Yes. Lab-grown diamonds are graded exactly like natural diamonds according to the international 4C standards: • Cut • Color • Clarity • Carat (weight in carats) This makes it possible to compare the quality and characteristics of the stone in a clear and transparent way. Never think that a diamond can be grown by deciding in advance which color or clarity it will obtain! Then the cut, as for natural diamonds, is done by hand, for each diamond, and depends on the starting rough and on the manual skills of the cutter.

No. A lab-grown diamond does not yellow and does not lose brilliance over time. Being a real diamond, it keeps the same chemical and physical properties as a natural diamond even after many years. Of course, like any precious piece of jewelry, it needs normal maintenance and cleaning to best preserve the brightness of the setting and the stone. AMA offers its clients a free service and refurbishment for the first years after the purchase of the jewelry.

Yes. One of the great advantages of lab-grown diamonds is the possibility of creating highly customized jewelry. You can choose: • the shape and carat weight of the stone; • the quality of the diamond; • the type of setting; • the color of the gold; • personalized engravings; • bespoke design. This makes it possible to create a unique piece of jewelry, designed to best represent the personality and the story of the person wearing it. AMA offers all the known diamond cuts and also includes customizable cuts. In addition, it offers a designer to personalize bespoke jewelry.

There is no "best" cut in absolute terms: it depends on personal style and the desired effect. Among the most loved cuts: • Round or Brilliant: maximum brilliance and timeless style; • Oval: elegant, visually lengthens the hand; • Emerald: refined and minimal; • Pear: feminine and contemporary; • Cushion: romantic and soft. AMA sets more than 10 different cuts and can create them to measure. The quality of the cut remains essential because it directly influences the light and the brilliance of the diamond.

All certified diamonds selected by AMA bear a laser micro-inscription invisible to the naked eye but visible under a microscope. This inscription reports: • the certificate number; • the gemological laboratory that certified the stone. The inscription makes it possible to precisely match the diamond with its certificate, increasing transparency and traceability.

The market for lab-grown diamonds is growing strongly internationally and represents one of the main contemporary evolutions of jewelry. More and more consumers choose them for: • the quality-price ratio; • transparency; • the possibility of customization; • the attention to sustainability and innovation. Today both the natural diamond and the lab-grown one coexist, responding to different needs and sensibilities.