Beautiful, sustainable, and 100% conflict-free lab grown gemstone and diamond jewelry.
The future of a more sustainable gemstone world starts with CARAT London. They are the original and leading lab created gemstone brand.
I’ve reviewed their Tulisa Marquise Necklace Gold Vermeil before and I absolutely adored it!
Today, I’ll be reviewing two CARAT London pieces– the Mimosa Necklace and Quentin Bracelet. They’re both beautiful pieces, so I’m very excited to share them with you.
Both pieces use cubic zirconia, which is a lab grown synthetic gemstone. They’re ethical and more affordable than their diamond counterparts.
Keep reading for a full CARAT London review and find out what makes lab grown gemstones a better alternative to natural gemstones.
Also don’t forget to check out my other CARAT* London reviews!
Disclosure: Vain Affair is reader-supported. When you buy through affiliate links on our website, we’ll make a small commission, without impacting your price. Thank you. Learn more.
In This Post ➜
About CARAT* LONDON
CARAT London is a fine jewelry brand that specializes in creating jewelry pieces out of alternatives to mined gemstones for almost 20 years. They are based in London, UK.
All their high quality gemstones are lab grown and lab created. For instance, they use lab created diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. Their ultimate vision is to create jewels that have a positive impact.
CARAT London is sold in over 100 locations all over the world and has a solid celebrity following.
Lady Gaga, Courtney Love, Pixie Lott, and Ellie Goudling are just some of the celebrities that love the brand too.Their jewelry was even featured on season one of Gossip Girl!
They also carry their sister brand, Gentle Diamonds, which uses lab created diamonds through a process they perfected over 18 years. Their Gentle Diamonds have the same physical, atomic, and elemental properties as mined diamonds.
If you’re looking for the best place to buy lab created gemstones or where to buy lab grown diamonds, you have to check CARAT London out.
CARAT* LONDON MIMOSA NECKLACE SILVER Review
This eye-catching, yet subtle lariat necklace is bound to get you tons of compliments. The Mimosa Necklace is a gorgeous lariat necklace inspired by bright starry nights.
It features their signature Stella star motif, which is an elegant 8-pointed star studded with their Brilliant Round and micro-set stones. I got this necklace in Sterling Silver, but it also comes in gold vermeil.
The necklace chain is lined with more crystals spaced evenly throughout. It’s about 18in long (45cm) and features a decorative crystal drop at the bottom.
Pair this necklace with open necklines to properly show off this lovely piece. I love to pair this with a plunging v-neck blouse.
It would be perfect for romantic dates and would be great for weddings too!
CARAT* LONDON QUENTIN BRACELET IN WHITE Review
If you’re looking for a modern bracelet that will go with just about anything, you have to check out the Quentin Bracelet. This bracelet is classy and delivers a fresh take on bracelet designs.
It has a row of stunning Round Brilliant cut stones in a bezel setting. I love how the stones cascade in sizes. It’s such a subtle, but elegant detail!
This is complete with CARAT* London’s signature slider for a comfortable fit. I especially love the thoughtful detail of adding a slider to easily slip in and out of.
Moreover, the slider itself is decorated with crystals and features decorative crystal drops at the ends. The Quentin Bracelet is full of thoughtful and beautiful details.
It’s incredibly versatile, so I can’t wait to pair this with all kinds of outfits!
Is Cubic Zirconia A Gemstone?
Cubic Zirconia, or CZ, is a synthetic gemstone that is colorless and used to visually mimic diamonds. It contains the same chemical, physical, and optical properties as natural cubic zirconia.
However, natural cubic zirconia is too small to be used in jewelry. Therefore, natural CZ is never used in jewelry pieces and we only see their lab-grown counterparts.
CZ is typically used to simulate the look and feel of diamonds. They make jewelry more affordable and accessible to consumers.
These synthetic gemstones are normally free of inclusions and have a Mohs hardness of 8.5–slightly less than a diamond with 10 Mohs. They also come in a variety of colors by adding color-causing elements.
In fact, the two pieces I reviewed above both use cubic zirconia stones. Check out CARAT London for more high quality cubic zirconia stones and unique jewelry designs.
Cubic Zirconia Benefits
Sure, diamonds are beautiful and durable, but they also come with a hefty price tag. On the other hand, cubic zirconia are just as beautiful as diamonds, but are more affordable.
Here’s a few reasons why it may be more beneficial to invest in cubic zirconia.
- Cubic zirconia is a synthetic gemstone made in a laboratory. Therefore, it is never a “conflict stone,” or stone mined in war zones with unsafe labor conditions.
- They are very durable and have a high hardness.
- CZ is optically flawless and would have the highest grade in the diamond clarity chart–giving it the appearance of the rarest diamonds in the world.
- Cubic zirconia can come in many colors, which include purple, green, pink, orange, and more.
- These stones don’t have any cleavages, which makes them less prone to cracks and chips.
- They are significantly cheaper than diamonds, so it’s a great affordable alternative to diamonds.
Cubic Zirconia Meaning
The cubic zirconia stone is known as the “stone of practicality.” It helps remove the ego, increase focus, and improve clarity.
The stone can be used for grounding, releasing selfishness, and discarding illusions.
Zirconium oxide is used as the base for creating CZ. It has lunar and asteroidal rock.
It is assigned April and the Taurus and Aries zodiac signs. Moreover, it can be used as the crown, third eye, and solar plexus chakras.
Lab Grown Gemstones vs Real Gemstones
Every lab grown gemstone has the same molecular and atomic makeup as the real gemstone–without being mined. The difference lies in how they are created.
Lab-created gemstones are created in a laboratory with advanced technology. This creates consistent quality and color.
In comparison, natural gemstones are formed in nature over millions of years. They have imperfections caused by natural formation processes.
Here’s a few ways to tell the difference between lab-grown gemstones vs real gemstones:
- Natural gemstones have variations in color, cut, and clarity. Lab-created gemstones have a consistent and uniform look.
- Lab-created gemstones are mass produced in laboratories, so they cost less. Natural gemstones are rare and mined, so they generally cost more.
- The value of a natural gemstone increases over time because they are rare and formed naturally in nature. In comparison, lab-created gemstones are worth and valued less, but are more affordable.
Best CARAT* LONDON Lab Grown Gemstone Gifts
CARAT London is the best place for gifts to friends, family, or a loved one! They havce over 900 jewelry pieces to choose from, so let me narrow it down for you.
Here’s some of the best gifts to get on CARAT London:
- LEYTON FLANDERS EMERALD RING SILVER – A baby cocktail ring showcasing a classic trilogy design, the Flanders cut is a modified round brilliant with a total of an impressive 61 facets.
- SURIYA EAR JACKETS – This intricate pair features our exquisitely cut and polished Pear and Marquise stones and are designed to be worn 2 ways.
- IRENE MINI SINGLE STUD 9K YELLOW GOLD – Bestselling diamond stud earrings are a timeless staple for every woman’s jewelry collection. Beautifully showcased in a classic 4-prong setting in 9K yellow gold.
- CYNDI NECKLACE GOLD VERMEIL – Inspired by 80’s female rockers, the Cyndi necklace adds just the right attitude to your look. Crafted in sterling silver with yellow gold vermeil abs delicate chain details, accented with a single Marquise stone allowing for versatile styling, from workwear to after-hours.
- ABIGAIL MARQUISE STUDS GOLD VERMEIL – The Abigail earrings feature a cluster of beautiful pear, marquis, and rounds in sterling silver with a Yellow Gold finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Lab Gemstones Worth The Money?
Lab gemstones are certainly worth the investment, especially for their benefits. First off, lab-grown gemstones are ethical and conflict free.
This means that you won’t have to worry about your gemstones being mined under unethical conditions. They’re also more affordable and cost-effective.
If you’re trying to save money, lab grown gemstones cost less, but are durable and look just as beautiful, if not more.
How Long Does It Take To Make Lab Grown Gemstones?
Lab grown gemstones take a significantly faster time compared to natural gemstones to form. Natural gemstones can take millions of years through high pressure and heat.
In contrast, lab grown gemstones can vary from 6 weeks to a year to create. This depends on the process and variety that is being created.
Do Lab Created Diamonds Gemstones Test As Real?
Lab created diamonds do test as real under a diamond test. That means lab grown diamonds are real! The reason is that they are made of crystallized carbon, just like mined diamonds.
Their carbon composition is just like natural diamonds. They also have the same thermal conductivity.
Lab grown diamonds have the same chemical, physical, and optical properties as a natural diamond.
However, there may be rare instances when a lab-grown diamond has lower nitrogen than a real diamond. Keep in mind that this doesn’t mean that the lab-created diamond is fake.
What Are The Disadvantages Of Lab Grown Diamonds?
Lab grown diamonds are technically real diamonds. However, there are a few drawbacks compared to natural diamonds.
- Unlike natural diamonds, lab grown diamonds are not “rare” since they can be mass produced.
- Lab-grown diamonds are technically still new to the industry, so their long-term value is yet to be decided. It’s possible that lab grown diamonds will lose their value as the technology to create lab-created diamonds advances.
CARAT London jewelry pieces are unique, beautiful, and ethical. I hope you’ve found some pieces that you can wear or gift to a loved one too!
Also don’t forget to check out my other CARAT* London reviews!
Disclosure: Vain Affair is reader-supported. When you buy through affiliate links on our website, we’ll make a small commission, without impacting your price. Thank you. Learn more.
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