Our Best Quality Lab-Grown Diamonds: Explore Lightbox Finest™

When it comes to achieving excellence in lab-grown diamonds, Lightbox Finest™ sets new benchmarks in quality and craftsmanship. We’re excited to share with you how Lightbox Finest™ lab-grown diamonds are made, emphasizing their exceptional color, clarity, cut, and carat weight. Developed using patented CVD methods and produced in a state-of-the-art facility, these lab diamonds meet the highest industry standards.
Whether you're a first-time buyer or looking to expand your collection, we’re here to equip you with valuable information to make an informed choice. Explore what makes Lightbox Finest™ lab-grown diamonds stand out in a crowded market.

Making Lightbox Finest™ Lab-Grown Diamonds

Creating a Lightbox Finest™ lab-grown diamond involves a specialized procedure that begins with an already exceptional product: our classic Lightbox lab-grown diamond. (And if you’re curious to learn what are lab-grown diamonds, we have resources on that.) We then enhance this base material through a patented CVD growth method coupled with a secondary refinement process, achieving the highest grades in both color and clarity.
Our facility was opened in Gresham, Oregon, in the fall of 2020. And we aim to have an annual production capacity of up to 200,000 carats. The location was strategically chosen for its proximity to reliable hydroelectric power sources and a skilled workforce in Portland, Oregon.
The production process is unique to Lightbox and uses a blend of advanced technologies. Each lab-grown stone is subjected to extreme conditions of heat and pressure in our lab. This process results in a diamond with VVS clarity and D, E, and F color grades.

In the CVD process, diamond seed crystals are placed in a growth chamber filled with a carbon-containing gas. A source of energy is used to break down the gas molecules. The carbon atoms then move toward the colder, flat diamond seed plates, where crystallization occurs over several weeks. A clean diamond seed is essential, as any imperfections can lead to inclusions and blemishes in the final product.

We’re proud to say that Lightbox Finest™ lab-grown diamonds are produced using a combination of leading-edge technologies, including our patented CVD method. With our state-of-the-art facility and specialized team, we are setting new benchmarks in lab-grown diamond quality and production.

Lightbox Finest™ Clarity: VVS

When it comes to lab-grown diamonds that combine quality and brilliance, Lightbox Finest™ is pushing boundaries. Crafted with our patented CVD growth method and an additional refinement process, each Lightbox Finest™ stone emerges with a VVS clarity grade.
Clarity is a key factor determining a lab diamond's value and appeal. It measures the gem’s purity and rarity based on the visibility of its inclusions and blemishes when magnified ten times. In the world of natural and lab-grown diamonds, the fewer these imperfections, the higher the clarity grade and, often, the greater the value.

What Are Inclusions?

Inclusions are small imperfections within a diamond, whether lab-grown or natural. They're like tiny fingerprints, unique to each stone, formed due to various conditions during their creation. For lab-grown diamonds, these conditions include intense heat, strain, and individual growth patterns. Natural diamonds get their inclusions from the extreme heat and pressure they experience during their formation deep within the Earth.
Here are some key points about inclusions:

◇ Origin Detection: Gemologists often use inclusions to trace back the growth origin of a diamond, whether it's lab-grown or natural.

◇ History & Treatments: Inclusions can give you clues about a diamond's history and any treatments it might have undergone.

◇ Variability: Inclusions vary in color and shape, sometimes appearing as tiny dots or more cloud-like formations.

◇ Colors: While some inclusions are almost transparent, others can be white, grey, or even black.

◇Clarity Impact: The size, number, and location of inclusions affect a diamond's clarity, influencing its sparkle and value.

◇ Unique Patterns: Just as no two fingerprints are identical, no two diamonds have the same pattern of inclusions.

◇ Not a Definitive Identifier: Although inclusions can help distinguish between lab-grown and natural diamonds, they can't be solely relied upon for this purpose.

So, inclusions aren't just flaws or imperfections — they provide valuable information about a diamond's history, origin, and value.

Clarity Grades

Clarity grades range from FL (flawless) to I3 (included). The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the American Gem Society (AGS) have set industry standards for these grades.

◇ FL/IF diamonds have no inclusions and are extremely rare.

◇ VVS1/VVS2 diamonds, like our Lightbox Finest™, require 60x magnification to see any inclusions and are very hard for even trained graders to spot at 10x.

◇ VS1/VS2 diamonds have inclusions that are difficult to see at 10x magnification.

◇ SI1/SI2 diamonds have more noticeable inclusions under 10x magnification.

◇ I1/I2/I3 diamonds have inclusions visible to the naked eye.

When selecting a diamond, remember that many imperfections are not visible without magnification. A practical approach is to consider your budget and opt for "eye-clean" lab diamonds where inclusions are invisible to the naked eye. Lightbox Finest™ offers VVS clarity, making it an excellent choice for those seeking a high-quality, eye-clean lab-grown diamond.

Lightbox Finest™ Color: Colorless D, E, F

If you're looking for exceptional quality, Lightbox Finest™ lab-created diamonds offer a remarkable range of colorless stones in the D, E, and F grades. Unlike school grades, D, E, and F in the diamond world represent top-tier color quality.

Color is important when it comes to choosing a stone. Most people aim to find a diamond that appears colorless to the naked eye without breaking the bank. This way, lab-grown diamonds from the Lightbox Finest™ collection present an excellent and accessible price point. Depending on the setting, cut, carat, shape, and metal — the color grade can be a visual distraction that affects the luster and brilliance of your lab-created diamond jewelry.

Color Grades

Diamond color is graded on a scale created by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), ranging from D (completely clear) to Z (yellowish or brown tint). The absence of color boosts the diamond's grade, value, and overall look.
Key Points About Diamond Color:

◇ Applies Only to White Diamonds: The GIA color scale is specific to white diamonds, both natural and lab-grown.

◇ Price Impact: A lab-grown diamond's color grade can notably affect the cost and value of loose stones and jewelry.

◇ Non-linear Scale: The scale isn't linear, so the distinctions between grades aren't uniform and usually require a trained eye and special equipment to spot.

◇ Setting and Side Diamonds: A natural or lab diamond with a slightly lower color grade can appear whiter if set with contrasting metals or lower-grade side lab diamonds.

◇ Shape Matters: Some diamond shapes can make a low-grade color stone appear more yellow than a round brilliant-cut diamond with the same grade.

What About Colored Lab-Grown Diamonds?

When you hear about Lightbox Finest™, you might already know about our colorless lab-created diamonds. But did you know we also offer lab-grown blue and pink diamonds? Let's clear up how these vibrant gems are graded, as they don't follow the standard GIA scale used for white diamonds.

In the world of natural diamonds, colored diamonds are separated into categories like faint, light, fancy light, fancy, fancy intense, fancy dark, fancy deep, and fancy vivid. To grade naturally colored diamonds, a set of master stones and/or the Munsell Book of Colors (a color chart of about 1,500 different shades) is used. Grading a natural color diamond remains challenging because it is always subjective.

Here are some points to consider when grading colored lab diamonds:

◇ Different Grading System: Unlike white diamonds, colored diamonds like blue and pink have a different grading process. The focus shifts from the absence of color to the intensity and purity of the color.

◇ Intensity Matters: For a colored lab-created diamond, especially blue or pink, the intensity can vary from faint to vivid. A more intense color usually ups the desirability and value.

◇ Purity Counts: When we talk about the purity of a colored lab diamond, we're referring to the lack of other colors in the gem. A pure blue or pink is more highly rated.

◇ Compare to Similar Diamonds: One way to gauge the value of a colored lab-created diamond is to compare it with others having similar intensity and purity levels.

Lightbox Finest™ Cut: Excellent

When it comes to the Lightbox Finest™ collection, each lab-created diamond is cut to the highest industry standard of 'Excellent.' Whether it’s the understated princess or a classic lab-grown cushion-cut diamond, this ensures you're getting a diamond that not only looks brilliant but has luster like no other. Now, let's explore why the cut grade is important when selecting a lab-grown diamond.

There are several reasons why the quality of your lab diamond’s cut should be at the forefront of your decision-making process:

◇ Impact on Sparkle: The cut influences how much your lab-created diamond sparkles and its overall visual appeal.

◇ Most Important 'C': Of the 4Cs (Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat), the cut is often considered the most important. It directly affects how light moves through the diamond, influencing its sparkle.

◇ Grading System: Diamond cuts are graded from Excellent to Poor based on facets, symmetry, and dimensions. Two well-known organizations, AGS and GIA, set these standards.

◇ Budget Considerations: If you're budget-conscious, Lightbox Jewelry offers our 'Excellent' grade Lightbox Finest™ jewelry at accessible prices, making it a good choice.

What Are Brilliance, Fire, and Scintillation?

Understanding the difference between brilliance, fire, and scintillation can enhance your appreciation of these gems and find the highest quality lab-grown diamonds. These terms are not interchangeable—they describe separate aspects that contribute to a diamond's overall sparkle or luster. The cut of a lab-grown diamond is essential and directly impacts these three factors.

Brilliance refers to the white light emitted from a lab-grown diamond.

◇ The quality of cut affects the lab diamond's ability to reflect white light, thereby impacting its brilliance.

◇Well-cut lab diamonds direct light back to the observer to maximize brilliance.

◇ A lab-created diamond's facets, angles, and overall shape govern its interaction with light and consequently its brilliance.

◇Lab-grown diamonds rated Excellent typically offer the highest brilliance.

Fire is the colored sparkle seen when a lab-grown diamond is exposed to light.

◇ The cut of a lab diamond significantly impacts its ability to break light into various colors.

◇ Ideally cut lab-grown diamonds bend and reflect light to maximize fire along with brilliance and scintillation.

◇ Diamonds cut too deep or too shallow may lack fire as light leaks out, resulting in a dull appearance.

◇ Fancy color diamonds are usually cut differently to enhance color, which can reduce the diamond's fire.

Scintillation describes the flashes of light moving from one facet to another within a lab-grown diamond as it's turned.

◇ Well-cut lab diamonds will have a consistent sparkle, even during motion.

◇ The effectiveness of scintillation depends on a balanced pattern of bright and dark areas in the diamond.

◇ The number of facets plays a role—more facets may produce numerous flashes, while fewer facets will display fewer but potentially more intense flashes.

Are Cut and Shape the Same Things?

Understanding the difference between the cut and shape of lab-grown diamonds is essential when making a significant purchase, like lab-created diamond jewelry or using loose stones for custom work. Although the two terms are related, they are not interchangeable.

Lab-Grown Diamond Shape:

◇ The shape refers to the diamond's external outline.

◇ Often, the shape is the first thing people consider when choosing jewelry like lab-grown diamond rings.

◇ The shape is determined by the diamond cutter after assessing the rough diamond.

◇ The choice of shape is mainly about personal preference.

◇ Popular shapes include round, princess, cushion, emerald, and baguette.

Lab-Grown Diamond Cut:

◇ The cut pertains to the diamond's facets, symmetry, dimensions, and how well it reflects light.

◇ Cut is one of the 4Cs of diamond grading, along with color, clarity, and carat weight.

◇ The quality of the cut directly influences the diamond's brilliance, fire, and scintillation.

◇ Cut is determined before the diamond is shaped.

◇ Diamonds receive cut grades ranging from Poor to Excellent.

◇ A well-cut diamond will maximize its brilliance, fire, and scintillation.

To summarize, the shape of a lab-grown diamond is about its external form and is a matter of personal taste. On the other hand, the cut is a measure of quality that affects how well the diamond reflects light, contributing to its brilliance, fire, and scintillation. That’s why understanding these differences is helpful for making an informed purchase.

Cut Grades

When selecting a piece of lab-grown diamond jewelry from the Lightbox Finest™ collection, you're investing in quality. Understanding the cut grades is crucial to appreciate why these diamonds stand out. The industry relies on the GIA Diamond Cut Scale for standard round brilliant diamonds, which includes five primary grades.

◇ Excellent (EX): Lab-grown diamonds with an Excellent grade offer high brilliance and scintillation. They display a balanced pattern of light and dark areas. These characteristics signify the optimal use of the initial diamond material.

◇ Very Good (VG): Very Good grade stones also have favorable proportions and emit substantial brilliance and light. They are just a step below Excellent but still deliver a remarkable display.

◇ Good (G): A Good grade indicates a reasonable level of craftsmanship. These lab-created diamonds still offer a decent amount of brilliance and light.

◇ Fair (F): Fair grade natural or lab diamonds don't perform as well. They exhibit poor proportions and lack brilliance and scintillation. These might show areas resembling "nail heads" or "fish eyes," where the brilliance is notably absent.

◇ Poor (P): At the bottom of the scale are Poor grade natural and lab diamonds. They demonstrate subpar craftsmanship and fail to produce much brilliance or scintillation.

Lightbox Finest™ Carat Weight

Understanding carat weight is helpful when exploring options and finding the best place to buy lab-grown diamonds. Lightbox Finest™ offers a range of carat weights, making it important to know how this attribute affects both the diamond's price point.

◇ Carat weight is one of the 4Cs of diamond grading, alongside color, clarity, and cut.

◇ The weight is measured in points, with 100 points making one carat.

◇ It's the most objective metric, measured using precise digital scales.

◇ Though it doesn't reflect quality, it directly influences the lab diamond's value.

◇Two lab-grown diamonds of the same weight can vary in price based on other 4Cs—color, clarity, and cut.

What Carat Weight Should I Choose?

Selecting the right carat weight for a lab-grown diamond can be nuanced. Various factors, such as budget, type of jewelry, and personal style, come into play. Let's break down the considerations to guide your decision.

◇ Budget and Value: Larger lab-grown diamonds cost more, and budget may restrict carat weight options. But remember, value is not solely based on carat weight; consider cut, color, and clarity as well.

◇ Type of Jewelry: The jewelry type can dictate the carat weight to some extent. Rings, earrings, necklaces, and bracelets all have different carat weight requirements depending on design. Bespoke pieces using loose lab-grown diamonds provide more flexibility but still have limitations based on the design.

◇ Quality Over Quantity: A high-quality, smaller, lab-grown diamond can outshine a larger, poorly-cut diamond. Cut quality impacts brilliance, making Lightbox Finest™ an excellent choice even for smaller carat weights.

◇ Personal Preference: Carat weight selection often aligns with personal style. Some prefer larger, eye-catching stones, while others opt for smaller, more subtle ones. The lab diamond’s cut can also influence how large it appears in its setting.

◇ Setting Style: As we’ve mentioned, the design of the setting can alter how big or small the lab-grown diamond appears. Halo settings, for instance, make a smaller diamond look larger. So, equal carat weights may appear differently sized depending on the jewelry.

So, choosing a carat weight for a lab-grown diamond is a multifaceted decision. Budget, jewelry type, and personal preference are all key factors. No one size fits all, but understanding these dynamics can help you make an informed choice that aligns with your needs and desires.

Lightbox Finest™ Carat Weight Options

Lightbox offers a variety of carat weights for their lab-grown diamonds. How much lab-grown diamonds will be heavily influenced by this aspect. To learn more about the carat weight options, please see our carat weight guide.

Quality and Choice in Lightbox Finest™ Lab-Grown Diamonds

The Lightbox Finest™ collection represents a pinnacle in lab-grown diamond technology. With superior clarity, color, and cut, these diamonds offer a high-quality option for anyone looking to elevate their look. Produced in our state-of-the-art facility in Gresham, Oregon, these diamonds set new standards for what lab-grown diamonds can achieve.

From understanding the importance of the 4Cs—cut, color, clarity, and carat—to appreciating the nuanced aspects like inclusions and color variations, informed decisions are within your grasp. Whether your priority is size, sparkle, or color, you can find a diamond that suits your needs and meets your expectations in this collection.

Trust in the process, the technology, and the skilled workforce that brings these exceptional lab-grown diamonds to life. Choose Lightbox Finest™ for your next special occasion or milestone. It's an excellent step toward a future that values accessible luxury and everyday excellence.