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Lab Grown Diamonds
What are Lab-Grown Diamonds?
Who doesn’t love diamonds? They’re full of beauty and sparkle, and a special rarity that adds to their allure. It takes the exact right environment, and then millions (if not billions) of years for a diamond to form, which makes them a unique and special part of your jewelry collection.
But while some say that rarity is what makes diamond rings and other diamond-based jewelry so special, there’s an alternative that’s been growing in popularity in recent years: lab-grown diamonds.
In this guide, we’ll explore the world of lab-made diamonds, including how they are made, the difference between lab-grown diamonds and diamond simulants, and how to decide if buying a lab-created diamond is the right choice for you.
What are Lab-Grown Diamonds?
Who doesn’t love diamonds? They’re full of beauty and sparkle, and a special rarity that adds to their allure. It takes the exact right environment, and then millions (if not billions) of years for a diamond to form, which makes them a unique and special part of your jewelry collection.
But while some say that rarity is what makes diamond rings and other diamond-based jewelry so special, there’s an alternative that’s been growing in popularity in recent years: lab-grown diamonds.
In this guide, we’ll explore the world of lab-made diamonds, including how they are made, the difference between lab-grown diamonds and diamond simulants, and how to decide if buying a lab-created diamond is the right choice for you.
ETHICALLY
SOUND
Because lab-grown diamonds are created, they’re inherently more transparent, conflict free, and tend to have less environmental impact.
THE LAB-GROWN
DIAMOND DIFFERENCE
Lab-grown diamonds are chemically, physically, and optically identical to natural diamonds. The only difference is their origin.
EXCEPTIONAL
VALUE
Lab-grown diamonds are often more affordable than natural diamonds, giving you more diamond for your budget.
ETHICALLY
SOUND
Because lab-grown diamonds are created, they’re inherently more transparent, conflict free, and tend to have less environmental impact.
THE LAB-GROWN
DIAMOND DIFFERENCE
Lab-grown diamonds are chemically, physically, and optically identical to natural diamonds. The only difference is their origin.
EXCEPTIONAL
VALUE
Lab-grown diamonds are often more affordable than natural diamonds, giving you more diamond for your budget.
ETHICALLY SOUND
Because lab-grown diamonds are created, they’re inherently more transparent, conflict free, and tend to have less environmental impact.
THE LAB-GROWN DIAMOND DIFFERENCE
Lab-grown diamonds are chemically, physically, and optically identical to natural diamonds. The only difference is their origin.
EXCEPTIONAL VALUE
Lab-grown diamonds are often more affordable than natural diamonds, giving you more diamond for your budget.
How are Lab-Grown Diamonds Made?
There are three main components that go into creating a diamond: heat, pressure, and time. Diamonds begin growing underground, about 100 miles into the Earth’s mantle. Carbon molecules located there are under such intense heat and pressure that they bind together and create an extremely strong 3D pattern. But it has to be the exactly right environment for this to happen: natural diamonds require environments between 2102 degrees and 2192 degrees Fahrenheit and between 50 to 70 kilobars of pressure.
As for the time factor, the diamonds that we mine today have been growing for many, many years – in fact, the oldest diamond currently known to exist is a little over 3 billion years old! Through deep-source volcanic eruptions, these diamonds are brought closer to the surface where they can be found and mined.
How are Lab-Grown Diamonds Made?
There are three main components that go into creating a diamond: heat, pressure, and time. Diamonds begin growing underground, about 100 miles into the Earth’s mantle. Carbon molecules located there are under such intense heat and pressure that they bind together and create an extremely strong 3D pattern. But it has to be the exactly right environment for this to happen: natural diamonds require environments between 2102 degrees and 2192 degrees Fahrenheit and between 50 to 70 kilobars of pressure.
As for the time factor, the diamonds that we mine today have been growing for many, many years – in fact, the oldest diamond currently known to exist is a little over 3 billion years old! Through deep-source volcanic eruptions, these diamonds are brought closer to the surface where they can be found and mined.
Diamond Microscope On the other hand, there are two main ways to create lab-grown diamonds. The first is through High Pressure/High Temperature (HP/HT), which mimics how diamonds are made in nature. This process begins with a diamond “seed,” which can be either a natural diamond or a lab-grown diamond. Hydraulic pressure and a proprietary recipe of iron, nickel, and cobalt flux create an environment that encourages the starter seed to grow.
The second way to create a lab-grown diamond is called Chemical Vapor Deposition, or CVD. Using the CVD process, a diamond starter seed is placed in a sealed chamber, which is heated to extreme temperatures. The chamber is then filled with a carbon-rich hydrogen and methane gas. This ionization breaks down the carbon gas, allowing the pure carbon molecules to adhere to the diamond seed. The carbon then slowly builds into a crystal layer by layer. CVD diamonds typically grow within 14 days.
Diamond Microscope On the other hand, there are two main ways to create lab-grown diamonds. The first is through High Pressure/High Temperature (HP/HT), which mimics how diamonds are made in nature. This process begins with a diamond “seed,” which can be either a natural diamond or a lab-grown diamond. Hydraulic pressure and a proprietary recipe of iron, nickel, and cobalt flux create an environment that encourages the starter seed to grow.
The second way to create a lab-grown diamond is called Chemical Vapor Deposition, or CVD. Using the CVD process, a diamond starter seed is placed in a sealed chamber, which is heated to extreme temperatures. The chamber is then filled with a carbon-rich hydrogen and methane gas. This ionization breaks down the carbon gas, allowing the pure carbon molecules to adhere to the diamond seed. The carbon then slowly builds into a crystal layer by layer. CVD diamonds typically grow within 14 days.
Natural vs. Lab-Grown
It’s nearly impossible for a consumer to tell the difference between natural and lab-created diamonds. In fact, even some jewelers can’t tell the difference without advanced testing.
The first is a Type IIa test, which identifies how pure the carbon is that makes up the diamond. There are four types of diamonds (Type Ia, Type Ib, Type IIa, or Type IIb), and Type IIa is the purest. Only 2% of natural diamonds are Type IIa, while almost all lab-grown diamonds are Type IIa. Therefore, if a diamond tests as Type IIa, there’s a pretty good chance that it’s a lab-grown diamond. This test isn’t entirely conclusive, because some natural diamonds are Type IIa and some lab-grown diamonds aren’t, but it gives jewelers and consumers a pretty good idea.
The second method utilizes specialized equipment to conduct radiation tests. This test measures and records specific light absorbance patterns across the visible and ultraviolet spectrum. Both HP/HT and CVD diamonds exhibit distinct patterns, and fluorescence colors and patterns further aid in distinguishing natural from lab-grown diamonds.
Given that lab-grown diamonds are nearly identical to natural diamonds, buyers may fear inadvertently purchasing a mislabeled diamond. However, responsible jewelers typically disclose lab-grown diamonds, sometimes with laser inscriptions on the diamond's girdle. Most diamonds from reputable sources undergo evaluation by institutions like the Gemological Institute of America, ensuring accurate identification as natural or lab-grown.
Natural vs. Lab-Grown
It’s nearly impossible for a consumer to tell the difference between natural and lab-created diamonds. In fact, even some jewelers can’t tell the difference without advanced testing.
The first is a Type IIa test, which identifies how pure the carbon is that makes up the diamond. There are four types of diamonds (Type Ia, Type Ib, Type IIa, or Type IIb), and Type IIa is the purest. Only 2% of natural diamonds are Type IIa, while almost all lab-grown diamonds are Type IIa. Therefore, if a diamond tests as Type IIa, there’s a pretty good chance that it’s a lab-grown diamond. This test isn’t entirely conclusive, because some natural diamonds are Type IIa and some lab-grown diamonds aren’t, but it gives jewelers and consumers a pretty good idea.
The second method utilizes specialized equipment to conduct radiation tests. This test measures and records specific light absorbance patterns across the visible and ultraviolet spectrum. Both HP/HT and CVD diamonds exhibit distinct patterns, and fluorescence colors and patterns further aid in distinguishing natural from lab-grown diamonds.
Given that lab-grown diamonds are nearly identical to natural diamonds, buyers may fear inadvertently purchasing a mislabeled diamond. However, responsible jewelers typically disclose lab-grown diamonds, sometimes with laser inscriptions on the diamond's girdle. Most diamonds from reputable sources undergo evaluation by institutions like the Gemological Institute of America, ensuring accurate identification as natural or lab-grown.