Laboratory Grown Diamonds
Laboratory-grown diamonds, also known as synthetic diamonds, are diamonds that are created in a controlled environment using advanced technology, rather than being mined from the earth. These diamonds have the same physical, chemical, and optical properties as natural diamonds, making them virtually indistinguishable from mined diamonds to the naked eye.
There are two different growth methods to create laboratory grown diamond. These include:
High Pressure, High Temperature (HPHT) Process:
o This process mimics the natural formation of diamonds in the Earth’s mantle. A small
diamond seed is placed in a press, subjected to extreme pressure and temperatures along with carbon, which then crystallizes to form a diamond.
Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) Process:
o In the CVD process, a diamond seed is placed in a chamber filled with carbon-rich gas. The gas is heated to extreme temperatures, causing carbon atoms to bond to the diamond seed and grow layer by layer.
Key Features of Laboratory-Grown Diamonds:
o Identical to Natural Diamonds: They are made of pure carbon and have the same hardness (10 on the Mohs scale), optical properties, and brilliance as natural diamonds.
o Certification: Just like natural diamonds, laboratory-grown diamonds are graded by
gemmological institutes, such as the Gemmological Institute of America (GIA) or International Gemmological Institute (IGI), based on the four Cs: cut, clarity, colour, and carat weight.
o Origin: The primary difference is their origin—natural diamonds are billions of years old and formed deep within the Earth, while lab-grown diamonds can be created in weeks.
