Is a Lab-Grown Diamond a Good Diamond?

What Are Lab Grown Diamonds?

Lab-grown diamonds, also referred to as lab-created diamonds, man-made diamonds, engineered diamonds, and cultured diamonds, are produced in carefully controlled laboratory settings using advanced technological methods. These processes replicate the conditions in which diamonds naturally grow beneath the Earth's crust in the mantle. Lab-created diamonds are composed of genuine carbon atoms arranged in the typical diamond crystal structure. As they are made from the same material as natural diamonds, they possess identical optical and chemical properties.

Lab Grown Diamond Benefits

Lab grown diamonds are an excellent alternative to mined diamonds. Not only are they physically identical, but they’re also sourced responsibly and are more cost-effective. Some of the biggest advantages of a lab created diamond include:

• - Fewer defects

• - Greater affordability

• - Colors that are rarely found in nature can be created, making unique and coveted pieces more obtainable

• - Trackable origin sources allow us to source diamonds from reputable places that don't engage in poor treatment of workers or communities

• - HPHT and CVD lab grown diamond methods make it easier to keep up with demand without sacrificing quality or engaging in harmful processes

How Are Lab Grown Diamonds Made?

Lab-grown diamonds originate from minuscule carbon seeds extracted from pre-existing diamonds. Scientists employ sophisticated technology, utilizing either extreme pressure and heat or a specialized deposition technique called chemical vapor deposition (CVD), to replicate the natural diamond formation process. Over a period of six to ten weeks, a rough diamond is cultivated, subsequently undergoing cutting, polishing, and setting in lab diamond jewelry such as earrings, necklaces, or bracelets.

There are two primary methods for creating lab diamonds:

1. High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT): This method emulates the intense conditions present during natural diamond formation beneath the Earth's surface. To generate the lab diamond, a sizable machine crushes a specific quantity of carbon material under pressures exceeding 870,000 pounds per square inch at temperatures ranging from 1300 to 1600 degrees Celsius.

2. Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD): In CVD, a seed diamond is positioned within a small vacuum chamber filled with heated hydrogen and carbon-containing gases. As the temperature reaches a certain level, the gas molecules disintegrate, leading to the formation of crystallized carbon layers around the seed, resulting in the growth of a more substantial diamond. Some lab diamonds produced via CVD may undergo additional pressure and heat treatment after cultivation.

Differentiating between natural diamonds, lab diamonds cultivated through the HPHT method, and lab diamonds grown through the CVD method is impossible to discern with the naked eye. Only scientists can identify the differences by analyzing specific markers induced by the growth conditions.

Lab Diamonds in Various Colors

Our lab-grown diamonds are accessible in a wide array of colorless ranges. Additionally, we provide lab-grown diamonds in fancy colors, which are often exceedingly rare in nature, encompassing sought-after hues like vivid yellows, blues, and pinks. Fancy colored lab-grown diamonds are produced when minute quantities of specific trace elements are incorporated during the growth stage, mirroring the natural process. These lab-grown fancy colored diamonds are available at more accessible price points compared to their naturally occurring counterparts.

How Long Do Lab Grown Diamonds Last?

Lab-grown diamonds, much like natural diamonds, boast exceptional durability and can endure indefinitely with adequate care. Their composition of carbon atoms arranged in a crystal lattice structure renders them highly resistant to wear and scratches. With proper maintenance and care, lab-grown diamonds will retain their brilliance and visual appeal for generations to come.