What are Lab Grown Diamonds?
Lab grown diamonds, also known are man-made diamonds that are created in a laboratory setting rather than being mined from the earth. These diamonds have the same chemical and physical properties as natural diamonds, but they are produced in a matter of weeks instead of taking millions of years to form.
Lab grown diamonds are created by using advanced technology to replicate the conditions that cause diamonds to form deep within the earth. This process involves placing a small diamond seed into a chamber that is filled with carbon-rich gases. The gases are then heated to extremely high temperatures and subjected to high pressure, causing the carbon atoms to bond together and form a new diamond crystal around the original seed.
How are Lab Grown Diamonds Made?
A lab grown diamond is a real diamond which is created in a laboratory using processes which replicate the same growing conditions of diamonds that are produced in the earth.
CVD – A diamond seed is placed into a vacuum chamber which is filled with carbon-rich gases and then heated to extreme temperature. Layers of carbon will begin to form around the seed diamond, growing a more substantial one. Due to these highly controlled creation processes, lab grown diamonds tend to have a higher quality than their natural counterparts.
There are two major processes used to create a lab grown diamond: High Pressure, High Temperature (HPHT) and Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD). Both methods begin with a “seed” which is a diamond slice about as thick as a human hair.
HPHT -A seed is placed amid pure graphite carbon and subjected to extreme temperature and pressure, which replicates the conditions deep within the earth where natural diamonds form. This process forms layers to the diamond over several days.
CVD – A diamond seed is placed into a vacuum chamber which is filled with carbon-rich gases and then heated to extreme temperature. Layers of carbon will begin to form around the seed diamond, growing a more substantial one. Due to these highly controlled creation processes, lab grown diamonds tend to have a higher quality than their natural counterparts.
Grading and Certification
Lab diamonds are graded on the same scale of Cut, Clarity, Colour and Carat Weight (The 4Cs) as natural diamonds. We purchase lab diamonds certified by IGI (International Gemological Institute) and GIA (Gemological Institute of America) that are laser inscribed on the girdle of the stone with the certificate number and a reference to being lab grown
Environmental Impact
The environmental impact of lab grown diamonds compares favourably to mined diamonds, with natural diamond mining known to be responsible for the pollution of water sources and th e destruction of natural habitats. Lab diamonds aren’t without their disadvantages either, with some producers sourcing their energy via fuel-based electricity from the grid. However, it is hoped that soon all producers will move to sustainable energy sources such as hydropower and solar.
Value
It is considered that mined diamonds will hold their value better than lab diamonds because there is a limited supply. Lab grown diamonds can be manufactured in unlimited quantities, so they are not considered rare or as valuable. However, just as mined diamonds have re-sale value, so do lab grown diamonds, with both having a similar resale value as part of the original sale price.
Key Benefits
Lab diamonds offer the same beauty, with all the fire, scintillation, and sparkle as a mined diamond. - Lab diamonds are considerably less expensive than mined diamonds. You can save 30-40% on your diamond simply by choosing lab grown. - They are still real diamonds. With the same physical, chemical, and optical properties as a mined diamond, it is impossible to tell them apart without specialised testing equipment. - Lab grown diamonds are not mined from the earth and are therefore considered a more environmentally sustainable option than mined diamonds.