Lab grown diamonds have undeniably taken the jewelry industry by storm, offering a sustainable, ethical and economical alternative to mined diamonds.
In this origin story, you’ll discover the remarkable blend of science, art, and technology that transforms humble carbon atoms into glittering masterpieces.
From high-pressure chambers to plasma reactors, you’ll be amazed at the journey a lab grown diamond undertakes before adorning some of the world’s most desired lab grown diamond engagement rings.
Table of contents
What are laboratory grown diamonds?
Lab grown diamonds, also referred to as laboratory-made diamonds, lab diamonds, man-made diamonds, and cultured diamonds, are real diamonds created in a controlled laboratory environment using advanced technological processes.
Using the same ingredients as the Earth’s mantle (carbon), this process yields true and real diamonds with their characteristic crystal structure, sparkle, fire and durability.
These diamonds have the same chemical, optical and physical properties as natural diamonds, as both are made of carbon atoms arranged in a crystalline structure.
The sole difference to mined diamonds lies in their origin.
The FTC recently even changed the definition of a diamond by taking the word ‘natural’ out of it to include the lab grown variety. “[Lab-created diamonds] are not fakes. They’re not cubic zirconias. They have all the same physical and chemical properties of a mined diamond.” Stephen Morisseau, a spokesman for the Gemological Institute of America, stated. Labs, including the GIA, HRD and IGI are also now grading lab grown diamonds in exactly the same way as they do mined.
How Are Diamonds Made?
How Are Mined Diamonds Made?
Mother Earth has used the same recipe for millions of years:
Natural occurring pure carbon + immense pressure + extremely high temperatures = crystallised carbon (diamond).
Modern science holds that natural diamonds were formed at least hundreds of millions of years ago at a depth of up to 150 km under the Earth’s surface.
Carbon found itself in a tight spot in temperatures of up to 1100’C and pressure as high as 50 000 atmospheres.
Subsequently, the carbon crystallised into diamonds and moved towards the earth’s surface through volcanic activity over aeons.
How Are Lab Grown Diamonds Made?
The race to create a diamond in a laboratory environment started in the early 1940s, but efforts were disrupted by the Second World War.
In 1958 scientists at General Electric successfully created a diamond by subjecting carbon to extremely high pressures and temperatures, similar to what occurs naturally deep within the Earth’s mantle.
They rather unimaginatively called this process;
High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT Diamonds)
The process used in 2023 is still similar, but scientific refinements in the process have resulted in the HPHT process yielding much higher quality diamonds than even a decade ago.
A carbon source and a diamond seed (a tiny piece of natural or lab grown diamond) are placed in a growth chamber, which is then subjected to pressures of 50,000 to 70,000 atmospheres and temperatures of 1,300 to 1,600 degrees Celsius.
Under these conditions, carbon atoms bond into a diamond crystal structure around the seed, thereby growing it.
After a few days to weeks, the HPHT diamond crystals are extracted, cooled, and then cut, polished, and graded to create the final gem-quality lab grown diamond.
The Modern Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD Diamonds)
The CVD diamond creation process was first introduced in the 1980s as a means to produce thin film coatings for various industrial applications.
Over the next few decades, researchers continued to refine the technique and adapt it for the production of gem-quality lab grown diamonds.
The CVD process for growing diamonds involves placing a diamond seed in a chamber filled with a carbon-rich (methane-hydrogen) gas mixture. The gases are heated to form a plasma, which releases carbon atoms that deposit onto the seed, growing a diamond crystal layer by layer.
When compared to HPHT, the CVD process allows for greater controlled growth over specific diamond characteristics before the final diamond is cut, polished, and graded.
Further Processing Into The Gems We Love And Treasure.
Regardless of how the carbon was crystalised, the rest of the manufacturing cycle is identical.
Whether mined or lab-created, rough diamonds need some TLC before they can adorn engagement rings and other fine jewelry.
First Step: Planning The Final Dimond
The planning stage is essential in determining how to maximize the value and beauty of the rough diamond.
Using advanced imaging technology and software, experts analyze the rough diamond’s inclusions, color, and proportions to decide on the optimal diamond shape. This process helps to minimize waste and ensure the highest possible yield from the rough diamond.
A laser now etches the diamond plan onto the rough diamond.
Second Step: Cutting And Polishing The Rough Diamond
The rough diamond is then cut by even stronger lasers using the guidelines marked to form smaller diamonds that are easier to cut and polish to the planned dimensions.
It now undergoes faceting, where the diamond cutter creates the diamond’s facets (sides) by grinding and polishing the surface.
This step involves a combination of skill, experience, and precision to ensure the diamond’s optimal symmetry, proportion, and overall appearance.
The facets are polished using a polishing wheel coated with a diamond powder mixture, which helps to achieve their infamous alluringly smooth, reflective surface.
Final Step: Independent Diamond Grading
Once the lab grown diamonds are all polished up, they’re individually packed and sent off to independent diamond grading laboratories like the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and International Gemological Institute (IGI).
Grading involves gemmologists painstakingly evaluating each diamond based on the 4Cs: carat (weight), cut, clarity, and color.
The grading report provides an unbiased assessment of the diamond’s quality, which helps determine its value and ensures consumer transparency.
The grading laboratory repackages the newly graded lab diamonds into neat grading certificates indicating all the diamond’s unique specifications and returns them to the manufacturer.
The most trusted laboratory for grading mined diamonds is the GIA.
Although the GIA also grades laboratory-grown diamonds, the IGI seems to have taken the lead in the lab grown diamond segment.
IGI certification is by no means inferior, but it is more affordable than the GIA route. More affordable grading is a good fit with laboratory diamonds trading at up to 80% less than mined diamonds.
Both are trustworthy, consistent, internationally regarded and recognised.
HPHT Diamonds Vs CVD Diamonds: Which is Better?
While HPHT and CVD differ in their processes, the resulting diamonds are virtually indistinguishable in appearance.
Both process yield diamonds that undergo the same stringent grading procedures at a grading laboratory.
The process of creating HPHT diamonds replicates the natural diamond formation conditions, which is very energy intensive.
CVD diamonds grow in a controlled environment filled with a carbon-rich gas mixture.
This method is more energy-efficient than HPHT, making it a more sustainable choice.
Still, the energy consumption of lab diamond creation, regardless of method, is minute compared to the needs of the industrial diesel-guzzling diamond mining operations.
Should this be a key differentiator for you, the growth method is clearly indicated on the grading certificate.
I caution you against purchasing HPHT diamonds at a premium to CVD. I’ve seen this trend where jewellers try to offload more expensive lab diamonds to unsuspecting shoppers. The grading certificate is the final authority on the specifications of a diamond. Not the lab creation method used.
Next Steps?
As you’ve seen, the line separating laboratory-made diamonds and mined diamonds is paper-thin.
Apart from how natural carbon is crystalised, the processing is identical.
The future of lab grown diamonds is bright, and I strongly encourage you to look into lab diamonds for your dream engagement ring.
If you have any questions, you can find me at info@lumendiamonds.com
FAQ
The process of creating lab grown diamonds can take several weeks to a few months. This is significantly faster than the millions of years it takes for natural diamonds to form under the Earth’s surface.
Lab grown diamonds are more affordable because the process of creating them is more efficient and less resource-intensive than traditional mined diamonds. They bypass the costs associated with diamond mining, such as excavation and labor.
No, creating lab grown diamonds requires cutting edge technology, high pressure high temperature (HPHT) or chemical vapor deposition (CVD) processes, and controlled laboratory conditions that cannot be replicated at home.
Lab grown diamonds are made of pure carbon, the same element that natural diamonds are made of. They are grown from a small diamond seed in a controlled laboratory environment.
Lab diamonds are made predominantly in the USA, India and China. These laboratories use advanced technology to replicate the conditions under which diamonds naturally form in the Earth’s mantle.
Yes, lab grown diamonds are man made. They are created in a laboratory using either HPHT or CVD methods.
The two main methods used to produce synthetic diamonds are High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD). Both methods mimic the natural process of diamond formation but in a controlled laboratory environment.
The two main methods used to produce synthetic diamonds are High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD). Both methods mimic the natural process of diamond formation but in a controlled laboratory environment.
It can take between 2 to 3 weeks to grow a 1 carat lab-grown diamond using the CVD process. The HPHT process may take a bit longer.
Yes, lab grown diamonds will pass a diamond detector test because they have the same physical and chemical properties as earth grown diamonds.
Lab grown diamonds offer several advantages. They are more affordable, environmentally friendly, and ethically sourced compared to mined diamonds. They also offer the same beauty and quality as natural diamonds.
The size of a lab grown diamond depends on the conditions and duration of the growth process. However, lab grown diamonds of over 10 carats have been produced.
The number of engagement rings featuring lab grown diamonds is increasing as more consumers become aware of their benefits. As of now, it’s estimated that about 20% of engagement rings sold contain lab grown diamonds.
