Synthetic diamonds are becoming increasingly popular in the gemstone industry.
If you’re interested in researching specifics about created diamonds and why they’re beneficial, keep reading to learn everything you need to know about lab grown diamonds.
What are Lab Grown Diamonds?
Lab grown diamonds are man-made gemstones created in a controlled lab environment.
By utilizing advanced technology, scientists and jewelers have discovered multiple methods for creating synthetic diamonds identical to naturally mined diamonds.
Lab grown diamonds provide a variety of benefits, making created diamonds a popular jewelry choice for earrings, necklaces, and engagement rings.
Learn about man-made gemstones by reviewing the creation process, astounding similarities, high quality standards, and debunked myths of lab grown diamonds.
The Production Process
Lab grown diamonds are currently created through two methods: High pressure, high temperature (HPHT) and chemical vapor disposition (CVD).
Both methods begin with a seed or small diamond.
The HPHT method applies tremendous amounts of pressure and heat to the diamond seed. By simulating the natural growth process of diamonds, the HPHT method successfully promotes growth to create beautiful diamonds.
The CVD method adds heat and carbon rich gases to the diamond seed within a safe environment. At low pressure, carbon molecules bond to the diamond seed layer by layer till the diamond is fully grown.
The production process for lab grown diamonds provides an environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional diamond mining. By avoiding fossil fuels and limiting electricity usage, lab grown diamonds are a sustainable solution.
Synthetic vs. Natural Diamonds
Synthetic and natural diamonds are amazingly similar.
Lab grown diamonds possess the identical chemical, physical, and visual components of natural diamonds. In fact, the only difference between synthetic and natural diamonds is the production process and point of origin.
Unless you’re a trained diamond expert, you’ll be unable to tell the difference between lab grown and naturally mined diamonds.
Only by running certain gemstone tests, such as type and radiation tests, are diamond experts able to distinguish between natural and synthetic diamonds.
Because it’s difficult for consumers to differentiate between the diamonds, lab grown diamonds are fortunately and properly labeled to ensure you’re never sold a synthetic diamond when you order a natural diamond.
Diamond Grading Scale
Due to the identical nature and high quality of lab grown diamonds, they’re evaluated using the same grading scale as natural diamonds.
Diamonds are judged based on certain classifications that reveal the standard of quality. The grading scale assesses certain factors, including cut, clarity, color, and carat.
The diamond’s cut refers to how well a diamond is cut and polished, such as considering it’s proportions, depth, and symmetry.
The diamond’s clarity refers to the estimation and amount of imperfections either on the diamond’s surface, called blemishes, or within the diamond, called inclusions.
The diamond’s color refers to the color that appears on a diamond, which is caused by impurities. Colors range from steel gray, white, blue, yellow, and more.
The diamond’s carat refers to the unit of measurement utilized to weigh the diamond.
By evaluating a synthetic or natural diamond’s cut, clarity, color, and carat, jewelers are able to correctly estimate the quality of a particular diamond.
Lab Grown Diamond Myths
Even though synthetic diamonds are created in a lab, they’re just as real as natural diamonds.
Unfortunately, certain myths and misunderstandings exist due to the new nature of diamond growing technology.
Lab grown diamonds are not the same as diamond simulants, such as cubic zirconia or moissanite.
Rather than simply mimicking the appearance of natural diamonds, lab grown diamonds actually possess the same qualities as natural diamonds.
Lab grown diamond myths seek to negate and undermine the impeccable quality of synthetic diamonds.
Benefits of Lab Grown Diamonds
Lab grown diamonds offer a variety of benefits and advantages over naturally mined diamonds.
Benefits include affordable prices, high quality standards, identical characteristics, conflict-free origin, and an environmentally sustainable production process.
If you’re in the market for diamonds, consider the apparent advantages of purchasing man-made diamonds rather than natural diamonds.
Affordable Prices
Lab grown diamonds are substantially less expensive than natural diamonds.
Due to the ready availability and accessibility of lab grown diamonds, created diamonds are priced more competitively.
Generally, lab grown diamonds are 40% to 60% cheaper than naturally mined diamonds, depending on the cut, clarity, color, and carat weight of the diamond.
A great tip for buying jewelry is to choose lab grown diamonds over natural diamonds to maintain your quality standards without breaking the bank.
High Quality Standards
Synthetic diamonds are able to maintain high levels of purity and clarity because they’re produced in a safe and controlled lab environment.
Naturally mined diamonds are exposed to dirt, harsh conditions, strain, and potential defects, which lead to imperfections on and within a diamond.
Diamonds grown in a lab are guaranteed to lack impurities due to the carefully monitored growth process.
Select lab grown diamonds to ensure your diamonds are consistently beautiful and pure.
Identical Characteristics
As previously mentioned, lab grown diamonds are identical to natural diamonds.
Beyond meeting the generic grading scale for quality diamonds, man-made diamonds scientifically meet the same characteristics as natural diamonds.
Characteristics shared by synthetic and natural diamonds include:
- An identical chemical composition of carbon
- A similar cubic crystalline structure
- Equal measurements of hardness, light dispersion, and refraction
Because lab grown and natural diamonds are identical in their composition and quality, purchasing synthetic diamonds is an advantageous and obvious choice.
Conflict-Free Origin
Knowing the origin of your diamond is important due to the conflicting nature of the diamond mining industry.
If you’re a conscious buyer, purchase a conflict-free diamond by selecting synthetic diamonds, which allows you to know when, where, and how your diamond was produced.
Choose a lab grown diamond to provide you peace of mind.
Environmentally Sustainable
Unfortunately, mining natural diamonds is harmful for the environment. Due to the substantial amounts of fossil fuels and electricity used, the mining business causes extreme damage to the earth.
Lab grown diamonds provide an environmentally friendly and sustainable alternative to naturally mined diamonds.
Diamonds grown in a lab are produced by avoiding releasing harmful chemicals into the air, limiting electricity usage, and without fear of a dwindling supply.
Research the environmental benefits of lab grown diamonds to understand why they’re a preferable and increasingly popular choice.
Synthetic diamonds are gradually dominating the gemstone business. Learn about the production process and evident benefits to understand why quality lab grown diamonds are the smart choice.
