What is Lab Grown Diamond?

Lab grown diamonds, also referred to as lab created diamonds, are grown in highly controlled laboratory environments with advanced technology that duplicates the growing conditions of diamonds developed in the earth. Lab diamonds are optically, chemically and physically identical to mined diamonds. They look, feel, and sparkle the same like natural diamonds. Just like mined diamonds, created diamonds are subjected to the same certification process and graded by gemological organizations on their carat, color, clarity and cut, also known as the 4C’s.

How are lab-grown diamonds made in the lab?

There are two common methods for lab diamond creation and growing, High Pressure HighTemperature (HPHT) and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD). HPHT diamonds were introduced in the 1950s. The formation process begins with a small diamond seed that is placed into pure carbon. The diamond seed is exposed to extreme temperatures and pressures, which causes the carbon to melt and a diamond begins to form around the seed. Then the substance is carefully cooled, and a diamond is formed. The CVD method was a newer method that was created in the 1980s. Growing CVD diamonds requires a unique and innovative process that starts with a thin slice of diamond, called a seed, being placed inside a sealed chamber and heated to a very high temperature. Then, a carbon-rich gas mixture is introduced to the chamber. Under the extremely high pressure, molecular bonds of these gases are broken down and ionized to plasma, causing the carbon pieces to attach themselves to the diamond seed, resulting in the growth of a new and larger diamond. The rough diamond, just like a naturally grown rough diamond, is then ready to be cut, polished, and set into jewelry. 

Do lab-grown diamonds test as real?

Unlike diamond simulants such as cubic zirconia, moissanite and white sapphire, Lab-grown diamonds are real. Lab-grown diamonds will test as real on a diamond tester because they are made of crystallized carbon, just as mined diamonds are. If you were to place a lab diamond next to a mined diamond, even Expert gemologists couldn’t tell the difference between the two with the naked eye. A lab diamond can only be distinguished from mined diamonds using specialized advanced technology. Traditional methods and equipment cannot tell the two apart. As of 2018, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ruled that both lab-grown and mined diamonds to be real. The only difference is their point of origin. 

Why choose Lab Grown Diamonds over Mined Diamonds?

• An ethical choice

Consumers today are highly conscious of the environmental impact of their purchase. Traditional mined diamonds have a long-standing reputation of being unethical. Chances are you’ve heard of “blood diamonds.” Diamond mining has high human costs. The process possibly involves exploiting the poor, child labor usage, and results in 1 injury per every 1000 workers on an annual basis. Mined diamonds have been used to fund wars and rebellions in Africa where many of the mined diamonds come from. 

Lab-grown diamonds have no such concerns, and they are 100% conflict-free. The process of creating lab diamonds exploit zero workers, zero use of child labor, create zero injuries and enable zero wars.  In addition, due to the long supply chain, the origin of a mined diamond cannot be traced easily, which makes it difficult to ensure the diamond you are purchasing is ethically sourced. However, you can easily trace where the diamond originated If you purchase a lab grown diamond.

• A Smaller Environmental Impact

Mining for diamonds causes significant environmental damage. Since these stones are formed deep underneath the earth’s surface, companies must employ miners to go deep digging within the earth’s surface. There are three main mining techniques, all of which use heavy machinery to extract these diamonds. Diamond mines are some of the largest man-made holes on Earth. The mining process seriously affects ecological systems in terms of creating tons of mineral waste, polluting the water, rendering the land unusable, and disturbing habitats. That’s not to mention energy consumption to power these heavy machinery and water usage. 

Lab grown diamonds, which involve no digging, are better for the environment because they are created in a controlled environment inside of a lab. The growing process uses a fraction of energy to power the needed electricity to run the man-made diamond machinery and does not contaminate fragile ecosystems.