Lab grown diamonds are real diamonds that are produced in a controlled laboratory setting rather than formed naturally over billions of years beneath the Earth's surface. Chemically, physically, and optically, lab grown diamonds are identical to natural diamonds, sharing the same hardness, brilliance, and fire. There are two main methods used to create lab diamonds:
- High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT): This method simulates the natural Earth's mantle conditions by subjecting a diamond seed to intense heat (over 2,000 degrees Celsius) and pressure (around 1.5 million pounds per square inch), causing carbon atoms to crystallize into a diamond.
- Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD): In this method, a diamond seed is placed in a vacuum chamber filled with carbon-rich gases like methane and hydrogen that are heated to break down the gases. Carbon atoms then settle onto the seed layer by layer, growing the diamond to the desired size.
Lab diamonds come out as rough stones after several days or weeks and are then cut and polished like natural diamonds. To the naked eye and even through most jewelers' tools, lab grown and natural diamonds are indistinguishable. Benefits of lab grown diamonds include:
- They are a sustainable and eco-friendly option with a smaller carbon footprint and no mining disruptions.
- They are conflict-free as no mining is involved.
- They generally cost less than natural diamonds of the same size and quality, offering more value.
- They can be produced in a variety of unique colors not easily found in nature.
Only specialized gemological equipment can detect subtle differences between lab grown and natural diamonds, such as growth patterns or inclusions unique to their creation processes. But in terms of quality, appearance, and durability, lab grown diamonds are true diamonds with the same properties as mined ones. In short, lab grown diamonds are scientifically and materially the same as natural diamonds, but they are created faster, more sustainably, and often at a lower cost.
