Learn about lab grown diamonds

A lab grown diamond, also known as a laboratory-grown diamond or a cultivated diamond, is a diamond that is created in a laboratory setting through artificial means, rather than being mined from the earth.

These diamonds have the same chemical and physical properties as natural diamonds, as they are both made of pure carbon and have the same crystal structure. In terms of appearance, lab grown diamonds can be indistinguishable from natural diamonds to the naked eye, and they also exhibit the same optical characteristics such as brilliance, fire, and sparkle.

There are two main methods for growing lab diamonds:

– High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) method: This process mimics the natural conditions of diamond formation deep within the earth. It involves subjecting a carbon source (such as graphite) to extremely high temperatures (around 1,400 to 1,600 degrees Celsius) and pressures (about 5 to 6 gigapascals) in a specialized press. Under these conditions, the carbon atoms rearrange and crystallize to form diamond crystals. HPHT lab grown diamonds can be produced in a relatively short time, and they are often used to create small to medium-sized diamonds.

– Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) method: In this method, a thin diamond film is grown on a substrate (such as a diamond seed or a silicon wafer) in a low-pressure, high-temperature environment. A gas mixture containing carbon-containing compounds (such as methane) is introduced into the chamber, and under the influence of energy (such as microwave or plasma), the carbon atoms in the gas decompose and deposit onto the substrate, layer by layer, forming a diamond structure. CVD method can produce larger and more pure diamonds, but the growth process is relatively slower and more complex. CVD grown diamonds are suitable for making larger stones and have high purity and good optical properties.