What are Lab Grown Diamonds and Their Benefits?
It is believed that diamonds were formed more than three billion years ago, occurring naturally deep within the earth’s crust.
Since then, they have continued to enchant humankind, besides being used in jewelry, automobiles, and other industries.
But, apart from being found in nature, they are also created in labs. Fascinating, isn’t it?
They share the same qualities, appearance, and properties while being priced differently.
But what makes them so popular, as can be seen from some review resources like Clean Origin Review and others? How are they grown, and what are the advantages they offer?
Read on to find out.
How are diamonds grown in labs?
Two primary methods are used to grow diamond gemstones in laboratories. While the processes are different, the outcomes are excellent in both cases. Further, they are thermally, chemically, and optically similar to natural diamonds, and just like them, hardly lose their shine or luster.
HPHT (High-Pressure-High-Temperature)
HPHT is one of the methods used to manufacture a diamond. It is called so because it creates the same heat and pressure conditions found deep inside the earth.
A diamond seed is placed in a laboratory press. The growth chamber is heated between 1300-1600 ℃, while the pressure inside is maintained at about 8,70,000 pounds psi. That causes carbon material like graphite to dissolve and form molten flux.
The carbon material then works its way towards the diamond seed to create a crystal, which can take almost a week. The diamond cutter then cuts and polishes the crystal.
CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition)
The second method is called the CVD, which starts with diamond seeds being placed in the growth chamber, filled with hydrogen and other gas containing carbon.
An energy source breaks the gas molecules. The carbon atoms then spread towards the seed plates, which have low temperatures. The crystallization process takes a couple of weeks. Numerous crystals may grow simultaneously.
Every few days, they are removed to cut the rough edges, and the diamond is polished into the final product.
4 Benefits of lab diamonds
1. Environmentally-friendly
Gemstones grown in labs do not cause adverse effects on the environment. Those that are mined require thousands of acres of topsoil to be removed.
The holes that are dug are so broad that they can be seen from space. Mined diamonds need gallons of water, while lab-created stones don’t.
For example, a single carat uses almost 127 gallons in mining, while only 18 gallons per carat is used in the laboratory process.
2. Excellent quality
Gemstones created in laboratories, including diamonds, are brighter and better. They also exhibit comparatively fewer strains in the crystal structure and have the highest purity rating from several gemological institutes at Type 2a.
The high purity rating is enjoyed by less than two percent of mined diamonds. Naturally found ones are J to E in color, while lab stones are D to E. While both are high standards according to GIA’s color grading system, laboratory ones are almost excellent.
3. More affordable
A significant advantage of buying lab-manufactured stones is that they are much cheaper than natural ones.
That is because they have an efficient supply chain, and the process is cost-effective. For the same budget, you can buy bigger and higher-quality diamonds.
4. Can a jeweler detect the difference?
Generally, a jeweler will not be able to distinguish manufactured diamonds from natural ones. However, they may do so if they are trained gemologists and have a powerful microscope. Further, they will pass a diamond tester examination since they have the same electrical and thermal conductivity.
As is seen in reviews of reputed companies like Clean Origin Review and the like, the enthusiasm for lab diamonds is a testimony to its growing charm worldwide.
Diamonds will always be around, so going for something that offers so many benefits while still of remarkable quality, can be a great choice.