What Are Lab Grown Diamonds?

As their name suggests, lab grown diamonds are grown in a laboratory. These artificial stones share the same chemical composition and crystal structure as natural diamonds, and are typically indistinguishable from them by sight alone.

Lab-grown diamonds are a more sustainable alternative to mined diamonds and have recently become a popular choice for many consumers. However, it is important to understand the differences between the two so you can properly educate your customers on what they are buying.

High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT)

The HPHT process replicates the natural conditions that create mined diamonds. This includes temperatures that reach 2,000 degrees Celsius and pressures that reach 1.5 million PSI (parts per square inch).

In the HPHT method, diamond seeds are placed in a chamber filled with carbon and subjected to extreme heat and pressure. The temperature and pressure causes the carbon to melt, forming diamonds around the seed. This process can take up to 6-8 weeks.

During the growth process, the diamond is surrounded by an additional layer of carbon, which increases the strength and hardness of the diamond. When the pressures and temperatures are high enough, the diamond grows into a small crystal that looks like an octahedron.

When the growth process is complete, the diamond is removed from the chamber and placed into a vacuum. Once the diamond is vacuumed out, it is ready to be cut, polished, and set into jewelry.

Lab-grown diamonds are significantly less expensive than naturally formed diamonds, making them a great option for anyone on a budget. This is due to the fact that lab grown diamonds do not go through the same supply chain as mined diamonds. This means that there are fewer people involved in the manufacturing process, which reduces costs and allows for larger and more elaborate diamonds to be made.

Another advantage of lab-grown diamonds is that they do not require mining from deposits and therefore, pose less pollution to the environment. This makes them a great choice for those who are concerned about the environment.

In addition, HPHT diamonds are able to achieve desired color grades ranging from D to H, whereas CVD diamonds often exhibit F-H colors. It is also possible for HPHT diamonds to undergo post-growth treatment to enhance their color even further.

In order to distinguish between a HPHT diamond and a CVD diamond, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has developed a series of spectroscopic techniques to identify which diamonds are real and which are enhanced. In addition, the diamond must pass a GIA grading inspection before it can be sold.

Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD)

Synthetic diamonds, also known as laboratory grown diamond rough, are created through a process called Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD). Unlike natural diamonds that form within the Earth, lab-grown diamonds do not form naturally.

This innovative process involves a vacuum chamber with temperatures of 700-1300degC and pressures below 1 GPa. A mixture of gaseous carbon, usually methane and hydrogen, is then pumped into the chamber. This causes the molecules to break apart and release carbon atoms that migrate down toward the diamond seed, where they bond with the crystal.

The process is then repeated over and over until the carbon atoms have formed a diamond. The diamond rough is then cut into gem-quality gemstones.

One of the main benefits of growing diamonds in a laboratory is that they are much more affordable than mined diamonds. In addition, they are a more sustainable option because they use less energy than natural diamonds and they do not impact the environment.

There are also a number of advantages to this method, such as reduced labor input and more efficient production. The process of growing a diamond requires a lot of work and it is important that the production process is as environmentally friendly as possible.

Another key advantage of this technique is that it produces more carats per hour than other methods, resulting in lower prices for consumers. In fact, the average cost of a lab-grown diamond is about 40% less than a mined diamond.

In addition to this, lab-grown diamonds can be traced back to their origins, ensuring ethical work practices and sustainable production. Moreover, their provenance can be easily verified by independent third party certification organizations such as SCS.

Another unique aspect of the CVD diamond growth process is that it contains a number of tight-knit microscopic flat vertical layers that are called “growth striations.” These striations make identification easier when used with gemological instruments, such as a GIA or IGI certified grading report. They can be seen through a microscope and are a great way to tell diamonds apart from one another.

Thermodynamic Process

Laboratory-grown diamond rough can be grown in two main ways: High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD). HPHT is more costly and less energy efficient, resulting in smaller diamonds. CVD is more environmentally friendly and can produce larger diamonds.

The lab-grown diamond synthesis process is not easy or fast, and it can be difficult to predict the outcome of the process, so it’s important to work with an experienced producer to ensure the highest quality product. The production of a large number of gem-quality lab-grown diamonds takes time and a lot of research, equipment and experimentation to achieve the desired results.

To begin the synthesis process, the diamond seed is placed in a vacuum chamber and then exposed to high pressures and temperatures. It is then ionized into plasma using either microwave power, a hot filament or arc discharge, a welding torch, a laser, an electron beam or other means.

Once the diamond seed is ionized, it is placed in a growth chamber where it is surrounded by gases, which are then energized. These gases usually include a carbon source, such as methane, and hydrogen with a typical ratio of 1:99. Hydrogen is necessary because it etches off non-diamond carbon, allowing diamond growth to occur.

During the synthesis, the pressure of the gases can vary, and the chambers are carefully monitored for optimal temperature, gas composition and ionization conditions. In order to maximize productivity, the chemists, operator/technologists and engineers must be trained and have the experience to control all of these variables.

Once the synthesis is complete, the new diamonds are extracted and then processed for the final product, which is often polished and cut to a specific size and shape. The process is a very labor-intensive one, but the results are worth it in the long run. The production process is also environmentally friendly and uses a minimal amount of water to create the finished diamonds.

Growth Cell

The most common way to create diamonds in the lab is the high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) method. This process replicates the natural conditions under which diamonds formed a billion years ago.

It involves putting significant pressure and heat on a small cell over days or weeks. This pressure and temperature causes carbon atoms to realign into a diamond structure.

This is a very controlled process. The heat and pressure must be kept consistent at all times. Any changes in the temperature and pressure can cause the diamond to stop growing or can make it develop heavy inclusions.

Another important part of this process is controlling the amount of nitrogen that is used to grow the diamond. This controls how the diamond will turn out in color. The more nitrogen a diamond has, the yellower it will turn out. To control the nitrogen in the growth cell, we use “getters” that trap the excess nitrogen.

There are also a number of other factors that can affect the color of a lab grown diamond. These include the growth time, the need to remove nitrogen from the growth cell and the need to keep the temperature and pressure consistent throughout the entire growth process.

Despite all the factors, it is possible to produce gem-quality laboratory grown diamonds. However, it is not easy or cost-effective to do so.

In order to produce the most gem-quality lab grown diamonds, manufacturers have to make a lot of effort in the development of their technology. They have to develop and refine their machines, processes and equipment.

One of the main challenges is that laboratory grown diamonds are much more energy-intensive than mined diamonds. The average production process uses about a third more energy than mining the same sized rough diamond.

This can lead to significant carbon emissions in the form of electricity, heating and cooling. This can be a huge environmental issue for the diamond industry.

It is therefore important to choose lab grown diamonds that are from sustainable sources and have been produced by a company that has taken these issues into account during their production. Those that do are more likely to be able to offer the planet-friendly diamonds that they promise.

What Are Lab Grown Diamonds?