Lab Grown Diamonds Education

Lab-grown diamonds, also known as synthetic or man-made diamonds, are diamonds cultivated through advanced technological processes that replicate the natural conditions under which diamonds form deep within the Earth. Unlike naturally mined diamonds, which take millions of years to develop, lab-grown diamonds are created in controlled environments, usually within a matter of weeks. These diamonds are grown using either High-Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) or Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) methods.

In the HPHT method, a tiny diamond seed is placed in a chamber where high-pressure and high-temperature conditions encourage carbon atoms to crystallize around the seed, gradually forming a diamond. CVD, on the other hand, involves introducing a carbon-rich gas into a vacuum chamber, where it breaks down and deposits carbon atoms onto a diamond seed, causing the crystal to grow layer by layer. The result is a diamond that chemically and visually resembles its naturally occurring counterpart.

Benefits of Lab-Grown Diamonds Over Natural Diamonds

Lab-grown diamonds are quite the center of attraction for jewellery enthusiasts for a variety of reasons. The surge in popularity of these synthetic diamonds can be attributed to the following advantages:

Less expensive than mined diamonds
More environmentally friendly
Fewer ethical concerns
A higher quality diamond than many natural ones
Available in a variety of colours and sizes
Can be customised to meet buyer's exact specifications
More socially responsible choice

Certification and Grading of Lab Grown diamonds

The grading and certification process for a lab-grown diamond is similar to that of a natural diamond. The 4C's of a diamond are evaluated, which concludes the overall quality and authenticity of the diamond. Visual inspection also plays a pivotal role in the diamond grading process, visual imperfections and flaws are taken into account before finalising the diamond grading report. Below is the list of the top 3 Gemological labs:

Lab Grown Vs Natural diamonds

Origin: Natural diamonds are formed within the earth's crust. Over a billion years, enduring intense heat and pressure. Whereas, lab-grown diamonds are formed in an enclosed lab in a matter of few weeks.
Price: Lab-grown diamonds are coming in significantly cheaper than natural diamonds. 50-60% cheaper, or even more in some cases.
Supply: Since Lab-grown diamonds, do not require a significant time to form, they are readily available in the market compared to natural diamonds.
Sustainability: The mining process of natural diamonds & the various unethical practices associated with it, are fully eliminated with lab-grown diamonds. Which makes them more sustainable!
Clarity: Lab-grown diamonds might possess some minute inclusions, which are not otherwise visible to the naked eye. You can see these inclusions when observed under a magnification tool.