What Are Lab-Grown Diamonds?

Lab-Grown Diamonds are optically, chemically, and physically, identical to mined diamonds and are created in a lab by technicians. Lab-grown diamonds provide the same luxurious diamond at flexible price points to fit anyone’s lifestyle. Lab-grown diamonds also offer the opportunity of a larger carat weight at lower costs.

  • Indistinguishable to the naked eye, lab-grown diamonds present the same visible qualities as their mined counterparts.

  • Lab-grown diamonds are not simulants. They are formed from rough crystals taking an average of 2–4 weeks to create.

  • To confidently tell lab-grown and mined diamonds apart, very sophisticated instruments are needed to detect specific physical characteristics.

How Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Created?

Lab-Grown Diamond manufacturers operate in highly controlled lab environments using one of two methods: High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) or Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD).

Both processes begin with a diamond seed and result in a Lab-Grown Diamond. During the HPHT method, the technician places the diamond seed in a growth chamber (apparatus), heats it to 2,700–3,100 degrees Fahrenheit, and exposes the seed to a pressure of 725,000 pounds per square inch, similar to the process that takes place in Earth’s mantle. The diamond seed remains under these intense conditions for varying lengths of time.

The CVD method of Lab-Grown Diamond creation begins with flat diamond slabs placed in a reactor. The reactor is injected with Methane gas. The gas is exposed to microwaves which cause it to break down into its comprising atoms and generate a carbon-rich plasma cloud. The carbon atoms in the plasma connect with the diamond slabs and create new layers, resulting in slow vertical growth.

Both the HPHT process and the CVD process produce Type IIa colorless Lab-Grown Diamonds, equal to some of the rare and sought-after types of Mined Diamond. These processes can also be adjusted to produce colored Lab-Grown Diamonds.

The Four Cs of all Diamonds

Diamonds are the most coveted gems. To determine a diamond’s value, experts observe the Four Cs - Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat Weight. To a great extent, cut, color, and clarity depend on the quality of the diamond-in-the rough. This is the same for lab-grown and mined diamonds.

  • While cut does describe shape, when discussing the 4 Cs it refers to the overall proportions and finish of the diamond as well. A diamond’s overall proportions, as well as size and position of its facets result in the overall cut. Consistency and balance of these can greatly affect how the stone captures light and reflects it back to the eye.

  • One factor that determines the value of a diamond is its color. With the exception of fancy-colored diamonds, the most valuable diamonds are those with the least color. Although many people think of gem quality diamonds as colorless, completely colorless diamonds are very rare. The diamond color scale ranges from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow or brown).

  • A diamond’s clarity is measured by the existence or absence of visible imperfections. Tiny surface blemishes or internal inclusions, even those seen only under magnification, can alter the appearance of the diamond and thus affect its value. Clarity levels begin with flawless (FL, IF), followed by very, very slight (VVS1, VVS2), very slight (VS1, VS2), slightly included (SI1, SI2), and included (I1, I2, and I3).

  • One carat, the traditional unit of measurement for diamonds, is approximately 0.2 grams. You may also hear the weight of a diamond referred to in points. One carat is equivalent to 100 points, so a 75-point diamond is equal to 0.75 carats. Because they are rarer, larger diamonds have a greater value per carat, so the price of a diamond rises exponentially to its size.