Lab-Grown Diamond Guide

What Are Lab-Grown Diamonds?

Lab-grown diamonds, also known as synthetic or cultured diamonds, are diamonds created in a controlled lab environment using advanced technology. They have the same properties as natural diamonds but are more environmentally friendly and ethically produced. They offer excellent value and come with quality certificates. Lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds and are virtually indistinguishable from mined diamonds. The choice between lab-grown and natural diamonds depends on personal preference.

Why Buy A Lab-Grown Diamonds?

Environmental Friendly : Diamond mining harms the environment, but efforts have been made to reduce the impact. Lab-grown diamonds provide a greener alternative to mined ones. So, to answer the question: Are lab-grown diamonds sustainable? Yes. Because lab-grown diamonds are created in controlled environments and use advanced technology that consumes less energy and water compared to the mining process for natural diamonds. What's more, mining for natural diamonds can cause deforestation, habitat destruction, and soil erosion, whereas lab-grown diamonds have minimal environmental impact.

Ethical : Blood or conflict diamonds, mined unethically and exploiting workers, have faced criticism. The Kimberley Process, established in 2003, aims to address these issues, but blood diamonds remain in circulation. Naturally, many people ask themselves: Are lab diamonds more ethical than natural diamonds? Well, first and foremost, it's essential to keep one thing in mind: Lab-grown diamonds often offer greater transparency and traceability, as their origins and production process can be accurately documented. They are also produced under strict labour standards and are not linked to the ethical concerns surrounding human rights abuses, including forced labour and even child labour.

Beauty & Quality : Lab-grown diamonds have the same optical, chemical and physical properties as naturally mined diamonds. They look the same, are made under the same condition and cannot be differentiated by sight no matter how close the scrutiny.

Value : Synthetic diamonds offer value and are more affordable than natural diamonds of the same quality. They are not cheap, but their production costs are similar to mined diamonds. Lab-grown diamonds are more affordable due to their shorter supply chain.

LAB-GROWN DIAMONDS VS. NATURAL DIAMONDS

Lab-grown diamonds display exactly the same chemical, optical and physical characteristics as natural diamonds. Both natural and lab-grown diamonds exhibit the same fire, scintillation, and sparkle.

Lab-grown diamonds are impossible to differentiate from natural diamonds even when a jewelry loupe is used for scrutiny. In stores, they always come with a gem certification tagging them as laboratory grown.

The chart below illustrates the similarities between lab-grown and natural diamonds:

Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Real Diamonds?

Yes. Lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds, just like mined diamonds. The conditions that create naturally occurring diamonds deep in the earth are recreated in a lab and the same end product is produced.

How Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Grown?

According to mined diamonds geologists, diamonds formed deep within the Earth between 1 billion to 3 billion years ago. The process begins with carbon dioxide buried roughly 100 miles beneath the Earth’s surface.

The carbon dioxide is exposed to intense heat and put under extreme pressure. The diamonds are formed during these processes and then transported to the earth’s surface from deep within its core by way of deep volcanic explosions.

There are two processes used to make diamonds in the lab and both are similar to the way diamonds are naturally formed.

High Pressure-High Temperature (HPHT)

An HPHT diamond begins as a small diamond seed placed into carbon. Using the production process above, the seed is exposed to extreme temperatures and pressure. The pure carbon melts and begins to form a diamond around the starter seed. It then cools to form a pure carbon diamond.

Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD)

A CVD diamond begins as a thin slice of diamond seed. The seed is placed in a sealed chamber and heated to about 800 degrees Celsius. The chamber is then filled with a carbon rich-gas, like Methane, and other gases. The gases are ionized into plasma using technology similar to that of lasers. The ionization breaks down the molecular bonds in the gases, and the pure carbon sticks to the diamond seed and slowly crystallizes.

How Long Does It Take to Make a Lab-Grown Diamond?

The time it takes to create this type of diamond can vary (for example, it depends on the size and quality, the specific method of production, and the equipment and technology used). However, in general, the entire process of creating a lab-grown diamond, from seed crystal formation to final polishing, can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months.

Is It Possible to Make a Lab Grown Diamond at Home?

Well, it is technically possible to create a lab-grown diamond at home... but it's also highly impractical and not feasible for the average person. First of all, producing diamonds requires specialised equipment, expertise in materials science, and controlled laboratory conditions that are not typically available in a home setting. For example, both High-Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) require advanced machinery, precise control of temperature and pressure, and specific gas mixtures to facilitate diamond growth. This equipment is not just expensive and complex but also needs precise conditions to work correctly.

Do Lab-Grown Diamonds Look The Same As Mined Diamonds?

Yes. Lab-grown diamonds have the same physical and chemical properties as natural diamonds and look exactly the same. The only way they can be told apart is by using special laboratory equipment.

Do Lab-Grown Diamonds Come In Different Qualities?

Yes. Just as natural diamonds are born with different colors, inclusions and sizes, lab-grown diamonds also come in all forms with varying qualities.

Do Lab-Grown Diamonds Come With A Quality Certificate?

Yes. Just like natural diamonds, lab-grown diamonds come with a diamond certificate.

Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Fake?

No. Lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds, just like mined diamonds. The conditions that create naturally occurring diamonds deep in the earth are recreated in a lab and the same end product is produced. So, do lab diamonds test as real diamonds? You might be surprised to learn that, yes, lab-grown diamonds have the same physical, chemical, and optical properties as natural diamonds, so they typically test as "real" diamonds using standard diamond testing methods. This is because lab-grown diamonds are composed of pure carbon atoms arranged in the crystal lattice structure characteristic of diamonds, just like natural diamonds. So, they have the same thermal conductivity and refractive index, as well as similar types of inclusions, growth patterns, and fluorescence.

Just like ice formed in a glacier (natural) has the same chemical properties as the ice in your freezer (synthetic), natural and synthetic diamonds are both diamonds, sharing the exact same optical, physical, and chemical composition.

Do lab-grown diamonds last as long as natural diamonds?

Yes, lab-grown diamonds have the same durability and longevity as natural diamonds because they are composed of the same material—pure carbon atoms arranged in a crystalline structure. Both lab-grown and natural diamonds are extremely hard and durable, ranking as the hardest known material on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. Like natural diamonds, they may require occasional cleaning and maintenance to maintain their brilliance and sparkle, but they will not degrade or deteriorate over time under normal conditions.

Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Right For Me?

Whatever type of diamond you decide to buy – lab-grown or natural - we promise you luxury with confidence. What’s important is picking a beautiful piece of jewelry that speaks to your person.

Do lab-grown diamonds come in different colours?

Just like natural diamonds, lab-grown diamonds are available in a wide range of colours. This is determined by the presence of trace elements or structural defects in the crystal lattice structure during its formation. So, because lab-grown diamonds can be produced with controlled conditions, they can achieve specific colours.
Some common choices include colourless diamonds (often used in traditional diamond jewellery, such as engagement rings and earrings), yellow, pink, blue, green, and even red.

How much do lab diamonds cost?

Lab-grown diamonds tend to cost less than natural ones (for similar quality and size). This is because the lab-grown diamond-creating process is done in a controlled laboratory environment and typically requires less labour, energy, and resources compared to mining natural diamonds. Lab-grown diamonds are often priced at a significant discount compared to natural diamonds of similar quality, especially for larger sizes and higher grades.
It's important to note, though, that all diamonds, whether natural or lab-grown, are subject to market fluctuations and trends. If we look at historical values, we can see that natural diamonds have held theirs over time. On the other hand, lab-grown diamonds are quite a new phenomenon, so their long-term value retention is still being evaluated.

What is the lab-grown diamonds certification process, and do they come with quality certificates?

Lab-grown diamonds undergo a certification process similar to that of natural diamonds to assess their quality and characteristics. First, they are graded and evaluated by gemological laboratories using standardised criteria such as the diamond's carat weight, cut, colour, and clarity, as well as its fluorescence, symmetry, and polish. Then, they are subjected to various gemological tests to confirm their authenticity and quality. Once the lab-grown diamond has been evaluated and graded, the gemological laboratory issues a certificate of authenticity and quality.