Lab-grown diamonds are no longer foreign to the jewellery industry since their first formation in the 1950s by Howard Tracy Hall and Herbert Strong. These gems are produced using processes that closely emulate the natural conditions that produce these marvellous gemstones.
Lab-grown diamonds are just as dazzling as natural diamonds and have come a long way in terms of availability, given the advent of technology. Yet, many people doubt lab-grown diamonds, citing plenty of misgivings and myths about them.
This blog article debunks the many misconceptions surrounding lab-grown diamonds.
People often question the authenticity of lab-grown diamonds, but little do they know that lab-grown diamonds contain the same characteristics as natural diamonds. It is impossible to distinguish between the two types of diamonds with the naked eye; they can only be discerned by jewellers using special equipment.
Lab-grown diamonds are natural diamonds—the only factor differentiating them from mined diamonds is that they are created in a lab. Lab-grown diamonds are made by mimicking the same natural process that creates the gemstone under the Earth’s surface. They are formed with either of these methods: High Pressure-High Temperature (HPHT) and Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD), which uses pure carbon, the same element that forms mined diamonds.
The HPHT method involves placing a small slice of a natural diamond—also known as the diamond seed—in a growth chamber filled with pure carbon, which is then exposed to extreme heat and high pressure. The carbon melts in the heat and hardens under the pressure, shaping a new, complete diamond from the seed. This process of using high heat and pressure imitates the conditions in which natural diamonds form under the Earth’s crust. Instead of waiting millions of years for a dazzling diamond, the HPHT method can produce diamonds in a few weeks or months.
Unlike the HPHT method, the CVD method applies lesser heat and pressure and instead uses carbon-based gases as an alternative to shape and make diamonds. This process involves placing a natural diamond seed in a sealed gas chamber with various gases injected into it. The chamber is then heated to break the gases down, encouraging the carbon atoms to form around the diamond seed.
Lab-grown diamonds are different from imitation diamonds or diamond simulants. The former type is made of tiny pieces of pure diamonds exposed to similar conditions that promote natural diamond formation. Meanwhile, the latter type uses materials identical to pure diamonds, known as diamond simulants, such as Cubic Zirconia (CZ) and Quartz.
Simply put, imitation diamonds do not have the same composition as lab-grown diamonds. Expert gemologists can distinguish between an imitation diamond and a lab-grown diamond by using gemological tools and running them through tests to determine their brilliance, clarity, and thermal conductivity.
Lab-grown diamonds are less expensive than mined diamonds for several reasons. For one, natural diamonds take a long time to form—about a few million years, and extracting them would mean exhausting a lot of land as well as requiring an extensive workforce and equipment to mine them. Once an existing diamond mine has been exhausted, natural diamonds must be uncovered in new mines.
On the other hand, lab-made diamonds only require a one-time sizable investment in a laboratory equipped with advanced equipment and a team of expert jewellers and scientists. In just a few weeks, a lab-grown diamond can be produced under these controlled conditions while the facility and its staff continue to create new lab-grown diamonds. The factors determining the price of lab-grown diamonds are the complexity of their production, carat size, and certification.
The quality of lab-grown diamonds is graded in the same manner as natural diamonds, which rely on the 4Cs: Carat, Colour, Clarity, and Cut, a similar grading method used and set by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Exceptional lab-made diamonds would be certified by highly regarded institutions.
Both natural and lab-grown diamonds have imperfections that are only evident through a jeweller’s lens. These imperfections, such as irregularities within the stone, are called inclusions. They naturally happen during the formation process, whether in the lab or within the Earth’s crust. Inclusions can affect a diamond’s quality which is usually its shiny complexion.
The carefully controlled conditions of a laboratory can influence the degree of a lab-grown diamond’s overall appearance. However, since it closely emulates the same natural conditions that create natural diamonds, inclusions and other flaws can still make their way into lab-grown diamonds.
Given the nature and scope of diamond mining, natural diamonds may typically have a significant adverse environmental impact. However, the process of forming lab-grown diamonds is just as impactful as its natural counterparts, as it exhausts a considerable amount of energy to replicate the pressures and temperatures of a natural diamond—especially if the lab-grown diamonds are produced en masse. In some cases, not all facilities that produce lab-grown diamonds may declare their energy consumption or whether they use renewable energy sources.
The industry is nonetheless committed to addressing the ethical concerns surrounding diamond mining and lab-grown diamond production, especially in mitigating environmental harm. Technological improvements and tighter regulations can play an essential role in creating a more ethical and sustainable industry in the future.
Considering the above facts, lab-grown diamonds can be an excellent alternative to natural diamonds, especially if you have a budget to observe. Check out how lab-grown and natural diamonds can be used across different ring occasions.
But if you have an eye for rarity and tradition, natural diamonds are the way to go. Ling Jewellery offers an array of exquisite natural diamonds that can be fashioned into various fine jewellery, whether rings, necklaces, or earrings. Our expert jewellers can bring your bespoke jewellery to life, weaving your sentiments and shared stories into the accessory.
Book an appointment with us today, and let our professional jewellers curate the best diamond jewellery for your special occasion.
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