Lab Grown Diamonds - A Complete Guide

Why Choose Lab Grown Diamonds

Mining Free

Lab diamonds are a responsible choice, grown with precise technology and no mining.

Beauty & Quality

Lab-grown diamonds have the same physical, chemical, and optical properties as naturals.

Affordability & Value

Lab-grown diamonds offer the same beauty as earth-grown diamonds at a fraction of the price.

What Are Lab Grown Diamonds?

Lab grown diamonds (also known as lab created diamonds, man made diamonds, engineered diamonds, and cultured diamonds) are grown in highly controlled laboratory environments using advanced technological processes that duplicate the conditions under which diamonds naturally develop when they form in the mantle, beneath the Earth’s crust. These lab created diamonds consist of actual carbon atoms arranged in the characteristic diamond crystal structure. Since they are made of the same material as natural diamonds, they exhibit the same optical and chemical properties.

How Are Lab Grown Diamonds Made?

Lab grown diamonds are created from tiny carbon seeds of pre-existing diamonds. Scientists use advanced technology – either extreme pressure and heat or a special deposition process known as chemical vapor deposition (CVD) – to mimic the method of natural diamond formation. Over the course of six to ten weeks, a rough diamond is formed. Then it’s cut, polished, and set in lab diamond jewelry such as a pair of earrings, a necklace, or a bracelet.

There are two primary methods of producing lab diamonds:

1. High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT): This method mimics the conditions under which natural diamonds are formed inside the earth. To produce the lab diamond, a large machine is fed a certain amount of carbon material that it then crushes under pressures of more than 870,000 lbs. per square inch at extreme temperatures ranging from 1300 – 1600 degrees Celsius.

2. Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD): CVD is when a seed diamond is placed in a small, vacuum chamber filled with heated hydrogen and carbon-containing gasses. At a certain temperature, the gas molecules are broken down and layers of crystallized carbon begin to form around the seed, growing a more substantial diamond. Some lab diamonds created through CVD may also undergo pressure and heat treatment after they are grown.

You can’t tell the difference between natural diamonds, lab diamonds grown via HPHT method, and lab diamonds grown via CVD method with the naked eye, only scientists can distinguish the differences by analyzing identifying markers caused by the growth conditions.

Lab Grown Diamonds vs. Natural Diamonds

Without specialized equipment, you won’t be able to tell the difference between a lab grown or a natural diamond — they appear the same. The only noticeable difference between them is their origin: one was formed deep within the Earth, the other was grown in a lab.

Our lab grown diamonds display the same physical, chemical, and optical characteristics as natural diamonds, and exhibit the same fire, scintillation, and sparkle. Lab created diamonds may exhibit different trace elements than natural diamonds that do not affect the appearance of the diamond. Lab created diamonds can be distinguished from natural diamonds only with tests using specialized equipment.

Lab Grown Diamond Benefits

Lab grown diamonds are an excellent alternative to mined diamonds. Not only are they physically identical, but they’re also sourced responsibly and are more cost-effective. Some of the biggest advantages of a lab created diamond include:

Fewer defects
Greater affordability
Colors that are rarely found in nature can be created, making unique and coveted pieces more obtainable
Trackable origin sources allow us to source diamonds from reputable places that don’t engage in poor treatment of workers or communities
HPHT and CVD lab grown diamond methods make it easier to keep up with demand without sacrificing quality or engaging in harmful processes.

How Are Lab Grown Diamonds Certified and Graded?

Lab grown diamonds are certified the same way natural diamonds are. Gemological graduates at institutions such as the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the International Gemological Institute (IGI) determine the 4 C’s (cut, color, clarity, and carat grades) of individual gemstones before providing a physical or digital report.