Choosing to use lab grown diamonds for jewellery represents a significant shift towards a more sustainable, ethical, and environmentally responsible approach within the industry. There are several reasons why.
Lab-grown diamonds often come at a lower cost than natural diamonds. This cost efficiency can allow jewelry brands to offer high-quality, beautifully crafted pieces at more accessible price points, expanding their customer base and market reach.By choosing lab-grown diamonds, a brand not only makes a powerful statement about their values but also contributes to positive change within the industry. It reflects a commitment to a more ethical, sustainable, and socially responsible approach, resonating strongly with environmentally conscious consumers and shaping the future of the jewelry market.Opting for lab-grown diamonds not only benefits the environment and sustainability but also results in the production of more budget-friendly jewellery.
Environmental Impact
Sustainability
Innovation and Technology
Quality and Purity
Consumer Awareness
Economic Considerations
What Are Lab Grown Diamonds?
Lab-grown diamonds, also known as synthetic diamonds, are authentic gems created within a laboratory setting by skilled scientists and specialists. These diamonds possess the same physical, optical, and chemical properties as natural diamonds, making them indistinguishable from their naturally occurring counterparts. Lab-grown diamonds exhibit the same brilliance, fire, luster, and sparkle as natural diamonds.
You might be wondering, "What sets them apart, then?" The key distinction between lab-grown diamonds and natural diamonds lies in their origin.
Lab-grown diamonds are produced under controlled conditions, where carbon atoms crystallize in structures identical to those found in natural diamonds. While natural diamonds form deep beneath the Earth's crust over thousands of miles, synthetic diamonds are cultivated in highly regulated laboratory environments. Advanced technology is employed to replicate the precise conditions in which natural diamonds develop beneath the Earth's mantle, beneath the crust.
How Are Lab Grown Diamonds Created?
Creating lab-grown diamonds involves two primary methods. Initially, a minuscule seed of lab diamond, structured with a repeating lattice of carbon atoms just like natural diamonds, is employed. These seeds are introduced into specialized chambers where they undergo advanced technological procedures to transform into genuine man-made diamonds. Once the rough lab-created diamonds are generated, skilled diamond artisans polish them meticulously, following the same techniques used for natural diamonds.
CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION (CVD)
Growth - 1 Direction
In the CVD method, a diamond seed is positioned inside a plasma reactor chamber. Various carbon-containing gases are introduced into the chamber under low pressure, and microwaves are utilized to heat the gases, generating plasma. With temperatures soaring to thousands of degrees, the gas molecules break down, and the carbon atoms adhere to the seed. As these carbon atoms bond and crystallize, the seed gradually expands layer by layer, ultimately shaping into a raw lab-grown diamond.
HIGH PRESSURE HIGH TEMPERATURE (HPHT)
Growth - 14 Direction
In the CVD method, a diamond seed is positioned inside a plasma reactor chamber. Various carbon-containing gases are introduced into the chamber under low pressure, and microwaves are utilized to heat the gases, generating plasma. With temperatures soaring to thousands of degrees, the gas molecules break down, and the carbon atoms adhere to the seed. As these carbon atoms bond and crystallize, the seed gradually expands layer by layer, ultimately shaping into a raw lab-grown diamond.
How Are Lab Grown Diamonds Graded And Certified?
Lab-grown diamonds undergo polishing and evaluation based on the 4 C’s criteria (carat, color, cut, and clarity), similar to natural diamonds. They can also receive certification from reputable grading organizations such as GIA, HRD, and IGI.
Due to possessing identical physical, optical, and chemical properties as diamonds mined from the earth, lab-grown diamonds are extremely challenging to distinguish from their natural counterparts with the naked eye or even a loupe (a magnifying tool). The differentiation between lab-grown and natural diamonds can only be achieved using advanced, specialized equipment.
