Lab-Grown Diamonds: Everything You Need to Know

LAB-GROWN DIAMONDS

Diamonds grown or created in the laboratory.

Lab-grown diamonds are diamonds grown by scientists in laboratories. They share the same chemical and atomic composition as natural diamonds and are optically identical. The biggest difference between natural and cultured diamonds is how they are created.

These diamonds, also known as cultivated diamonds, are becoming more common in jewelry and this can raise a series of questions about their quality, characteristics or value. Therefore, in this blog we will try to answer all the questions that may arise.

ARE CULTURED DIAMONDS REAL?

Cultivated diamonds have the same chemical composition as natural diamonds, both are composed of pure carbon in cubic crystalline form.

The big difference between the two is how they are formed. Natural diamonds form underground over millions of years, while cultivated diamonds are created in a laboratory over a much shorter period.

To better understand, the difference between natural and lab diamonds could be compared to the difference between ice that forms in nature and ice that is created in a freezer. Ice is chemically identical, what changes is the process of creation.

HOW ARE CULTURED DIAMONDS MADE?

Currently, lab-grown diamonds are produced using two methods:

• Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD): In this case, a diamond seed (a tiny diamond) is placed in a chamber called a plasma reactor. When the temperature rises to thousands of degrees, the gas molecules break apart and the atoms join the seeds, thus growing a shell.
• High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) – This method mimics the conditions under which natural diamonds are created. This method is more costly and less energy efficient.

HOW LONG DO DIAMONDS TAKE TO GROW?

Diamonds in nature take millions of years to form, while in labs, a one-carat stone can be created in a couple of weeks.

ARE CULTURED DIAMONDS THE SAME AS IMITATION DIAMONDS?

By imitation diamonds we refer to synthetic stones such as zircons or moisanites, widely used in jewelry due to their affordable price. These imitations are completely different from diamonds, as they do not share the chemical composition of a diamond at all. On the other hand, cultivated diamonds are chemically identical to natural diamonds, only their formation is much faster thanks to science.

How can you tell a cultured diamond from an imitation?

Although they may appear similar at first glance, simulated diamonds are not as hard and do not have the same optical properties as cultured diamonds, so they will show signs of wear and will not be as brilliant.

HOW MUCH DO LAB GROWN DIAMONDS COST?

Cultivated diamonds are priced lower than natural diamonds, but with the same properties, chemical composition, and complex and expensive creation process, their price is still high.

The price of natural diamonds varies based on size, cut, color and clarity, as this increases the rarity and value of these stones. In lab-grown diamonds, this rarity is removed, allowing for lower prices.

ARE FARMED DIAMONDS SUSTAINABLE?

It is true that cultivated diamonds are more sustainable than natural ones, since mining causes irreversible damage to the natural environment. On the other hand, cultivated diamonds are created in laboratories, there is no extraction and therefore does not cause any damage to the environment. Although we must also take into account that there are more and less polluting production methods when manufacturing these diamonds.

Therefore, we can say that cultivated diamonds are more sustainable than natural ones, but even more so if they have been created using a sustainable method such as using hydroelectric power to achieve the high temperatures needed to create a diamond.

Discover the New Gold Earrings with Lab Diamonds

At Secret & You we characterize ourselves as a brand specialized in cultured pearls. Pearls are the most sustainable gems that exist, since they are created by oysters and mussels in pearl farms, instead of being extracted from the earth, for this reason, when creating designs with diamonds, we wanted to follow the same line and opt for cultivated diamonds, because in terms of quality, appearance and qualities they are exactly the same as those of natural diamonds.