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What are lab-grown diamonds?
Lab-grown diamonds are synthetic diamonds grown in a laboratory to replicate natural diamonds mined from the Earth. They are created using specialists equipment to convert carbon atoms into the crystal form of a diamond.
Most importantly, these cultured diamonds have the same optical, physical and chemical properties as natural diamonds.
Manufacturing processes recreate the natural conditions under which natural diamonds formed billions of years ago.
In appearance and physical composition, lab-created diamonds look identical to natural diamonds. In fact, they are impossible to tell apart. Furthermore, they provide the same high-quality gemstone, traditionally set into engagement rings.
Just like natural diamonds, polishers cut lab-grown rough diamonds into all diamond carat-weights, colours, and clarities. In fact, they are cut and polished in the same way as natural mined diamonds.
Until recently, lab-grown alternatives to natural diamonds were shunned by the jewellery industry. In fact, many jewellers stressed that they would never stock lab-grown alternatives. At the same time, many diamond merchants made similar statements.
In contrast, today many of our existing diamond suppliers now stock lab-grown inventories listed alongside natural diamond stock.
Are lab-created diamonds real diamonds?
Lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds with the same physical, chemical and optical properties as natural mined diamonds.
To both the expert and untrained eye, they are impossible to tell apart.
At this point, we must emphasize that lab-created diamonds are not diamond simulants.
To clarify, diamond simulants are natural or artificial gemstones with properties similar to diamonds. As a result, diamond simulants look like diamonds but are not diamonds.
Lab-grown diamonds vs natural diamonds
The significant difference between a natural diamond and lab-grown diamond involves trace amounts of nitrogen present in natural diamonds, but absent in created diamonds. Using specialised equipment, gemmologists can determine if a diamond is natural or created.
Why are man-made diamonds popular?
Lab-grown diamonds make a popular choice for consumers. Firstly, grown diamonds provide an ethical choice. But, a key factor comes from their (much) lower price. Both reasons support the use of grown diamonds for ethical diamond jewellery.
The market for ‘made’ diamonds and their interest continues to increase as seen in the following chart.
Are grown diamonds ethical?
Many buyers seek out man-made diamonds for two main reasons. Firstly, owing to inhumane acts surrounding conflict diamonds. Secondly, due to the environmental impact of mining diamonds.
In fact, many Millennials and Gen-Z buyers continue to move away from mainstream diamonds.
But what about the environmental impact from grown diamonds?
“A study comparing the environmental impact of grown diamonds and mined diamonds depicts that growing diamonds cause significantly less environmental impact as compared to mining diamonds. There are several aspects of environmental impact such as air pollution, water usage, energy usage, etc. There is also a significant level of human impact as well in the process of diamond production.”(Source: Frost & Sullivan).
With new technology, some of the World’s grown diamond manufacturers create diamonds with renewable energy with carbon-neutral credentials. Diamond are created using diamond seeds.
How are lab-grown diamonds created?
There are two main ways to create a diamond artificially. Both start the process with a seed diamond.
High-Pressure High-Temperature (HPHT)
The seed diamond is a sliver of diamond. The first known technique used High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) with the seed added to pure graphite carbon, subjected to high temperatures around 1,500 degrees Celcius, with pressures of approx. 1.5 million pounds per square inch.
Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD)
Another, more recent technique uses Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD). The seed is placed into a sealed chamber filled with carbon-rich gas heated to around 800 degrees Celcius. As a result, the gases “adhere” to the seed. Carbon atom by atom, the seed grows into a rough diamond.
However, few producers comment on the carbon footprint involved in making a diamond.
A natural diamond choice we offer includes CanadaMark diamonds. We consider this the only 100% ethical natural diamond choice. In addition, the CanadaMark brand concentrates on the environmental impact as part of its mission.
How expensive are lab-grown diamonds?
To begin with, grown diamonds cost considerably less than natural diamonds. As a result, the growth of laboratory-grown diamonds posed a serious threat to natural diamond producers DeBeers. For this reason, DeBeers entered the lab-grown market.
De Beers maintains its participation aims to create a clear divide between lab-grown diamonds and natural diamonds.
But, like natural diamonds, man-made diamonds vary in cost depending on the size, colour and clarity of the diamond. Also, prices vary from supplier to supplier. Also, prices vary from retailer to retailer.
Comparing the price of a lab-grown and natural diamond engagement rings.
Recently, we compared the average price of an engagement ring (£2000) and how much ‘diamond’ could be purchased. Moreover, we compared two diamond solitaire engagement rings, both in 950 Platinum and both available in our showroom. To illustrate, we based the cost on our popular ‘Tiffany style 6 claw solitaire ring.” Both exampled in Platinum.
Platinum, single stone 0.40-carat diamond ring. G colour. SI1 clarity. Very Good Cut. GIA certified. £2000.
Platinum, single stone 0.90-carat lab-grown diamond ring. F colour. SI1 clarity. Excellent Cut. GIA certified. £2000.
Where to buy a man-made diamond?
We provide many of our diamond rings set with grown diamonds. We provide this service on request. At this time, we quote clients for any of our ring designs, made with lab-grown alternative diamond choices.
Owing to availability, we source lab-grown diamonds at the point of enquiry. At the same time, we hold the diamonds to ensure their availability.
In fact, each lab-grown diamond ring goes through our bespoke service. We source, handcraft and create each ring to order. As a guide, most commissions take 4-5 weeks to complete.
Example of a lab-grown diamond engagement ring.
The size, colour and clarity of lab-grown diamonds.
At Serendipity Diamonds, we offer clients amazing lab-grown diamonds in white, pink, yellow and blue colours in most diamond shapes.
Our lab diamonds fall within D-K colours with clarity grades between Internally Flawless and SI2.
We offer many sizes ranging from 0.01ct (1.3mm) to over 5 carats in size.
From 0.30 carats, diamonds come with a diamond certificate from the International Gemological Institute (IGI). Most include excellent or even ideal proportions as standard.
All of our lab-created diamonds are certified and laser inscribed with the certificate number. In addition, an inscription to note it as a grown diamond.
How to identify a lab-grown diamond from a natural diamond?
Photograph showing the lab-grown diamond inscription on the side of a recent commission.
Under a lens, our lab-grown diamonds can be identified by a unique laser inscription. Applied to the outer girdle, the certificate number and reference appear.
To the naked eye, this inscription remains invisible. But this appears under the lens of an inscription reader, loupe, or magnifying lens.
Viewing lab-grown diamonds in person
Emily, our assistant manager demonstrates the gem microscope in our Ryde jewellery showroom.
Another way to view lab-grown (or natural) diamonds involves booking an appointment in our gemmological showroom. Clients visiting our Ryde showroom enjoy the use of our gem microscope to easily view inscriptions.
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