How Lab Grown Diamonds Are Created

Are you shopping for an engagement ring? Are you on a tight budget? You can opt for a lab grown diamond. Don’t think that you are short-changing your future wife because you can be pleasantly surprised at what diamonds grown in the lab can offer!

Lab grown diamonds have increasingly grown in popularity over the past years. These diamonds have become the practical choice for many who want to have a high-quality engagement ring without being too hard on their pocket.

Lab grown diamonds, man-made diamonds, or synthetic diamonds are typically much cheaper than natural diamonds by over 50%. Albeit cheaper than earth-mined diamonds, lab grown diamonds are real diamonds.

This guide will show you how lab grown diamonds are created and their difference from natural diamonds.

Lab Grown Diamonds vs. Natural Diamonds

Lab grown and natural diamonds have similar physical, optical, and chemical properties. They both also have the same sparkle. Thus, a lab grown diamond is nearly similar in appearance to its earth-mined version.

  • Natural diamonds are mined from the Earth’s mantle which is about 124 miles below the surface. Conversely, a man-made diamond is professionally grown in a lab.  
  • A lab grown diamond may have certain growth patterns different from those in natural diamonds.
  • The naked eye will find it difficult to tell a lab grown diamond from a natural diamond. Their difference can only be detected by an electrical conductivity test or a thermal conductivity test done by a diamond tester.
  •  A man-made diamond and a natural diamond have the same durability and hardness.
  • The supply of natural diamonds is based on nature while lab grown diamonds can be manufactured on demand.

 Lab grown diamonds are also graded based on the 4Cs of diamonds: clarity, cut, carat, and color.

Lab Grown Diamonds creation process

A lab grown diamond is made in an artificial setting that replicates the environment where it is formed- below the Earth’s mantle. Lab diamonds are created through the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or the high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) process.

Both the CVD and HPHT processes can create authentic, high-quality diamonds in a laboratory setting similar to natural diamonds.  

Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD)

The chemical vapor deposition process of making a lab grown diamond forms a crystal structure using a hydrocarbon gas mixture which creates a carbon plasma on a substrate.

  •  A thin piece of diamond (about 300 microns thick and 10x10mm) is used to create a diamond seed. The diamond seed is thoroughly cleaned to avoid the growing of any defects that can form inclusions.
  • The diamond seed is injected into a vacuum chamber packed with a carbon gas (e.g. hydrogen and methane).
  • The vacuum chamber is tightly sealed to keep out other gasses.
  •  The chamber is heated to extreme temperatures.
  • The gas breaks down and bonds with the diamond seed.  
  • Gas inside the chamber is allowed to continuously break down and coat the diamond seed to build up the carat weight.
  • After a couple of weeks, a rough lab diamond is created.
  • The rough diamond is laser-cut with precision. 
  • The lab diamond is polished into its desired shape.

The newly created lab diamond will be issued a certification based on its color, cut, carat weight, and clarity. It will also be certified as a lab diamond made using the CVD process.

High-Pressure High Temperature (HPHT)

The High-Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) mimics the high temperature and pressure found on the earth’s mantle that forms a diamond.  

  •  A small diamond seed is placed in a containment cube.
  • Carbon, usually granite, is placed along with the diamond seed.
  • The containment cube is subjected to temperatures of about 1,300-1,600°C and extreme pressures of approximately 5-6 GPa.
  • The heat and pressure cause the carbon to melt and form into a supercritical fluid.
  • The carbon atom bonds with the diamond after a couple of weeks and grows into a rough diamond.
  • The rough diamond is cut and polished to its desired shape.

The HPHT diamond will be certified as to its clarity, color, carat weight, and cut, and as a lab diamond created using the HPHT process.

It is difficult to differentiate between a chemical vapor deposition and a high-pressure high-temperature lab grown diamond with the naked eye. Both processes produce a real diamond that is physically and chemically identical to natural diamonds.
Lab Grown Diamonds worn on a hand

Should I Consider a Lab Grown Diamond Engagement Ring?

Choosing a diamond ring for your coming engagement can be an exciting and daunting experience. You will never go wrong if you keep in mind the 4Cs of diamonds whether you are going for natural diamonds or a lab grown diamond.

  • Color

This refers to the hue of a diamond which ranges from colorless (D) to light yellow or brown (Z). Colorless diamonds (D-F) are the most valuable diamonds. The most desirable diamonds are those with less color.

  •  Cut

This refers to the shape of the diamond. This is considered the most crucial of the 4 Cs because it impacts the overall appearance of a diamond.

  •  Carat Weight

This refers to a diamond’s size. One carat is equivalent to 200 milligrams. Carat refers to the weight and not to the size of the diamond. While larger diamonds are normally more valuable, the other Cs are also considered to determine value.

  • Clarity

This refers to the diamond's internal inclusions and external blemishes. Diamond clarity is graded as flawless which indicates no inclusions visible when magnified below ten times to inclusions or blemishes or both that are visible to the naked eye.

It is essential that you decide which of the 4Cs is crucial to you when choosing your diamond. Each of these diamond characteristics impacts value and appearance.  

If you are not too concerned about the resale value of your jewelry, a lab grown diamond for your ring, necklace, bracelet, or any jewelry is a more practical option than natural diamonds. 

Your engagement ring will have the same dazzle and you will get more bang for your buck. The choice is all yours. Ensure to take into consideration your budget and your future wife’s preference. Whether man-made or natural, your engagement ring will have the same dazzle and you will get more bang for your buck

About Van Drake Jewelers

Whether you are considering a lab grown diamond or natural diamonds, Van Drake Jewelers is the place to be for your diamond jewelry. 

Browse through our jewelry collection or visit our showroom at 901 Robert St S West Saint Paul, MN 55118. We are ready to make you feel at home and help you choose diamond jewelry that suits your lifestyle.
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