The World of Lab Grown Diamonds

Are Lab Grown Diamonds Real?

Let us make one thing clear first. Laboratory Grown Diamonds made using HPHT or CVD method are 100% Real Diamonds. By real we mean that when the word, “diamond” is used, we are talking about a gem material made predominantly by Carbon Atoms. Lab Grown Diamonds are optically, physically and chemically identical to diamonds which are mined from the earth. This makes Lab Grown Diamonds indistinguishable to mined diamonds to the naked eye. You can take a lab grown diamond to a gemologist or a jeweller anywhere in the entire world, and they will not be able to tell the origin of the diamond. No one can tell lab and mined diamonds apart because there is no difference to spot in the first place.

How are they made in the first place?

The first Lab Grown Diamonds were conceived in 1950’s. Yes, they have been among us for 70 years… But the earliest lab creations, although diamonds - were not good enough to be considered as gem quality. So the majority of diamonds produced in the 1900’s were used for industrial purposes. It is only recently that scientists were able to produce gem quality diamonds in a lab which were also economical enough to compete with mined diamonds. There are 2 main methods which are employed to manufacture diamonds - HPHT and CVD. We are going to focus on the more novel method of Chemical Vapour Deposition or CVD. CVD involves using a diamond substrate/seed which is an extremely precise, thin slice of a diamond which is placed inside a vacuum chamber. Then, under heat and pressure, a gas which is a mixture of carbon molecules is introduced inside the chamber. With the right conditions, the gas molecules become ionised and the molecules split. The carbon from the gas literally rains on top of the diamond slice and it grows atom by atom. A process which takes eons to achieve by nature is synthesised in a lab within a matter of weeks.

Are Lab Grown Diamonds Certified?

Yes, Lab Grown Diamonds are certified by the world’s leading gemmology institutions including but not limited to GIA and IGI. Because Lab Diamonds are real diamonds, they are certified in the exact same way a mined diamond will be which is by the use of the 4Cs - Cut, Colour, Clarity and Carat. The reports/certificates clearly mention that the properties of a lab diamond are identical to a mined diamond. Another thing to bear in mind is that these institutions do not produce reports for diamond simulants like Moissanites and Cubic Zirconia. This is because although they may look similar to a diamond, their properties are no where close to a real diamond. Hence unlike Lab Grown Diamonds, they are easily identifiable even with an unaided eye.

Sample Lab Grown Diamond Report by IGI