What are Lab Created Diamonds?

Lab-created diamonds have become increasingly popular in the jewelry realm, especially engagement rings since they appear identical to mined diamonds but come at a lower price point and are a more sustainable option for the eco-conscious. Since March 2022, sales for lab-grown diamonds have grown more than 60% and are only expected to rise. This might have you wondering what lab-grown diamonds are. If you are shopping for an engagement ring, you probably want all of your questions answered on this topic. In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about lab-created diamonds.

What are Lab Created Diamonds?

Lab-created diamonds have the same physical and chemical properties as natural diamonds, except they are more affordable. They are real diamonds with the same crystal structure and sparkle as natural diamonds. Lab-created diamonds are just as hard and durable as natural ones too! These diamonds are also an ethical choice since no mining is involved.

According to Patricia Carruth of Your Personal Jeweler, “A lot of people are unfamiliar with lab grown diamonds, but lab grown diamonds are a great, affordable way of getting the size and the look of a diamond that you want, without breaking the bank. Lab grown diamonds are real — physically, chemically, and optically. The easiest example I give people to explain it is ice. On a cold Michigan day, you can walk outside and see an icicle and then you can come inside your house and get ice out of the fridge. The only difference is how it was created.”

If you look at a mined diamond and a lab-created diamond side by side, you won’t notice a difference at all.

How are Lab Created Diamonds Made?

Lab-grown diamonds are created by a diamond-mined seed by scientists using state-of-the-art technology. In the laboratory, scientists replicate the natural conditions, high temperature, and pressure in which diamonds were formed a million years ago under the earth’s crust. Or a special deposition process known as chemical vapor deposition (CVD) mimics the method of natural diamond formation. Both methods cause a series of carbon atoms to bond together in a crystalline structure. In about 6 to 10 weeks a rough diamond is formed.

Let’s discuss more about the 2 primary methods:

High-Pressure High Temperature (HPHT): A large machine is fed a certain amount of carbon material that it then crushes under pressure from 870,000 pounds per square inch at temperatures between 1300-1600 Celsius.

Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD): A seed diamond is placed into a small vacuum chamber that is filled with heated hydrogen and carbon. At a certain temperature, gas molecules are broken down and layers of crystalized carbon are formed, growing a diamond. However, sometimes lab diamonds made from DVD need to go through HPHT after they are grown.

Benefits of Lab-Grown Diamonds

Lab-created diamonds are an excellent alternative to natural diamonds because not only are they physically identical but are cost-efficient and responsibly sourced. Some of the biggest benefits include:

• Fewer defects
• More affordable
• Colored diamonds that are rarely found in nature
• Traceable origin sources where no workers or communities were harmed
• Lab-created diamond methods make it easier to keep up with demand without sacrificing quality or participating in harmful processes

Colored Lab Created Diamonds

One of the great things about lab-created diamonds is that they can be made in a variety of colors that are super rare to find in nature, including yellows, pinks, and blues. Colored lab-grown diamonds are created when small amounts of trace elements are present during the growing phase of the diamond.

Certified and Graded

Just like natural diamonds, lab-created diamonds are certified and graded. They are graded on the same 4C’s (cut, clarity, color and carat grades) from either the International Gemological Institute (IGI) or the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). After they are graded, a physical or digital report is provided.

Are Lab Created Diamonds Sustainable and Ethical?

Because lab-grown diamonds aren’t extracted from the ground and are conflict-free, most of them are sustainable and ethical. However, like most popular items, mass production does happen. Some mass-produced lab-created diamonds are made in India or China in poor conditions or they are made in labs that aren’t using renewable energy.

If you truly want a sustainable and ethically created lab diamond, be sure to do some research and ask questions. Are they made in the US? Are there any carbon offsets made during production? Also, check to see if the lab diamond has any of the following:

• Sustainability certification
• Confirmation that can easily be traced throughout the supply chain
• Proof that they meet social and environmental requirements that provide maximum protection for the workers and the environment
• Proof of a zero net impact on the environment during the creation process.

Pros and Cons

By now you can see that there are so many pros to lab-created diamonds, with the biggest pro being the price point. You can easily upgrade any of the 4C’s at a much more attainable price. Another pro is that they are a more sustainable choice.

When it comes to cons, there aren’t many. However, some consumers believe they will never be as special because of their origin. Lab-created diamonds will also never hold the same value as naturally mined diamonds. Another one is that most people believe all lab-created diamonds are sustainable and ethical. As mentioned above, some lab-created diamonds are mass-produced and do not follow sustainability standards. Because of this, it is important to do your research.

Hopefully, this post answered all of your questions about what a lab-created diamond is!