Over recent years, lab-created diamonds have seen a surge in popularity, and for good reason too. Indistinguishable from the naked eye, even the most astute diamond dealer would not be able to tell the difference between a lab-grown and a mined diamond simply by looking at it. Not only can lab-created diamonds sparkle like the traditional sort, but they are generally more ethical and cost-effective too. Here is a short introduction to lab-created diamonds to give you a better understanding of this increasingly popular stone.
Lab-Created Diamonds VS Mined Diamonds
Naturally occurring mined diamonds can take around 3 billion years to form, and they are found deep underground. It can take a lot of resources to mine these natural wonders. Lab-created diamonds are grown in laboratories using specific tools for a lab and advanced technology. They are created under precise conditions in a lab that mimics the natural conditions found in nature, and they are cultivated to be physically and chemically identical to mined diamonds. As opposed to natural diamonds, the lab-created variety can take under a month to grow.
Diamond-Making Process
To create a lab-grown diamond, you need a flat seed of a diamond. There are two main methods to create a diamond in a laboratory.
- The High Pressure, High Temperature (HPHT) method – this method recreates the natural conditions where mined diamonds are formed.
- The Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) method – this is the newest method, and it involves the use of heat and carbon-rich gas in a vacuum chamber
How Can I Source a Lab-Created Diamond?
As with natural diamonds, the best way to find a high-quality diamond is to source it from a reputable jeweller. All diamonds, whether they’re natural or grown in a laboratory, should come with a certificate of authentication from a trusted organization, such as IGI, EGL, GIA, and AGS. If you are offered a diamond without a certificate, you should question the authenticity of the stone. Under the right light, cubic zirconia can easily look like a diamond to the untrained eye. Shop for diamonds at a fine jewellery specialist, such as regalhattongarden.co.uk, and browse through their collection.
Ethical and Conflict-Free
In today’s world, more and more people are making ethical choices in their life. Consumers are becoming more aware of the impact their choices can have on the world around them. Diamonds take millions of years to form, and the practice of mining diamonds is unsustainable. Furthermore, people who have seen the Leonardo DiCaprio flick, ‘Blood Diamond’, know that mined diamonds are linked with conflicts and wars around the world. Although efforts have been made to reduce the flow of blood diamonds, you can never really know how a natural diamond has been sourced. With a lab-created diamond, you know exactly how your diamond was made and where it comes from.
High-Quality Yet Affordable
Finally, one of the biggest benefits of a lab-created diamond for the budget-conscious is the price range. Due to the advanced technology and the short time it takes to create these diamonds, lab-created versions are usually much more affordable than mined diamonds.
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