About Lab Diamonds
Lab diamonds, also known as lab-grown diamonds or lab-created diamonds, are diamonds that are made in a laboratory environment rather than being mined from the earth. They are diamonds in every sense of the word, and they have the same optical and physical properties, making them indistinguishable from natural diamonds to the naked eye. These diamonds have essentially the same chemical composition, crystal structure, and optical properties as natural diamonds.
Lab diamonds can offer some advantages over mined diamonds. They are typically more sustainable and environmentally friendly since they require less energy and do not involve destructive mining practices. Additionally, they are more affordable than natural diamonds of similar quality. However, they offer lesser investment value as they are considered man-made and mass-produced.
Production Process
Lab diamonds are created through two main methods:
High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT): This method involves mimicking the natural diamond formation process by subjecting a carbon source to extremely high pressure and high temperature to create a diamond crystal.
Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD): In this method, a diamond seed is placed in a chamber containing a carbon-rich gas, such as methane. The gas is then heated, causing the carbon atoms to bond and form a diamond layer on the seed.
Lab diamonds are produced in several countries around the world, but some countries have emerged as key players in the industry. Some of the prominent countries producing lab-grown diamonds include United States, India and China.