Synthetic Diamonds

- Overview

Lab-grown diamonds, or synthetic diamonds, are diamonds that are created in a laboratory setting using advanced technology to mimic the natural diamond formation process. They are chemically, physically, and optically identical to natural diamonds, and can be certified by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). 

Here are some things to know about lab-grown diamonds:

• How they are made: Lab-grown diamonds are created using methods such as Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) or High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT). The process involves exposing a seed to high temperatures, pressure, and gases over a period of two months, which causes carbon atoms to form and crystallize into a rough diamond.
• Cost: Lab-grown diamonds are generally less expensive than natural diamonds, sometimes selling for as little as 70% of the price of a comparable mined diamond.
• Sustainability: Lab-grown diamonds can be more sustainable if the energy used to create them comes from a sustainable source.
• Identification: Jewelers can use a desktop instrument like the GIA iD100 to distinguish between natural and lab-grown diamonds.

- The Characteristics of Synthetic Diamonds

Synthetic diamonds are also known as laboratory-grown, laboratory-created, cultured, or cultivated diamonds. These terms are interchangeable and all refer to certified diamonds that are produced in a lab using advanced technology. The resulting diamonds have the same chemical and physical makeup as natural diamonds, making them real diamonds. 

Here's a breakdown of synthetic diamonds: 

• Production: Created in labs using high pressure, high temperature (HPHT) or chemical vapor deposition (CVD) methods to mimic the natural diamond formation process. 
• Composition: Made of pure, crystallized carbon, just like natural diamonds. 
• Properties: Identical chemical and physical properties to natural diamonds, including a 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness. 
• Appearance: Look the same as natural diamonds. 
• Cost: Typically 25–30% less than mined diamonds because they don't include mining costs. 
• Rarity: Less rare than natural diamonds, which take millions of years to form deep within the earth. 
• Value: Some perceive lab-grown diamonds as having lower value, and their value may not hold up over time like natural diamonds. 
• Detection: Specialist lab equipment can detect a lab-grown diamond, but even advanced gemmologists can't tell the difference by eye. 

- The Features of Synthetic Diamonds

• Hardness: Synthetic diamonds are extremely hard and have a low coefficient of friction.
• Chemical inertness: Synthetic diamonds are chemically inert.
• Thermal conductivity: Synthetic diamonds have the highest known thermal conductivity.
• Electrical conductivity: Synthetic diamonds can be doped with boron to have a similar electrical conductivity to metal.
• Electromagnetic transmission spectrum: Synthetic diamonds have the widest electromagnetic transmission spectrum of any material.
• Color: Synthetic diamonds can be many colors, including yellow, pink, blue, and transparent. The color depends on the manufacturing process and the amount of nitrogen impurities in the carbon lattice.
• Applications: Synthetic diamonds are used in abrasives, cutting and polishing tools, and heat sinks.
• Mechanical applications: Synthetic diamonds are used in mechanical applications because of their hardness and low coefficient of friction.
• Growth time: Synthetic diamonds typically form in 2–4 weeks.