Lab created rough diamonds-sent for polishing to get the final product. Lab and mined diamonds have been considered natural diamonds, according to Federal Trade Commission (FTC), since 2018. The difference between both diamonds is that one has a defined origin while the other doesn’t.
One cannot recognize the difference between lab created diamonds and mined diamonds, as no such difference can be seen through the naked eye. If we talk about the properties of lab created diamonds and organic diamonds, both have barely any difference. Even expert gemologists cannot tell the two diamonds apart using traditional methods. They also have to use advanced technology to serve their purpose.
Formation of Lab Created Diamonds
Experts create lab diamonds using various methods, including:
1. The HPHT Method
This process is mostly used to make a diamond or to change its color and involves placing the seed in carbon. The diamond seed is further exposed to pressure and heat in order to replicate the process of natural diamonds. After going through the process, the carbon melts and creates a diamond; after that, it is cooled down.
Adding boron in the growth procedure results in blue rough crystals. More colors – as pink and red are produced by post-growth treatment procedures that involve radiation and heat.
2. The CVD Method
Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) is comparatively more economical and sustainable than the HPHT process. In this process, they use vacuum chambers to convert heavy carbon gasses into plasma, having less energy consumption. This process makes diamonds chemically pure as the process doesn’t involve nitrogen and boron impurities, making it the most magnetic diamond.
Both techniques are successful in making genuine, high-quality diamonds with exact composition found naturally.
How Diamonds-USA Creates Lab Created Diamonds?
Diamonds-USA creates lab created diamonds using the CVD method. A plasma reactor contains a tiny diamond chip. Once carbon is atomized inside the reactor, the process starts. The slice becomes a pristine, jewelry-grade diamond as the carbon atoms pile up one on the other. The initial diamond chip can be cut off and repeatedly used as a starting material.
When the diamond is formed, a team of expert craftsmen at Diamonds-USA expertly cut and polish the diamonds in international workshops to the highest standards.
Diamonds-USA prioritizes sustainability when creating top-quality diamonds. The foundry, located in the breathtaking Pacific Ocean in America’s northwest, creates no emissions as it is hydro-powered and uses water from the Columbia River to run its machinery. It can sustainably produce diamonds using renewable energy.
These foundries use cutting-edge technology and are operated by highly talented scientists and engineers. This process is eco-friendly, and by selecting just 1 carat of lab created diamond, one can save 250 tons of earth, 143 lbs of carbon dioxide released into the air, and 2011 ounces of air pollution.
How long is the formation process of lab Created diamonds?
The formation process of lab created diamonds takes one month. Experts then cut and shape them before selling these diamonds.
Why Choose Lab Created Diamonds?
When you go for lab grown diamonds, you are enjoying the beauty of a diamond without having the guilt of any environmental damage through the mining process.
Are Lab Created Diamonds Good for the Environment?
Many lab created diamonds are made in foundries that primarily rely on fossil fuels for energy. The carbon footprints can be as large as traditional mines themselves. At the same time, lab Created diamonds from Diamonds-USA come from zero-emission foundries and are grown sustainably.
Are Lab Created Diamonds Certified?
Lab created diamonds must be certified. It is not wise to purchase any diamond without certification as the diamonds go through a grading process keeping the 4Cs n mind, regardless of their origin.
Lab created diamonds are subjected to stringent evaluations during certification by grading facilities. You can filter your diamond search using the typical cut, color, and clarity requirements.
Lab Created and Mined Diamond – Identifying the Differences
Mined and lab created diamonds both are identical when it comes to chemical composition and appearance. One can barely recognize the difference instead of a few from their growth process, which doesn’t change the quality of the diamond. A professional gemologist with special training and equipment can only determine the difference.
Morphology of Lab Created vs. Mined Diamonds
The main difference between lab-grown and mined diamonds is the morphology—their natural shape before polishing and cutting.
CVD diamond grows in a cube form, whereas HPHT diamond is grown in the shape of a cuboctahedron. Naturally-made diamonds are in the shape of an octahedron. Mined diamonds might also contain traces of nitrogen because of the surface where they were formed.
Lab Created vs. Mined Diamonds Inclusions
Diamond inclusions, which occur naturally throughout the growing process, are present in both lab-grown and mined diamonds. Inclusions are mall flaws in the diamond’s structure because of the intense pressure and heat that carbon experiences during the transformation of carbon into a diamond. It is crucial in judging diamond clarity. Both sources provide perfect diamonds that are highly valuable and rare.
Diamond imitations like cubic zirconia lack these imperfections. Therefore, they cannot be evaluated for clarity. This is because of their chemical makeup, not how they were developed in the lab.
Lab Created vs. Mined Diamonds Reflection
Since Lab-grown and Mined diamonds consist of the same composition and mostly the same procedure, so the quality and reflection are barely different. Jewelers and gemologists refer to it as the brilliance of the diamond.
A diamond’s capacity to bend or refract light gives it its brilliance. The light penetrates the diamond and reflects off the facets. White light inside a diamond indicates that it is real regardless of whether it is naturally grown or manmade.
Cut also determines a diamond’s brilliance. A diamond with a bad cut will not sparkle as brightly as it would have with a better cut. Because they don’t refract light the same way as real diamonds, imitations like cubic zirconia will have little to no brilliance.
Lab Created vs. Mined Diamonds Fire
The term fire of a diamond refers to the colorful flashes of light the diamonds emit when exposed to light, which can be seen only on the outer surface of the diamond. No matter if it’s a lab-grown or mined diamond, it is considered synthetic if the diamond fire appears.
Cubic Zirconium and Moissanite are known for their rainbow color reflection. Some love this disco effect. This effect helps to identify the original stimulants of the diamond.
Also read: Trillion Cut Diamond: Associated Facts
