Lab Created Diamonds: A Comprehensive Guide

When talking about lab grown diamonds, people question if they are "real diamonds." To which our answer is always the same — Yes! A lab grown diamond is real, just like a natural diamond. The only difference between diamonds grown in a lab and naturally mined diamonds is their origin.

Understandably, many people perceive lab grown diamonds to be "fake" diamonds, but the truth is that they are real diamonds. After all, lab grown does have a connotation with something synthetic. However, concerning lab created diamonds, this couldn't be farther from the truth! A lab grown diamond is not the same as a cubic zirconia or another diamond simulant.

To distinguish between lab grown diamonds and natural diamonds, we must first understand how natural diamonds are created. Do remember that both lab grown diamonds and their mined diamond counterparts are identical in every aspect except their origin.

Geologists believe that natural diamonds formed between 1-3 billion years ago deep within the Earth. Each of these diamonds starts as an element rich in carbon and is subject to immense pressure and high temperature. These conditions rearrange the carbon atoms in a particular crystal lattice structure, and over time a diamond is developed.

Eventually, these diamonds make their way close to the surface through a series of volcanic explosions. They rest for years until they are extracted harshly from the ground through large-scale mining operations.

In the High Pressure-High Temperature (HPHT) process lab grown diamonds use one of three distinct manufacturing processes: a belt press, the split-sphere (BARS) press, and the cubic press. While they may differ in their methodology, all these processes create an environment defined by extremely high pressure and high temperatures.

In essence, the process will expose a diamond seed covered in carbon to a temperature of roughly 1,500 degrees Celsius and a pressure of approximately 1.5 million pounds per square inch! This heat causes the carbon to melt around the seed, producing pure carbon diamonds with qualities identical to natural diamonds.

The hardness of a gemstone is defined by how well it resists scratches and other abrasions. The Mohs scale ranks gems on a relative scale based on their hardness, with diamonds ranked the highest — giving them the distinction of being the hardest gemstone.

Toughness measures a diamond's resistance to breaking and chipping, while durability refers to its sensitivity to chemicals and other environmental factors such as heat and humidity. Although diamonds are the hardest gemstone, they are susceptible to breaking when hit from certain directions and fracturing when subject to extreme temperature changes.

Mined stones are lucrative for corporations in the diamond industry to dig up. Still, when they do so, it comes at a considerable cost: the well-being of the environment and communities. Traditional mining uses heavy machinery, explosives, hydraulic equipment, and other other harsh methods to extract diamonds found deep inside the Earth.

But before the digging even begins, tons of damage has already been done. These large mining operations cut down thousands of trees, contributing to the already alarming rate of deforestation — and causing further problems of global warming, soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, and desertification.

And that's not all. Acid mine drainage is yet another problem caused by leftover mining materials. When these react with oxygen in the air, it creates a chemical compound known as sulfuric acid that contaminates water sources. Not only does acid mine drainage hinder access to drinking water for humans and fauna, but it also affects food supplies since it damages the spoil and reduces crop yields.

Lab diamonds are created using specialized equipment replicating the natural diamond growing process. A lab grown diamond offers the same clarity and quality as mined ones but is made in a manner that is less harmful to the environment.

Every lab grown diamond sold represents one fewer diamond extracted from the Earth. Your engagement ring means more than your undying love for each other. It also shows a passion for our planet when you choose lab grown diamonds.

According to a recent study from Frost & Sullivan , for every mined diamond carat. A lab grown diamond uses 250 million joules of energy, and while that sounds like a lot, it is 215.4% less than a mined diamond. Additionally, most of it is renewable energy, ensuring a cleaner process for creating a beautiful lab diamond.

Furthermore, lab grown diamonds emit only 6 pounds of carbon — a mere 4.8 percent of what mined diamonds produce — and absolutely no Sulphur oxide. In total, air emissions on a single carat of mined diamond are 1.5 billion times higher than those of a lab grown one.