How Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Made?

If you’re in the market for diamonds, why not go with lab-grown diamonds?

Yes, lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds, just sourced differently!

With lab-grown diamonds, you won’t miss the shine, the elegance, or the aesthetic value a mined diamond offers.

These similarities in qualities have helped soar the popularity of cultivated diamonds in recent times.

Lab-grown diamonds are a relatively more sustainable and affordable option than natural diamonds while being chemically, optically, and aesthetically similar.

The growing popularity of lab-grown diamonds has revolutionized the diamond industry, and rightly so. However, there’s still a vast majority of people in two minds about the source, quality and authenticity of lab-grown diamonds.

And if you’re one of them, you’re at the right place.

In this article, we will dive deep into the world of lab-grown diamonds to understand their source and production process, helping you make an informed choice when in the market for lab-created diamonds.

What Are Lab-Grown Diamonds?

Now, let us answer the question – what are lab-grown diamonds before moving on to understanding how they are made? 

There’s no difference between natural and lab-grown diamonds; lab-grown diamonds can be called replicas of natural diamonds in terms of their physical, optical, and chemical properties.

However, lab diamonds are crafted with meticulous precision in a controlled laboratory setting instead of being found deep within the Earth’s mantle. 

The point of origin is the only significant difference between synthetic and natural diamonds. So, cultivated diamonds are also ‘real’ diamonds and can’t be called imitation diamonds or fakes.

As mentioned, there’s no optical difference between the natural and lab-grown diamonds, so you won’t find any difference when you look at them with the naked eye. This makes cultivated diamonds a preferred choice for people looking for fine diamond jewellery at a lower price point.

At Donj Jewellery, we have an extensive collection of lab-made diamond rings, lab-grown diamond engagement rings, lab diamond earrings, and more.

If you’re in the market for diamond wedding rings or any other type of diamond jewelry, our collection of lab-grown diamond jewellery will leave you mesmerized!

How Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Made?

Today, two methods for making lab-grown diamonds are HPHT and CVD.

HPHT (High Pressure, High Temperature) Method

This is the first method ever used to create cultivated diamonds. In this method, a high-end machine, namely a belt press, makes the same setting as the Earth’s crust, including extremely high temperatures and pressure. 

Three belt presses are commonly used in the HPHT diamond synthesis process: split–sphere (BARS), belt, and cubic. 

A tiny diamond seed is infused in the pure carbon. Due to the extreme temperature and pressure, the carbon melts, forming a diamond around the infused diamond seed. 

HPHT is a highly prevalent method used mainly for producing industrial lab-grown diamonds, and its estimated market revenue is projected to be around $11.7 billion in 2024.

CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) Method

This recently developed method is now widely used to produce lab-created diamonds. In terms of efficiency, it has easily surpassed the HPHT method. 

In the CVD method, a diamond seed is sealed inside a chamber and vaporized with carbon-rich gas. Consequently, carbon starts layering upon the seed as the temperature increases, slowly transforming the seed into a diamond. 

Even though the CVD method was patented in the late 1950s, it took much longer to refine the process and put it into commercial utilization. 

As per an estimate, most of the lab-grown diamonds in 2024 and the future will be developed using the CVD method. The market revenue from the CVD method currently stands at $16.5 billion and is estimated to grow exponentially. 

This is because diamonds created using the CVD method are relatively higher quality. 

Over time, both HPHT and CVD methods have witnessed evolution and have become more efficient and cost-effective than they once were. 

Both these methods eliminate the concerns regarding human toll and environmental damage commonly related to mined diamonds. 

That said, lab-grown diamonds are not 100% environmentally friendly as they require substantial energy for production.

Treatments

Lab-grown diamonds, especially the ones made through the CVD methods, are naturally yellow or brown when taken out of the chamber. These diamonds undergo a specialized heat treatment to give them that colourless or whiteish look. 

Lab-grown diamonds are sometimes processed and treated to give them fancy red or pink colours. It adds to the versatility of lab-created diamonds, making them a popular pick for lab-grown diamond engagement rings or lab-made diamond rings. 

To create elegant blue or yellow coloured diamonds, adding nitrogen or boron to the chamber in the CVD method does the trick.

Final Thoughts

Lab-grown diamonds have revolutionized the diamond industry and, broadly, the world of luxury. 

They symbolize environmental consciousness, captivating brilliance and ethical responsibility, which resonates with the value systems of discerning modern clientele. 

Thanks to their consistent quality, affordable price range, and versatility in colour and size options, lab-grown diamonds are rapidly changing the diamond landscape.

In the market for authentic and certified lab-grown diamond jewelry, including elegant lab-grown diamond engagement rings, lab-grown diamond wedding rings, and more? Don’t forget to browse our exquisite collection of lab-grown diamonds, or contact us via phone or email to speak to a care specialist!

At Donj, we’re redefining luxury by offering our clients a beautiful collection of lab-grown diamond jewelry for guilt-free indulgence.