What Are Lab-Grown Diamonds and How Are They Made?

Lab-grown diamonds are synthetic gems created in a laboratory. Chemically, physically and optically identical to natural diamonds, lab-grown diamonds offer unparalleled beauty.

Man-made lab diamonds Sydney have become increasingly popular due to their similar benefits to natural diamonds but at much cheaper prices and with fewer environmental repercussions.

What are Lab-Grown Diamonds?

Lab-grown diamonds are man-made gems that possess the same physical and chemical characteristics of natural diamonds. They’re created in a laboratory through advanced equipment that transforms carbon atoms into crystallized form of the gem.

Diamonds are created through two processes: High Pressure/High Temperature (HPHT) and Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD). Both techniques create diamonds that are chemically, optically and physically identical to earth-grown stones.

The initial step involves placing a thin slice of lab grown diamonds seed inside an airtight chamber. This chamber then fills with carbon-rich gases like methane.

Once heated to around 800 degrees Celsius, these gases adhere to the seeds and begin creating diamonds atom by atom.

The process continues endlessly until the diamond reaches its desired size. After cutting and polishing with precision to the same standards as mined diamonds, it can then be sold.

How are Lab-Grown Diamonds Made?

Lab-grown diamonds are created in a controlled laboratory setting using advanced technology that replicates the conditions deep underground. During this process, carbon is exposed to extreme heat and pressure similar to what occurs naturally over billions of years beneath Earth’s crust.

At the end of this meticulous process, specialized gemologists shape and grade each diamond with precision. As such, they appear visually, chemically, physically identical to mined diamonds, displaying the same fire, scintillation, and brilliance that natural stones possess.

At first, lab-grown diamonds were a novelty item; however, as more people have heard about them, their demand has grown exponentially. At 30-50% less cost than mined diamonds of similar size and quality, lab-grown diamonds can be an affordable investment that does not cause human exploitation or environmental damage.

Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Worth Anything?

When purchasing a diamond, whether mined or lab-grown, you need to know if its value will increase when sold. As previously mentioned, the resale value of a diamond depends on four Cs: colour, clarity, cut and carat.

On average, lab-grown diamonds tend to be around 30% cheaper than natural stones of similar size and quality. This difference arises because the process of creating them is less expensive than mining or drilling and more sustainable.

However, lab-grown diamonds do not command the same resale value as mined diamonds due to their limited supply. Therefore, these investments won’t increase in value over time the way other investments will.

Though the resale value of lab-grown diamonds may not be as high as that of mined ones, it’s possible to resell them at a higher price than what you originally paid for them. This makes investing in lab-grown diamonds an attractive option if you want to add some bling to your budget without compromising ethical principles.

Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Ethical?

There is much controversy over whether lab-grown diamonds are ethical or not. Some argue they’re ethical because they avoid conflict diamonds or human rights issues, while others maintain they are fake and made with chemicals.

No matter your opinion, diamonds remain one of the world’s most desired gemstones and can be used to craft stunning rings and other jewellery designs. But with increasing awareness regarding blood diamonds and the environmental costs associated with mining, many people are beginning to question whether mined diamonds are ethically mineable.

Conclusion

The diamond industry has made some progress towards eliminating these problems. Nowadays, most diamonds come from reliable producers adhering to the Kimberley Process which has helped cut blood diamond traffic by an incredible 90%. Nonetheless, there remain numerous reasons why consumers should still refrain from purchasing mined diamonds.

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