Are lab-created diamonds real or fakes? There is a lot of misinformation that comes about them. The truth is, they are real. Just because they are not naturally grown under the earth’s surface doesn’t make them fake.
Lab-created diamonds are grown in the lab using technology that mimics the natural process of diamond formation. These diamonds feature the same chemical and physical properties as the naturally mined ones.
Here are a few facts about lab-created diamonds that will help you get to understand them more.
- They are graded just as mined diamonds
We know that diamonds have a grading system that helps to price them. We have a GIA grading system that is universally accepted and takes into account the color, clarity, cut, and carat to come up with an overall performance of the diamond.
Lab-created diamonds are usually graded by the Gemological labs using the GIA grading system, which makes them as good as the naturally mined ones.
- They are not fakes
People assume that lab-created diamonds are duplicates or imitations of the natural ones. The truth is, they are 100% identical to the mined ones. They have the same chemical composition as the natural ones, and they have the same shine and sparkle. The clarity and color of these diamonds don’t fade with time.
What’s even more exciting is that most colorless lab-grown diamonds are usually type IIa, which only 2% are mined ones.
- They are certified
The skepticism that comes with lab-created diamonds is surprising. Even with all the rumors that they are fakes, these diamonds are certified. They are GIA certified, which means that even if they are created in the laboratory, they are 100% real. For every buyer who buys this type of diamond, they are given a certificate along with their purchase.
What’s even more attractive about these diamonds is that you get value for your money, and you can also get cheaper emerald diamond rings without necessarily breaking the bank.
- Technology used
As mentioned previously, these diamonds used advanced technology to mimic the naturally forming diamonds. Lab-created diamonds are created under High-Pressure Torsion (HPT) and Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) procedures, where a diamond seed is subjected to the same environment as the mined ones.
For the CVD, a thin diamond plate (used as the diamond seed) is placed in the CVD chamber. Once the chamber is sealed, the temperature cranked up, and then a vacuum is created in the chamber. Methane gas is later released into the sealed chamber and is blasted using a microwave beam, which then releases carbon atoms from the gas. The carbon atoms then start attaching themselves to the diamond plate, which results in a diamond mineral growth. Lastly, the diamond will then be cut and shaped, ready for a buyer.
For HPT, the diamond seed is placed inside a capsule, which is then followed by metallic flux and some graphite powder. Then, the capsule is placed in a chamber reactor which is surrounded at all angles by metal anvils. Once the chamber is tightly sealed, the anvils squeeze the capsule at an immense pressure as the temperature is cranked up. The graphite powder will then dissolve as the carbon molecules start crystallizing on the diamond seed. The diamond is then cut, shaped, and polished, waiting for a buyer.
- Jewelers may not be able to differentiate between a lab-grown diamond and a mined one
As earlier mentioned, lab-grown and mined diamonds are quite identical. Even trained jewelers cant tell the difference. They use traditional tools such as loupes or microscopes, which can’t detect a lab-grown and a mined diamond. These tools are only designed to test between real and fake diamonds.
This only solidifies the fact that lab-grown diamonds are similar to the mined ones.
- They are here to stay
The demand for diamonds is continually growing daily. Chances are, the supply for mined diamonds could reduce, but the demand will not. So how is the gap closed? Through the lab-created diamonds whose cost of production is a bit lower than the mined ones. What’s great about them is the fact that they last a lifetime.
The only difference that comes with these diamonds is their origin, which is different than the mined ones. You don’t have to avoid buying them because you feel they are not genuine. The price you get for a lab-created diamond will be a little bit cheaper than the mined ones, which give you quality at the same time saving you hefty costs. Make sure you purchase from a trusted dealer to avoid chances of getting fakes.
