Lab-grown diamonds have many different names - lab-grown, lab-created, lab-made, synthetic or man-made diamonds. All of these names indicate that these diamonds are produced in a laboratory or factory and are not naturally occurring and therefore not mined from the earth.
Some laboratories use advanced technology to mimic the conditions under which natural diamonds form in the earth's interior. This history of formation is the main difference between lab-grown and natural diamonds. This is because lab-grown diamonds have essentially the same chemical, optical and physical properties and the same crystal structure as natural diamonds. These artificially lab-grown diamonds are also certified just as thoroughly and professionally by GIA and IGI. Their non-natural origin is clearly noted in the certificate. This prevents confusion with natural diamonds. These artificially laboratory-produced diamonds are also certified by GIA and IGI just as thoroughly and professionally. Their non-natural origin is clearly noted in the certificate. This prevents confusion with natural diamonds.
There are two main processes for the production of lab-grown diamonds:
In this process, the diamonds are produced in laboratories that mimic the pressure and temperature of natural diamond formation in the earth. HPHT diamonds grow at a pressure of 5-6 gigapascals (5-6 billion pascals) and at temperatures of 1300-1600 degrees Celsius.
This method can also be used to improve the color and clarity of lower quality diamonds. The process can be used to color diamonds not only colorless, but also pink, blue or yellow. However, the diamond must then be declared as a "treated" diamond.
This newer technique allows scientists to grow diamonds in the lab at moderate temperatures (700-1300°C) and much lower pressure. Carbon-containing gas is pumped into a vacuum chamber where it begins to deposit on a tiny piece of diamond and crystallises as a grown diamond. The final size of the diamond depends on the growth time.
