Everything You Need to Know About Lab-Grown Diamonds

The first evidence of scientists creating synthetic diamonds goes as far back as the late 1800s to the 1920s. However, these first creations were analyzed but not confirmed. In the 1940s, American, Swedish, and Russian scientists began to formally grow lab-created diamonds using the processes of HPHT and CVD.

Around 1953 the first reported tiny crystals of synthetic diamonds were documented. Production of larger lab-grown diamonds for jewelry-making and industrial purposes began in the mid-1990s.

There is undoubtedly some confusion between lab-grown diamonds and simulated diamonds, but the simple answer to this question is No, they are not the same. Simulated diamonds do not have the same physical properties as natural diamonds. In comparison, lab-grown diamonds have the same material properties and elements as natural diamonds; they just originate from the laboratory instead of from the earth.

Lab-created diamonds are manufactured diamonds that consist of actual carbon atoms arranged in the characteristic diamond crystal structure in the same way natural diamonds are formed. Diamond simulants, such as cubic zirconia and moissanite, are diamond look-alikes. They resemble the appearance and properties of natural diamonds but have a different chemical structure from real diamonds, so they are not true carbon crystals; they merely imitate the appearance of a diamond.

A diamond simulant may be artificial, natural, or in some cases, a combination of these. While their material properties are vastly different from natural or lab-grown diamonds, simulants have certain desired characteristics that ideally lend themselves to imitation. Trained Gemologists can distinguish natural and synthetic diamonds from diamond simulants, primarily by visual inspection.

The properties of lab-grown diamonds are very much dependent upon the manufacturing process. Some lab-created diamonds have properties such as hardness, thermal conductivity, and electron mobility that are far enhanced to those of many naturally formed diamonds. For this reason, synthetic diamonds are widely used in industrial processes such as in heat sinks, cutting and polishing tools, and abrasives.

Electronic applications of lab-created diamonds are in development, and Synthetic diamond detectors of ultraviolet (UV) light or high-energy particles are used at high-energy research facilities. Because of its unique combination of thermal and chemical stability, low thermal expansion, and high optical transparency in a wide spectral range, synthetic diamonds are fast becoming the most popular material for optical windows in high-power CO2 lasers and gyrotron. It is estimated that 98% of industrial-grade diamonds are now lab-grown diamonds.

Lab-grown diamonds are chemically, physically, and optically identical to natural diamonds, but they do not have the lower durability of natural diamonds, so they should not become cloudy over time. Like natural diamonds, they can accumulate dirt and grime on the surface, which can affect their appearance, but a professional jeweler can easily clean this.

It's important to note that all diamonds, whether natural or lab-grown, are subject to wear and tear over time. They can scratch and chip if they are subjected to rough treatment, and the setting of a diamond can also affect its appearance.

To maintain the appearance of your lab-grown diamond, it's important to handle it gently and protect it from rough treatment. It's also a good idea to have it cleaned and inspected by a professional jeweler regularly to ensure that it is in good condition. This will help keep your diamond looking its best for years to come.