How to tell? Lab Grown vs Natural Diamonds
The differences between lab grown and natural diamonds aren’t discernible to the naked eye. Firstly, natural diamonds are created from the Earth’s mantle and contain trace amounts of nitrogen, whereas lab grown diamonds do not. In this way, whether or not a diamond contains nitrogen is the primary criterion gemologists use to determine a diamond’s origin. The second is age.
Like fine wine, and some even say women, diamonds are at their most beautiful when they age. Time slowly transitions them into their peak condition – an important distinction when it comes to lab grown vs natural diamonds.
Mother Earth’s Creation of Natural Diamonds
Under intense pressure and heat, natural diamonds are formed over millions of years from deep within (100 miles or more!) the Earth’s crust. Inside magma, they are slowly transported upward by volcanic activity, a process that forms kimberlite pipes along the way. Once they reach the surface, the diamonds are extracted, cut, and polished.
Lab Grown Diamonds
In contrast, lab grown diamonds are produced in a laboratory environment that replicates these natural conditions. The lab process accelerates nature’s diamond formation process from millions of years to just a few months. This simulated acceleration process is what makes age the second key differentiation between natural and lab grown diamonds.
How Lab Grown Diamonds are Created
Lab grown diamonds are called man-made, synthetic, cultured, or artisan diamonds. All of these terms refer to diamonds that are grown in a laboratory. Lab grown diamonds can also be categorized based on which method is used to create them: Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) or High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT).
Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD)
The CVD process begins by placing a small diamond seed inside a chamber filled with heated gasses. As the gasses reach extremely high temperatures, layers of carbon start to deposit on the seed, gradually forming a square-shaped diamond crystal.
High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT)
Using natural graphite, HPHT aims to reconstruct the natural diamond-forming conditions of the Earth. In this method, natural graphite is subjected to extreme pressure and temperature inside a machine, transforming it into a diamond.
Distinguishing CVD from HPHT Diamonds
To the naked eye, there is no visible difference between diamonds created by the CVD and HPHT methods. Both are genuine diamonds with the same chemical and physical properties as natural diamonds. However, as stated above, unlike natural diamonds, neither contain nitrogen.
Notably, lab grown diamonds are graded the same way as natural diamonds, according to the 4 Cs: Color, Cut, Clarity, and Carat. And since they are cheaper to produce than to mine, they are between 60 – 85% lower in price.
Which is Right for You?
One drawback of lab grown diamonds is that they are not inherently rare and therefore may not retain their value as well over time. If supply and demand is any determiner, then as lab-grown diamonds become more prevalent, their resale value will decline.
Additionally, while lab grown diamonds avoid some of the ethical issues associated with mining, they come with their own sustainability issues. The HPHT method demands significant energy due to the high temperatures involved, and the CVD process requires the same amount of energy needed to power the average size home for an entire month.
In sum, while lab grown diamonds are priced more attractively than natural diamonds, it is important to bear their long-term value and environmental impact in mind. Whether choosing a lab grown or natural diamond, understanding these differences will help you make an informed decision about purchasing fine jewelry that best reflects what you value most.
