Lab Grown Diamonds FAQ
Are Lab Grown Diamonds cheaper than Natural Diamonds ?
Yes, they are considerably cheaper, you can expect to pay around 30-40% cheaper than a mined White Diamond equivalent, a third of the price for a Yellow and less than a tenth for a Pink or Blue naturally formed Diamond.
Are they Softer than Natural Diamonds?
They are Diamonds – They are Identical !
Lab diamonds a created with the same elements as mined. They are sustainably cultured by recreating the extreme pressure and temperature required to convert carbon into a diamond crystal structure found in nature. Lab Grown Diamonds are equivalent in strength to mined diamonds because they are Diamonds, and so are the hardest material on Earth. Diamonds are approximately 10 times harder than Sapphire and 100 times harder than Cubic Zirconia.
What Shapes do they come in ?
While the process to grow diamonds is different to the way a natural diamond is formed they are cut just like a Natural Diamond, and so they come in all available shapes.
What Grade are they?
Lab Grown Diamonds are graded on the exact same criteria as mined diamonds, The Four C’s, ie Cut, Colour, Clarity, Carat. These diamonds are also graded by the top Gemological laboratories that grade Earth-extracted diamonds. We only supply and Sell Diamonds from reputable Diamond Laboratories.
Are they Certified?
Me Jewellery offer diamond certification with all of our Lab Grown Diamonds over 0.30ct. Most Lab Grown Diamond certifications are from the International Gemological Institute (IGI), Gem Certification & Assurance Lab (GCAL) or the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).
In fact all our Lab Grown Diamonds are laser inscribed giving you peace of mind that it is an fact a lab Grown, Conflict-Free Diamond.
Can a Jeweller or my friends tell if my Lab Grown Diamond is not a Naturally Mined Diamond ?
The short answer is NO, Lab Grown Diamonds have identical Carbon properties as naturally formed diamonds, even the latest diamond testing probe testers will of course verify that it is in fact a diamond. Only Specialised Diamond testing equipment or further Gemmological testing lab will determine their true origin.
Are Lab Grown Diamonds colourless and flawless?
The process to develop precious diamonds in a laboratory is fundamentally the same as the geographical development process of Natural Diamonds only alot faster. Similar to Natural Diamonds Lab Grown Diamonds exhibit flaws and colour variations within the gemstones and are certified in the same way.
Are they the same as Cubic Zirconia’s or Moissanites?
It is important to note the vast distinction between lab grown diamonds and diamond simulants. Lab grown diamonds are man-made diamonds that consist of actual carbon atoms arranged in the characteristic diamond crystal structure an Octahedron. Diamond look-alike simulants, such as Cubic Zirconia and Moissanite, are not true carbon crystals. The costs associated with Simulants is considerably less and they do not have the same chemical and physical properties as diamonds. These simulants also have a lower hardness and make them prone to scratching and more importantly, they will not have the ‘Sparkle’ that a Diamond has.
Will Lab Diamonds hold there value?
At this point it is hard to say if Lab diamonds will hold there value, however at the moment the demand is so high, its hard for the Labs to keep up. Mass production may see the value change. As a diamond is mostly bought for a symbol of love and commitment, and for some luxury, so the sentimental value out ways the monetary value in the end, and is generally passed onto a loved one. It is very hard to sell a second hand mined diamond, even with high value. So time will tell on this question.
Lab Grown/Created methods and a Natural Diamond Crystal
What's the difference between CVD and HPHT Lab Grown Diamonds?
HPHT Diamond Growth Method
The first successful synthetic diamond was made by imitating nature with High Pressure/High Temperature (HPHT) manufacturing. Over the years three main types of HPHT processes have been developed to make or often enhance these diamonds:
- Cubic Press
- Belt Press
- Split-Shpere (Bars) Press
The objective being to create a similar environment to that of Earth , extreme heat and pressure. Each process method starts the same way, with a little diamond seed, which is placed in carbon and subjected to these forced pressures and temperatures.
An invention or the General Electric Company, ‘the Belt Press’ uses upper and lower anvils to squeeze over 1.5 million pounds or pressure per sq. inch and temperatures well above 2,000 degrees Celsius. Whilst in this environment, the pure carbon slowly melts and begins to make a diamond around the seed.
On December 16, 1954, the first Lab Grown Diamond was created using the “Belt Press” method. Although tiny and slightly opaque, one had been created and opened the door for further experimentation.
Since the 1950’s technology has advanced ten-fold. The early Belt Press Process were dramatically scaled up, new methods like the Cubic and Split-Sphere presses were introduced, and are bigger, more efficient and produce far better gem quality Diamonds.
HPHT Diamonds are classed as a Type II
Your Diamonds Report/Certificate will usually describe the Diamonds Growth method.
CVD Diamond Growth Method
CVD or Chemical Vapor Deposition is the new player in town to produce Lab Grown Diamonds. This process uses a hydrocarbon gas mixture. As with the HPHT method, it starts with a seed, this time the seed is usually a thin slice of a HPHT diamond. The seed is placed in a pressure and heat resistant chamber and heated to around 800 degrees Celsius. The chamber is then filled with a carbon-rich gas (usually methane) along with other gases. The gases are ionized into plasma using microwaves, lasers, or another techniques. The ionization splits the bonds between the molecular particles within the gases, resulting in pure carbon that then adheres to the diamond seed and gradually builds up into a crystal lattice, atom by atom, layer by layer.
Again there are different methods of CVD Diamond Production
- Microwave Plasma Chemical Vapor Deposition – (MPCVD)
- Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition – (PECVD)
- Low-pressure Chemical Vapor Deposition – (LPCVD)
- Ultra-High Vacuum Chemical Vapor Deposition – (UHVCVD)
The CVD Diamond process has a few advantages over the HPHT process. The extreme high pressures aren’t required, and the temperatures required are no where near as high as the HPHT Process. Another benefit is CVD diamonds can be grown over larger seed plates, bring in a better yield .
Finally, the CVD Diamond process allows manufacturers to fine tweak and control the growth process better to produce better results.
How Long does it take? a CVD Diamond can be created around 6 to 12 weeks, a sizeable rough diamond is formed.
Colorless and near-colorless CVD diamonds are usually type IIa, while only 2% of natural gem diamonds are type IIa. Type IIa diamonds are characterized by high purity (low nitrogen) and transparency in specific parts of the ultraviolet and infrared optical spectrum. Numerous UV detection instruments on the market can provide the first indication of a possible CVD diamond.
Intense research is ongoing around the world into the field of Chemical Vapour Deposition, and each day the technology is improving. CVD diamonds can be grown in a range of colors and sizes, with high clarity. The gemstones produced are as beautiful and durable as natural diamond, and they are expected to fill an important market niche in the near future.
Your Diamonds Report/Certificate will usually describe the Diamonds Growth method.
What's does 'Post Growth Treatment' mean?
What is Post Growth Treatment in Lab Grown Diamonds
Some Lab Grown Diamond Certification Reports often indicate the Growth Method and if there has been any “Post Growth” treatment.
Like anything we grow or make, sometimes things aren’t perfect enough, Lab Grown Diamonds are no exception to this. After growth some diamonds can show irregular colours and clarities. Sometimes reheating them to extremes temperatures will reduce and or enhance a Diamonds Colour and Clarity.
Examples of such are seen below which are recorded on the Diamonds report;
- As Grown – No Indication of post growth treatment. This Laboratory Grown Diamond was created by High Pressure Heat Temperature (HPHT).TYPE II
- This is a man-made diamond produced by HPHT (High
Pressure High Temperature) growth process. No evidence of
treatment was detected. - This is a man-made diamond produced by CVD (Chemical Vapor
Deposition) growth process and has evidence of post-growth
treatments to change the color - may include post-growth treatment.
Note: Nearly all Fancy Coloured Lab Grown Diamonds have some form of Post Growth Treatment.
