Why Man Made Diamond Called Conflict Free Diamond - GDC

In the last couple of decades, technology has taken over practically every industry. 3D printers are producing food; and robots and software are doing tasks that were being by humans for hundreds of years. In such an age, it isn’t surprising that man is producing diamonds in laboratories. And these are “real diamonds”.

 

As interest and inclination to man made diamonds, lab grown diamonds, or cultured diamonds is growing, a number of factors have supported and boosted its preferment. Recently, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the United States has changed the definition of diamonds in its jewelry guidelines by removing the word ‘natural’. This further reinforces the position of lab grown diamonds as real diamonds.

 

Moreover, known brands and diamond sellers have recognized the preferred choice of conscious consumers, which has made them offer consumers more lab grown diamonds. Today, given a choice, man made diamonds are preferred over the mined counterpart.

 

What are man made diamonds?

 

Man made diamonds are those that are created or grown by scientific process in laboratories. As opposed to natural diamonds that are created by geological processes, man made diamonds are produced with the help of technological processes that are of the exact same compositions that produce diamonds beneath the Earth.

Laboratory diamonds are real. They are not the same as a cubic zirconia or a moissanite stone. These two are stimulants, which means they look like real diamonds but are softer and have different optical properties when compared to a real diamond.

 

How are diamonds created in labs?

 

Diamonds are created in labs with high-tech machinery and scientific processes. There are two processes used to create diamonds: High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD). Here’s the process:

• First, experts select the finest quality diamond seeds, which are carefully placed on a metal disk.
• The disk is then placed inside the diamond-growing reactor of the machine.
• Next, the seeds go through various processes over 10 to 12 weeks.
• A combination of gases, pressure and temperature create an environment that allows carbon atoms to break down and rain upon the seeds.
• Atom-by-atom, the seeds transform into rough diamonds. These rough diamonds are of the same chemical, physical and optical properties as mined diamonds.
• The rough diamonds are cut and polished to exacting standards in high tech factories.

What are the different types of man made diamonds?

 

Diamonds naturally occur in different types – Type 1 (a/b) or Type 2 (a/b) crystal. The purest form of diamond is Type 2a, which has no impurities and is colorless. Only less than 2% mined diamonds are Type 2a diamonds. However, all lab grown diamonds are Type 2a.

 

Key factors to consider when purchasing man made diamonds

 

Diamond simulants looks exactly the same as real diamonds to the naked eye. It is important to observe some key aspects of lab grown real diamonds at the time of purchase.

• The process used to create lab grown diamonds: Man made diamonds always have accurate information about the process with which they were made, inscribed on the diamonds. Diamonds are made with two processes: HPHT and CVD. If a diamond does not have accurate information about the process with which it was made then it could be a simulant.
• Certification: Another important thing to look out for is the certification of the diamond by IGI (International Gemological Institution). Consumers must insist on the certification when buying their diamonds. Sellers must make sure that they provide a certificate when selling a diamond. Obtaining a certificate enables transparency, confidence and trust between buyers and sellers and authentication. In many cases, even if the diamond has a certificate, it is important to buy the diamond from an accredited seller who can verify the accuracy of the certificate.

How and where are lab grown diamonds certified?

 

Man made diamonds are certified by IGI (International Gemological Institution). These certificates protect buyers and sellers of lab grown diamonds by setting and maintaining the standards used to evaluate the quality of the diamonds. Consumers can be assured and confident about their purchase when certificates accompany their diamonds. The certificates carry accurate grading of the diamonds based on the 4 Cs.

 

Why are created diamonds considered better than mined?

 

Real. Pure. Beautiful. Affordable. Precious. Loose lab grown diamonds have all the qualities that consumers want in their diamonds. Besides these obvious strengths, man made diamonds have several other strong points. Here are some:

• Lab created diamonds have the same physical hardness and strength as mined diamonds.
• Lab grown diamonds have the same optical properties as minded diamonds.
• Diamonds grown in a laboratory have the same molecular structure as minded diamonds.
• Real man made diamonds do not have any fluorescence.
• Lab grown diamonds are around 30% cheaper than mined diamonds.
• Loose man made diamonds are often more cleaner and have less inclusions.
• Lab diamonds are certified real diamonds with laser inscriptions by forensic laboratories.
• Man made diamonds can meet high market demands.
• Lab grown diamonds are not harmful to the earth and the environment.
• Man made diamonds are not conflict or blood diamonds. They are ethically produced in safe environments.
• Lab created diamonds can be customized.

As producers of mined diamonds struggle to stress on the “real is rare” belief, the lab-grown diamonds industry is already winning hearts of conscious and aware diamond connoisseurs and a growing young population that is taking a liking to the man-made sparklers. And why not?