Lab Created Diamonds VS Natural Diamonds

The importance of diamonds dates back to the time when these stones were first discovered. These beautiful gemstones were first found thousands of years ago in the south of India. India was the leading manufacturer of diamonds for hundreds of years. Later, they were discovered in other parts of the world, such as South Africa, Russia, Brazil, Australia, and Venezuela.

The beauty and brilliance of this gemstone have made it one of the most admired and sought-after jewels for decades. Not just women, men too are fascinated with the sparkle of diamonds. They add a unique sparkle, class, grace, and sophistication to our jewelry pieces, making them a luxury statement.

Diamonds are extremely rare since they were formed billions of years ago. Very few pieces make it up to the difficult journey from the Earth's crust to reach its surface. Natural gemstones that are mined from the Earth, only about 50% of them are of the quality that can be used for commercial purposes.

These gemstones go through various cut and polish stages before they become precious, sparkling, and scintillating stones. Let us tell you about an interesting face – up until the 15th century, only kings and royal people were allowed to wear these pieces of luxury as they symbolized courage and strength. Those who wore these bright stones were considered invincible.

As the years passed, diamonds turned out to be one of the best gifts one can give to their loved ones. Ever since they were discovered, they were considered synonyms with legend and romance. The very word 'diamond' was inspired by a Greek word that translated to 'unconquerable' in English. It symbolizes the eternal nature of love that goes along with the Greek philosophy that the sparkle and brilliance of diamonds reflect the eternal flame of love. As per Egyptian belief, the vein of love runs straight from the heart to the top of the third finger, which is why women wear a diamond ring on their third finger.

Where Do Diamonds Originate From?

Let us first start by understanding where diamonds come from, how they were created, and some common theories revolving around their origins.

Natural Diamonds

Mined diamonds have an extraordinary geological history unlike any other mineral or material found inside the lap of Earth. They are considered exotic elements because they originate deep within the Earth. An omnipresent myth revolving around natural diamonds is that they come from buried coal squeezed at high temperatures and pressures.

Most natural diamonds around 98% come from a depth of around 150 to 200 kilometers in the foundation of the oldest yet thickest parts of continents. However, it is believed that some rare kinds of diamonds are formed at depths greater than 800 kilometers.

Around 3 billion years ago, they were formed deep inside the bed of the Earth under environments of extreme pressure and high temperatures. Through intense heat and pressure billions of years ago, the carbon atoms crystallized to form diamonds as we know them today.

In order for them to come to the surface of the Earth, diamonds need to be released from the intense heat and pressure under which they are formed.

Their voyage to the surface happens when an event deep inside the Earth causes some part of the mantle layer to melt into magma which then rapidly erupts on the surface of the Earth through volcanic activity, transporting them onto the surface from the greater depths. Magma, when cooled, hardens to form the rock known as kimberlite in vertical structures known as kimberlite pipes. However, only 15% of kimberlite pipes till now have been discovered around the world containing diamonds. However, only 1% of them are economically feasible, making them rare in nature.

Some extremely small diamonds found in ultra-high-pressure metamorphic rocks are thought to have been brought by tectonic plate movement during mountain-building processes to the surface of the Earth. There is another tectonic process called subduction. This process occurs when one tectonic plate moves under another, which is then forced to sink in due to gravity into the mantle. As a result of this process, organic carbon may crystallize into diamonds and be recycled back into the mantle.

Meteorites have hit the Earth throughout its history, and when a large meteorite collides, extreme temperatures and pressure are created, which are perfect conditions for diamond formation. Researchers have also found Nano diamonds around some meteorites and newly formed stars. However, the diamonds so formed are too small for use but are an important part of the formation and composition of our galaxy.

Lab Grown Diamonds

Laboratory grown diamonds are also referred to as man-made diamonds. The chemical composition and basic crystal structure of a natural diamond are identical to the composition and structure of man-made diamonds. They were first developed and produced in a laboratory around the 1950s that were suitable for industrial purposes.

Although laboratory-grown diamonds were first produced in 1971, colorless laboratory-grown diamonds entered the gem and jewelry industry in commercial quantities only in the mid-2010s. Now that we know, technology is making new strides every single day and there is no surprise that humankind has discovered a way to create a diamond replicating the mined one inside a laboratory.

Today, lab made diamonds are created using two main processes namely, High-pressure high temperatures (HPHT), and Chemical vapor deposition (CVD). By mimicking the natural diamond formation conditions on the Earth, high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) diamonds are produced in a laboratory. Laboratory-grown diamond crystals produced by this process are distinctively shaped.

In chemical vapor deposition (CVD), molecules of carbon-rich gases, such as methane, are broken down into carbon and hydrogen atoms, which are then deposited on diamond seeds to form a tabular diamond crystal. The most common CVD process begins with diamond seeds. During the process, seeds are exposed to a mixture of gases heated to around 3000°C in a sealed chamber. Carbon atoms adhere to the diamond seed and then crystallize to form a larger diamond as a result of the formation of plasma.

The creation of lab grown diamonds typically takes less than a month, as opposed to billions of years for mined diamonds. It typically takes less than a month for most diamond sizes to grow using either method. Most of the diamonds that were grown using the CVD growth process require additional treatments like irradiation or heat to enhance or change their color.

Lab Created Diamond vs Natural diamond – Is there A Difference?

Lab created and natural diamonds appear similar in appearance and have the exact physical, chemical, and optical properties. Theoretically speaking, they have little difference as they look the exact same. However, only professional and expert gemologists can distinguish between using special technologies and tools that are there only with them. It is quite impossible to tell them apart with our naked eyes.

However, as the name suggests, there is a difference in the place of their origin. While one is extracted from the Earth using labor and other technology, the other is grown in laboratories using the CVD and HPHT methods. Mined Diamonds are often known as 'blood diamonds' due to the destruction it causes to our mother earth.

It is reported that when diamonds are mined out from the Earth, it causes destruction to approximately 100 sq. ft of land and generates 6000 lbs. of mineral waste. Also, it causes injury to 1 out of every 1000 workers working in the mining field. All of this damage and destruction does not happen in the case of laboratory made gemstones. Since they are grown in a controlled environment using advanced technology, they cause no destruction of land and no injury to labor.

Let us find out some obvious differences between both of them and why you should choose lab created diamonds over natural ones.

Price

One of the most important reasons why naturally mined gemstones are so expensive is because of their rarity. The expensive and complex mining process, coupled with the cost of labor makes extracting out the gemstones a costly affair. The biggest advantage is that it is still determining whether the mining will be successful or not.

Also, only a limited number of gemstones are present in the Earth's crust. The circumstances under which they form are unique and take billions of years to grow. On the other hand, lab created gemstones are created in a way that mimics the environment of the Earth's crust. They are grown in a technologically controlled environment using CVD and HPHT processes.

The process of growing diamonds in laboratories takes less than billions of years. Rather it takes merely a few weeks for them to form into a diamond. Thus, lab stones are not so rare as they can easily satisfy the demands of people. It is possible to buy a laboratory made diamond without breaking your bank or budget.

Durability

Both natural and man-made diamonds have similar physical, chemical, and optical characteristics. However, since carbon is the main constituent of both these types of gemstones, they remain the hardest material to exist on our Earth.

They both rank ten on the Mohs scale of hardness and thus have the same durability. In addition, they both are difficult to chip and will not wear and tear easily.

Clarity

Several of the same grading agencies grade lab created diamonds using the same standards and methods as natural diamonds, including the Gemological Institute of America and the International Gemological Institute. In other words, if these standard-bearers use the same scales to evaluate both lab-grown and natural diamonds, there is no difference in the 4Cs (cut, clarity, color, and carat) between them.

Due to the fact that lab grown diamonds are grown, not built, they will also have inclusions or "flaws" that affect their sparkle and clarity. Generally, the more inclusions in a stone, the cloudier it is, and the lower its clarity grade. Like in natural diamonds, the clarity grades in lab made stones range from Flawless (F1) to Included 3 (I3).

Cut

The cut quality of natural and lab created gemstones is similar. In general, the more proportional the cut, the more brilliance, fire, and scintillation a diamond will exhibit.

Diamonds' cut quality is determined by angles, proportions, and symmetry, graded from Excellent through Very Good to Good to Fair to Poor. Even if a stone has no inclusions or tints, a poorly cut stone will still look dull. As a result, the cut is the biggest indicator of a stone's beauty, and it should be given priority over other aspects.

Color

When it comes to color, a lab grown diamond will be graded on the same scale as a natural diamond. A lab grown diamond has no visual difference from a natural diamond, and most couples are looking for near colorless gems of both types in grades G and J. The true colorless diamond, graded D through F, is extremely rare and, therefore extremely expensive.

As it is clear from the points mentioned above, there is not much difference between these two types of gemstones. The only major difference between natural and lab created stone is their place of origin.

Lab created diamonds	Natural diamonds
Can be grown within a few weeks in a technologically controlled environment.	Takes billions of years to form inside the Earth's crust.
They have carbon atom structures as their main constituent.	They too have carbon atoms as their main constituent.
A bulk quantity of them is produced.	Their formation occurs only under specific natural conditions and is rare in nature.
There are many shapes and carat weights to choose from.	There is also a wide range of designs and shapes available for them.

There is also a wide range of designs and shapes available for them.

A diamond that is not only beautiful but also good for the planet, should be considered important. However, many people and diamond enthusiasts are turned off by the ethical and humanitarian concerns associated with mined diamonds. Here are some reasons why you should go for lab grown diamonds:

• 1.Conflict-free and ethical choice

  A number of ethical issues are involved in mined diamonds, including fair wages, poor working conditions, child labor, and violations of human rights. These are all serious humanitarian and ethical issues that can be completely avoided with lab made diamonds. Apart from ethical violations, the supply chain for mined diamonds is quite lengthy because their origin can’t be traced easily. Therefore, making difficult to make sure that the diamond you are buying is sourced ethically. Alternatively, if you purchase a lab-grown diamond, you can tell exactly where it came from.

  The ethical and environmental ramifications of bringing natural diamonds to market are perhaps the strongest arguments for purchasing lab grown diamonds.

• 2.Smaller impact on the environment

  There is no hidden secret that mining for diamonds has a significant level of impact on the environmental economy. Approximately 6000 pounds of minerals are wasted for every one-carat diamond mined, and nearly 100 square feet of land are disturbed, causing environmental damage. Simply put, diamond mines have seriously damaged Earth's ecological systems, some of humankind's largest holes ever dug.

  On the other hand, lab grown diamonds are created in human-controlled settings called laboratories that have minimal impact on the environment. In addition, consumer values of Millennials and Gen Z are evolving, and they are more concerned than previous generations with supporting companies that share their values.

• 3.They look similar to mined diamonds

  One of the best benefits to buy lab created diamonds is they look exactly similar to their natural counterparts. Unfortunately, the chemical and optical properties of diamonds make it impossible for diamond detectors and traditional observations to distinguish between them. It is only the microscopic inscription on lab-grown diamonds that makes them different from natural diamonds. Without highly specialized equipment designed to read this inscription, it is not possible to distinguish between the two types of diamonds.

• 4.Beauty with better quality

  The physical, chemical and optical characteristics of lab grown diamonds are the same as those of natural diamonds mined in the ground. The quality of lab-grown diamonds will vary similarly to that of mined diamonds because they are produced in a controlled environment. Each lab diamond is graded according to the 4Cs of Diamond Quality: cut, color, clarity, and carat weight.

  The price of a diamond is determined by how the diamond performs in each of these categories. No two diamonds are indeed exactly alike, whether they are grown in a lab or mined from the Earth, but you can get a higher quality diamond for the same price as a mined diamond.

• 5.Affordable and pocket-friendly

  Getting a bigger or higher quality diamond for the same budget is possible with lab grown diamonds. Due to the fact that lab-grown diamonds are not mined, they have a much shorter supply chain than mined diamonds. Therefore, upgrading the cut, carat, clarity or customizing a lab made diamond is an affordable endeavor now, thanks to science and technology. This happens because diamonds grown in a laboratory are up to 40% cheaper than diamonds mined from the ground.

  Although lab-grown diamonds tend to be less expensive, they have technological advancement. Every lab grown diamond is created from a small diamond seed. The full-sized diamond is then formed using a specialized chemical vapor deposition method.