How are lab grown diamonds made?
19 February 2024 • 3 min read
The epitome of luxury and glamour, diamonds have always held a prestigious status in the jewellery world. While the process behind the creation of a natural diamond within the Earth’s crust is common knowledge, the formation of its counterpart, the lab grown diamond, is not as known.
As one of Australia’s providers of lab grown diamonds online, we can reveal the process that forms the lab grown diamonds we admire and cherish. If you are considering a lab diamond, it is important you know the process so you can understand the genuine quality lab grown diamonds provide.
Discover the controlled process behind the dazzling gems below.
The methods used in creating a lab diamond
Laboratory made diamonds, also known as synthetic diamonds, are formed using advanced laboratory technology by skilled scientists and engineers. This artificial setting mimics the environment that forms a natural diamond.
There are two methods that can do this: CVD (chemical vapour deposition) and HPHT (high-pressure, high temperature). Both methods can be used to create an authentic quality diamond, identical to those naturally formed.
Once a lab-grown diamond is formed, it goes through the same strict grading assessment during certification as a natural diamond. A grading laboratory, such as GIA does this.
CVD (Chemical Vapour Deposition)
A CVD diamond is created with a minuscule diamond slice being placed in a chamber. In this chamber, it is exposed to carbon gas that is heated to extreme temperatures. This gas will break down, allowing the carbon atoms to settle on the slice, forming a diamond crystal.
This provides more precise control over the characteristics of the diamond and its characteristics, such as its quality and size.
HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature)
The HPHT method replicates the conditions in the Earth’s mantle where natural diamonds are formed. This requires a small seed crystal, such as a natural diamond, to be placed in a high-pressure press with carbon source materials.
The press places extreme pressure and high temperature on the materials, using electric pulses to cause the carbon atoms to crystallise and form a diamond around the original seed.
The time length of a lab grown diamond
While natural diamonds are formed over millions of years beneath the Earth’s surface, lab grown diamonds are made in a matter of weeks. The CVD diamond generally takes a month to form. An HPHT diamond can take a few weeks on average.
Cutting-edge technology creates these diamonds, significantly allowing the formation process to be fast-tracked. The appeal of lab-grown diamonds is that you can achieve the same quality in a more realistic timeline. This allows lab grown diamond rings to be more accessible to the market, giving them a more cost-friendly price tag, especially for engagement rings.
Are you interested in a lab grown diamond or ring? At Ernesto Buono, we are proud to be a provider of an exclusive selection of quality lab grown diamonds in Australia. We can help you find what you need, from loose diamonds to engagement rings.
Explore our website or send us an enquiry for any assistance.
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