| Everyone knows that diamonds is the hardest | | | | using a lot of energy and ultra-modern technology. |
| gemstone and women all over the world go crazy | | | | Since the engineering and mechanical market |
| to own a diamond jewelry. This beautiful | | | | needs were yet not being met completely by the |
| gemstone is renowned for its lustrous beauty, but | | | | synthetic diamond supply, the proliferation of the |
| very few people know of its ability to be used in | | | | synthetic diamond in the jewelry industry was |
| other fields like electronics, machinery etc.The two | | | | abated. Another reason why the synthetic |
| aspects of this gem stone are so diverse in | | | | diamonds did not make their way into the |
| association and nature that one does not really | | | | studded necklaces was the fact that most of the |
| connect the two uses with each other. | | | | synthetic diamonds being produced were still |
| The diamond has certain very unique properties | | | | yellow or brownish in color. |
| that enable it to be used in these various | | | | The development and growth process of large |
| applications. It is the hardest substance on earth, | | | | diamonds required for the tools industry itself |
| has an extremely high thermal conductivity, is | | | | took too long. In 1990, De Beers claimed to have |
| optically transparent and has high electrical | | | | produced the largest synthetic diamond; a |
| resistance. | | | | yellowish brown piece that was about 14.20 |
| The hardness property of the diamond makes it | | | | carats. This diamond alone took 500 hours to |
| amenable to be used as a cutting tool, especially | | | | grow. Three years later they reported having |
| for hard substances like marble, granite and hard | | | | produced a 34.80 carat crystal that took 600 |
| wood. It is embedded in mechanical tools to | | | | hours to grow. Another few years and De Beers |
| enable the shaping of engine blocks and | | | | claimed that it was possible to produce 30 carat |
| automotive components. | | | | crystals in lesser time. But now one can find |
| Once the process of developing synthetic | | | | synthetic diamonds in many fancy colours and in |
| diamonds was discovered, these synthetic | | | | white colorless shades too. |
| diamonds were obviously the most preferred | | | | Even though there were great obstacles in |
| option for use in machinery. Apart from the cost, | | | | perfecting the art of making gem quality synthetic |
| there are many other benefits of using synthetic | | | | diamonds, some companies forged ahead and |
| diamond in tools. synthetic diamond growth can be | | | | continued to research the process. The challenge |
| controlled and monitored to produce desired | | | | that they faced was that they could not avoid |
| shape and consistency. This is not the case with | | | | the nitrogen from entering the diamond while |
| respect to natural diamonds where nature | | | | during the process of production, the gas that |
| determines the shape, size and contours of the | | | | gives the diamonds the yellow color. GE was the |
| diamond based on various random natural events. | | | | first company to produce an almost colorless |
| Since the development of the synthetic diamond | | | | synthetic diamond by eliminating nitrogen from the |
| takes place in a laboratory, the level of impurities | | | | process. This was done by using a metal flux, a |
| and mineral inclusions can be controlled. Due to | | | | substance that melts and dissolves other material |
| these reasons and more the synthetic diamond | | | | in it. Special compounds were added to the metal |
| today is sturdier as compared to the natural ones. | | | | flux to keep the nitrogen from entering the |
| Another property that lends itself to use in | | | | process chambers. Even though De Beers had |
| mechanical work is that of thermal conductivity. | | | | also discovered the art of making synthetic |
| The type IIa diamond can conduct up to 5 times | | | | colorless diamonds, neither company released their |
| more heat than the metal copper. The fact that it | | | | experiments and the colorless gems that came |
| can absorb high levels of heat means that it can | | | | from them into the market. However, a |
| be used to reduce the friction in many engineering | | | | Thai-Russian joint venture in Thailand distributed |
| parts. Including the diamond as a 'heat sink' helps | | | | lab made colorless diamonds in the market. |
| in extending the life of the machinery since it | | | | Since the jewelry market does not require large |
| avoids wear and tear due to friction and heat. | | | | pieces, these colorless synthetics are faster to |
| 'Slices' of synthetic diamonds are also be used for | | | | grow, produce and sell in the market. Though the |
| other industrial and surgical tools. | | | | synthetic diamonds caters to a larger audience of |
| Much research is being done to use diamond chips | | | | the gem industry, they increase the possibility of |
| instead of silicon chips in computers and it is being | | | | being swindled, fraud and non-disclosure in the |
| said that such computers would be 1000 times | | | | trade. As the production process is perfected and |
| faster than the existing ones. | | | | better quality colorless synthetics are produced |
| Even though the diamonds were being produced | | | | and marketed each year, the challenge for the |
| synthetically in the early 1990's, they had not | | | | professionals in the jewelry industry becomes |
| made their appearance in the jewelry industry. | | | | harder. |
| Large synthetic diamonds could be used only by | | | | |