| What they are and what they are not... | | | | The two common processes for making man |
| Man made diamonds... also called synthetic or lab | | | | made diamonds are as follows- |
| created diamonds, no matter what name you put | | | | Process #1- HPHT Process- High Pressure / High |
| on them they are 100% diamond, period! They | | | | Temperature (HPHT) This has been the result of |
| have the exact same physical, chemical, and | | | | a lot of experiments to reproduce similar |
| optical properties as a natural diamond. They are | | | | conditions in which natural diamonds are formed. |
| not mined from the earth but are instead made in | | | | You can imagine that to recreate those conditions |
| a laboratory. Lab created diamonds are not CZs | | | | in order to produce synthetic diamonds is not an |
| or Moissanite... CZ and Moissanite are diamond | | | | easy task. |
| simulants. | | | | Natural diamonds are formed 100 miles below the |
| Man made diamonds do not simulate diamonds | | | | surface of the earth, under tremendous pressure |
| because they are actually diamonds. Telling the | | | | and heat. The HPHT growth chamber is a little |
| difference between a natural diamond and a lab | | | | larger than a washing machine and it will create |
| created diamond is possible but it does require | | | | temperatures of about 1,500°C along with |
| some sophisticated equipment and special training... | | | | 58,000 atm of pressure. A small carbon seed is |
| 99.9999% of people will not be able to tell the | | | | placed into the HPHT chamber and within about a |
| difference. | | | | week it is transformed into a crystal, also called a |
| There are other gemstones that have been | | | | piece of "rough". |
| synthesized in laboratories over the years but | | | | Process #2- CDV Process- Chemical Vapor |
| synthetic diamonds are a relative newcomer. | | | | Deposition (CVD) This method was developed in |
| Synthetic ruby has been around since 1837 but | | | | the 1980s and uses a different approach to the |
| the first man made diamond that was | | | | task of growing synthetic diamonds. CVD works |
| successfully made by Dr. Tracy Hall from General | | | | by heating a hydrocarbon gas over numerous |
| Electric and was officially announced in 1955. | | | | "seed" diamonds that are placed on a metal |
| Although diamond is composed of just one | | | | surface. The seeds grow into small bricks of |
| element, carbon... getting all those carbon atoms | | | | synthetic diamonds, these are the pieces of rough |
| lined up to form the proper structure is easier | | | | that will be cut and polished into finished diamonds. |
| said than done! | | | | So, is a man made diamond right for you? |
| Different uses... | | | | Maybe... Some people like the idea of a lab |
| Most man made diamonds are manufactured for | | | | created diamond and some people do not. You |
| industrial uses, like cutting and drilling purposes. But | | | | would need to find a local jewelry store that |
| there are new uses for lab created diamonds that | | | | offers lab created diamonds... every jeweler will |
| are being applied at a very fast pace... windshields | | | | have natural diamonds but not many jewelers will |
| for jet fighters, computer chips, windows for high | | | | carry synthetic stones. |
| powered lasers, sensors, and the other day at | | | | Man made diamonds are offered at better pricing |
| Home Depot I saw that there is now a kitchen | | | | in comparison to natural diamonds. In addition, |
| faucet with a washer that has a thin coating of | | | | these stones come along with the knowledge that |
| diamond applied to it, which means that the | | | | lab created diamonds are produced in a socially |
| faucet will never leak or wear out! | | | | and environmentally friendly manner. Because of |
| Because I am a Gemologist, these industrial | | | | the nature of the manufacturing process, many |
| applications are somewhat interesting but it is not | | | | of the lab created diamonds come in a yellow |
| my main interest... thankfully man made diamonds | | | | color. The process is being refined at a fast pace |
| are used for "blingy" purposes as well. | | | | which will allow for larger sizes, lower prices, and |
| Lab created diamonds are cut, polished, and | | | | many other different colors. |
| finished into faceted gemstones. They come in | | | | Currently the gemological laboratories are issuing |
| different sizes, shapes, and colors (mostly yellow... | | | | grading reports for synthetic diamonds... in the |
| but now also available in many more colors). | | | | case of GIA's Gem Trade Laboratory the report |
| Because of the low cost of manufacturing, they | | | | uses only 5 clarity and 5 color grades. On the |
| can also be offered at a good discount to the | | | | girdle of most cut and polished lab created stones |
| natural diamonds that come out of the earth. | | | | will be a laser inscription stating that the stone is |
| How are they produced? | | | | actually a synthetic. Most of the synthetic |
| Today, there are two main processes for | | | | diamond manufacturers and the gem labs will do |
| creating synthetic diamonds... and sorry, but these | | | | the laser inscription. They do this so that it will be |
| are very sophisticated procedures so you will not | | | | more difficult for someone to pass off a man |
| be able to make these in your basement for fun | | | | made diamond as a natural and in addition they |
| and profit! | | | | are proud of what they have made. |