Diamonds are precious gemstones that come in many colours and shapes. They can be natural or lab-grown diamonds. Natural diamonds are mined from the earth, while lab-grown diamonds are made in a laboratory. There are several ways to tell the difference between a natural and a lab-grown diamond. The most obvious way to tell is the origin of the diamond.
Types of Diamond Gems
Laboratory-Grown Diamonds
Lab diamonds are also called synthetic diamonds or man-made diamonds. These are grown in a lab by mining carbon from rocks and then heating it until it forms a diamond. This process takes considerably longer than traditional diamond production methods, but the resulting diamonds are ethically and environmentally conscious. They have many advantages over mined diamonds: they’re more affordable, they emit very little carbon dioxide when worn, and they require less water to be mined.
Natural Diamonds
Natural diamonds are precious and durable gemstones. They are found in many colours, including blue, yellow, pink, brown, grey, black and white. Man-made diamonds are usually found in the earth at depths of 100 to 2,000 meters (330 to 6,600 feet). They are usually mined from large deposits and then cut into small pieces to be polished.
In 1868, Edward Goodyear discovered that when he heated diamond material above 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit (1,242 degrees Celsius), the carbon atoms in the diamond moved from their regular hexagonal pattern to a new octahedral pattern. He named this new type of diamond “carbonated” or “cemented” diamonds because of the way in which the gas bubbles were trapped inside the diamond.
The Assumption that a Diamond is a Lab-Grown Diamond
Made Using CVD
Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) is a method for the growth of diamonds on a substrate. CVD diamonds are grown in a vacuum chamber using heated gas molecules called feedstock. Carbon, nitrogen and other gases are used to create the necessary conditions for diamond growth. The diamonds are then removed from the chamber and polished. CVD is one of the most popular methods for growing diamonds because it produces high-quality stones with little environmental impact.
Created at HPHT
In a lab, diamonds are created at High Pressure and High Temperature. These extreme conditions make it possible to create diamond crystals that are smaller than those found in nature. This process creates a diamond that is three times as hard as a natural diamond and also contains fewer impurities. The ability to create diamonds at such high pressures and temperatures could lead to improved production techniques for the gems, making them more available and affordable to consumers. However, under high pressure and high-temperature conditions, diamonds can form from carbon monoxide gas. This new type of diamond has many potential applications, including for use in jewellery and technological devices.
Differentiated from Cubic Zirconia
Diamonds are made from carbon and other materials. There are different types of diamonds, including cubic zirconia (CZ). CZ is made from zirconium, a rare element that is often used in industrial applications. CZ diamond is very hard and has a high fire rating.
Disclosure of Professionals
The ethical and legal considerations of the disclosure of professionals who create lab-grown diamonds are complex. On the one hand, it is important for consumers to be aware that these diamonds are not real and may not hold the same sentimental value as natural diamonds. On the other hand, it could be misleading to disclose that a particular professional is solely responsible for creating these diamonds without also disclosing that the diamond was assembled from smaller gemstones.
The World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) has created guidelines for disclosing lab-grown diamonds, but there is still much debate surrounding this topic. Some argue that full disclosure is necessary so that consumers can make an informed decision about whether or not to purchase a diamond made with laboratory techniques. Others believe that hiding the fact that a diamond is lab-generated can lead to more purchases of these diamonds in secret, which could potentially damage the industry’s reputation.
Physical Differences between Lab-Grown and Natural Diamonds
Cut
Lab-grown diamonds, which are made in a lab and not on the earth, have a different cut than natural diamonds. This is because lab-grown diamonds are often made into gems that need to be perfectly symmetrical, so the cutters have to make them very thin.
Natural diamonds, on the other hand, are often more unevenly shaped and thus require a thicker cut so that they can be seen as pieces of jewellery.
Colour
The colour of a diamond is determined by how many different types of atoms it contains. Diamonds that are mined from the ground are typically made up of carbon and nitrogen atoms. These two elements make up more than 99% of all diamonds.
Diamonds grown in laboratories typically have a slightly different colour than diamonds that are found in nature. Laboratory-grown diamonds tend to be more yellow or orange than natural diamonds, and they may also have a slightly higher number of impurities.
Clarity
There are many factors that can contribute to the clarity of a diamond, including the type of stone and its purity.
Lab-grown diamonds are often less clear than their natural counterparts, which can impact their value. Natural diamonds are typically more clear than lab-grown diamonds, which may enhance their value.
Conclusion:
It’s important to know that not all diamonds are natural. Some diamonds are actually lab-grown, meaning they are created in a laboratory rather than on earth.
- If you’re looking to purchase a diamond, it’s important to know the difference so you can make an informed decision.
- To determine if a diamond is a lab-grown, look for certain characteristics. These include the difference in colour, cut, and clarity.
- It is not easy to tell whether a diamond is natural or man-man; if you want to buy a diamond that is not lab-grown, be sure to ask the jeweller how the diamond was mined and what certifications they have.
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FAQs
Are most lab diamonds marked?
While lab diamonds are not required to be marked, they often are in order to ensure that the diamonds being sold are genuine. While some unscrupulous sellers may mark their diamonds in a way that is not detectable by the naked eye, most mark their diamonds with a unique identifying number or letter. If you’re looking for a diamond that is ethically sourced and certified, look for one that is marked.
Will a lab-created diamond show up on an x-ray?
No, lab-created diamonds are not visible on an x-ray. Diamonds are made from a combination of carbon and other minerals, which are heated under pressure to form a hard, clear crystal. Lab-created diamonds are nearly identical to natural diamonds in terms of their chemical composition, but this does not mean that they will not show up on an x-ray.
Do lab diamonds have a rainbow sparkle?
Lab diamonds do have a rainbow sparkle. However, this sparkle is due to the various UV rays that pass through the diamond during production or to the way the diamond is cut and polished. However, it’s important to note that this sparkle is not natural and may not be in every synthetic diamond.