What are lab-grown diamonds?

Lab-grown diamonds, also known as synthetic diamonds, are formed through essentially the same process as natural gemstones, except that the process is faster and occurs in a laboratory (or factory) rather than in nature. Today, more and more of these gems are produced in large quantities, driving prices down. Because of this, some people think that it is inferior to natural diamonds in terms of emotional value and long-term value.

 How do you grow diamonds in a lab?

There are many ways to create laboratory diamonds, the two main ones being:

• Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) involves placing high-quality diamond (or any other heat-resistant material) in a vacuum chamber containing various gases or carbon materials. This material is then heated to extreme temperatures (approximately 700° to 900°), allowing crystals to gradually form on the initial "seed" diamond. Think of it as a fine composite of carbon materials that rain down and eventually aggregate into diamond crystals.
• High-temperature and high-pressure method (HPHT), which imitates the natural formation process. This process applies tremendous pressure and heat to the "seed" diamond to make the crystal grow.

Are lab-grown diamonds more ethical?

There are many controversies surrounding lab-grown diamonds in terms of sustainability, environmental protection, and ethics.

While many people would say yes, the fact is that the production process of lab-grown diamonds requires a lot of energy. While it’s difficult to measure a diamond’s carbon footprint, experts have found that the production of most laboratory diamonds uses significant amounts of non-renewable energy.

Research by the Natural Diamond Association shows that lab-grown diamonds emit three times more greenhouse gas emissions on average than naturally mined diamonds (511 kilograms per carat compared to 160 kilograms for natural diamonds). However, it is worth noting that this research report was commissioned by a large mining company, and natural diamond mining also has obvious environmental impacts.

When measuring the carbon footprint of a single carat of a diamond, whether naturally mined or lab-grown, it is affected by a variety of factors: the type of instrument used, the type of energy source, the mining method and the country in which the diamond was produced.

These variables lead to considerable uncertainty and conflicting information. In fact, such studies can produce confusing and inaccurate results, so producers of both natural and lab-grown diamonds must continue to work toward sustainable production practices.

Although sustainability is closely related to the environment, its purpose is to protect human life and livelihood. One of the main criticisms of the lab-grown process is that it does not benefit jobs and economic growth in diamond-producing countries. Countries such as Botswana benefit extensively from diamond mining. Since the opening of the mine in 1967, Botswana has become one of the fastest growing economies in the world and has successfully improved living standards in areas such as education, health and infrastructure.

Lab-grown diamonds, on the other hand, are easier to trace and offer greater transparency on human rights and worker conditions than natural diamonds.

 How to tell the difference between lab diamonds and real diamonds

As mentioned before, it is difficult to distinguish between lab diamonds and natural diamonds because they are essentially the same. Only experts using specialized equipment can observe the nature of inclusions in lab-grown diamonds.

The best way to know whether a diamond is lab-grown or natural is to request a grading report from the jewelry store. The Gemological Institute of America issues an official report for every lab-grown diamond, allowing complete transparency into the diamond’s properties.

 Do we still need to pay attention to 4C?

Lab-grown diamonds are not flawless. Like natural diamonds, minor imperfections called "inclusions" are sometimes mixed in during the cultivation process. When purchasing a diamond, it is important to consider its carat weight, color, clarity, and cut, not its origin. It's these factors that will affect the final price and the overall investment you want to make.

 Summarize

If you want to buy diamonds at a low price, laboratory diamonds are a good choice. They are very suitable for embellishment or decoration jewelry, and it is easier to buy larger laboratory diamonds.