Lab Grown Diamonds
This simple guide pulls back the curtains and tells you what you need to know about lab grown diamonds and why they have revolutionized the jewellery industry.
So, what are lab grown diamonds?
For most people, the choice of a lab diamond is obvious: they are guaranteed to be ethical, with more sustainable origins and they’re cheaper, giving you the opportunity to get a bigger and better quality diamond for your money.
For others, who are still in the dark, these beautiful laboratory creations remain a mystery. This simple guide pulls back the curtains and tells you what you need to know about lab grown diamonds and why they have revolutionized the jewellery industry.
What has led to the rise of lab grown diamonds?
For most people, the choice of a lab diamond is obvious: they are guaranteed to be ethical, with more sustainable origins and they’re cheaper, giving you the opportunity to get a bigger and better quality diamond for your money. In recent years, environmental and ethical concerns have led to backlash against traditional diamond mining. Seeking alternatives, more conscious customers started turning to lab-grown diamonds. This along with technological innovation over the last decade has seen lab grown diamonds grow into a genuine alternative to a mined.
How are they made?
Lab-grown diamonds can be produced through two distinct methods: High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD).
Through the HPHT technique, lab-created diamonds undergo growth from a small carbon seed within a chamber replicating the natural conditions for diamond formation, involving high heat and pressure. After maturation, which typically takes six to ten weeks, the diamond is meticulously cut and polished to achieve its final form.
In the CVD method, a diamond seed is situated in a vacuum chamber filled with carbon-rich gases, heated to nearly 1500 degrees Fahrenheit (815°C). The intense heat transforms the gas into plasma, releasing carbon fragments. These fragments then accumulate layer by layer onto the diamond seed, facilitating the growth of the lab-created diamond.
01
Transparency
Lab-grown diamonds bring much-needed transparency to an industry traditionally shrouded in mystery. The well-documented and closely monitored process of creating lab-grown diamonds enhances transparency in the supply chain, giving consumers complete peace of mind.
02
Environmental Impact
The production of lab-grown diamonds typically has a lower environmental impact than traditional diamond mining, which can involve habitat disruption, water pollution, and energy-intensive processes.
03
Ethical & Sustainable Sourcing
Lab-grown diamonds are a more ethical and sustainable choice compared to some natural diamonds. They are created in controlled laboratory environments, reducing the potential for environmental damage and avoiding concerns related to unethical mining practices.
04
Quality
Lab-grown diamonds frequently boast high quality and purity, showcasing fewer inclusions and flaws compared to certain natural diamonds. This characteristic often means the stone will have exceptional brilliance and clarity.
05
Value
While sharing the same properties, lab grown diamonds are 30 to 50% cheaper than mined diamonds. Our chart below takes .
FAQ's
Google's most common lab grown diamond questions.
Answered by our expert.
Even our head gemologist can’t tell them apart without using specialist laboratory equipment.
Yes, lab diamonds test as real diamonds, because they are authentic and identical to those found in nature, with the exact same chemical makeup. However, specialist laboratory equipment can tell lab diamonds from natural diamonds.
Just like mined diamonds, lab grown are graded and certified. At Olivia Green, we carefully handpick only the finest lab grown diamonds. But don’t just take our word for it. To give you complete peace of mind, all our diamonds that are above 0.50ct are sent to the IGI, one of the world's most renowned grading labs.
Just like mined diamonds, lab grown are graded and certified. At Olivia Green, we carefully handpick only the finest lab grown diamonds. But don’t just take our word for it. To give you complete peace of mind, all our diamonds that are above 0.50ct are sent to the IGI, one of the world's most renowned grading labs.