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What is the difference between natural and man made diamonds?

April 13, 2022

Diamonds have always been considered the epitome of luxury and sophistication. The idea of a mined natural diamond has existed for many years. So it is natural for you to trust natural diamonds. However, with the growing changes and advancements in the diamond industry, man made diamonds have gained immense trust and popularity.

What Exactly Is A Lab Grown Diamond?

Natural diamonds take billions and billions of years to form inside the earth's crust. They form only under very special circumstances, and then they have to be mined from the earth. Man made diamonds are made in labs under an extremely controlled environment that mimics the atmosphere of the earth's crust. Man made diamonds are made through chemical vapor deposition(CVD) and High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT). Diamonds made through these two processes contain the same physical and chemical characteristics as natural diamonds. Lab grown diamonds even receive a grading certificate from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and International Gemological Institute (IGI).

Chemical Vapor Deposition Method –

In the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method, a diamond “seed” is placed inside a small chamber. The chamber is then infused with heated gases. Layers of carbon organize on the diamond “seed” once the gases reach the High-Temperature This diamond “seed” then forms into a square-shaped diamond crystal. CVD diamonds are the best diamond alternative for you.

High Pressure High Temperature Method –

In the High pressure High temperature process, the earth’s process of producing natural diamonds is replicated. Extreme pressure and temperature crush natural graphite when placed inside a big chamber. The extreme pressure and temperature convert graphite into a diamond.

Are Man Made Diamonds Original?

Yes! Thousand times, yes. The 4 C's of diamond, namely cut, color, clarity, and carat in man made diamonds, and natural diamonds, are identical. They both have identical physical and chemical features. Both Natural diamonds and laboratory-made diamonds receive grading certificates. Thus, there is practically no difference between them except for the place of their origin.

Expert’s Opinion On Man Made Diamonds –

Natural diamonds and lab grown diamonds exhibit the same durability and hardness. In 2018 Federal Trade Commission (FTC) acknowledged lab grown diamonds as real. GIA, also known as Gemological Institute of America, has been grading man made diamonds since 2007. In 2019, GIA took out the word "synthetic" from their grading report for lab grown diamonds. The grading report of GIA has cut, color and clarity grading of lab made diamonds.

Comparison Between Lab Grown And Natural Diamonds –

It is impossible to differentiate between a natural diamond, and the best man made diamonds. Even some experienced jewelers could not differentiate between them. However, natural diamonds have a small quantity of nitrogen, while man made diamonds have no nitrogen. Therefore, the absence or presence of nitrogen is the only way gemologists determine whether a diamond is natural or lab made.

Natural diamonds form inside the crust of the earth. They are then mined, cut, and polished to form diamonds. A man made diamond is placed in a similar situation except in a lab. A lab grown diamond takes a few months to form depending on its cut, color, etc. But natural diamonds take billions of years to form in an earth’s crust.

Why You Should Buy A Lab Grown Diamond –

A man made diamond is 30%-40% less in cost than natural diamonds. So you can buy a large piece of diamond and still call it a real diamond. They have the same physical and chemical characteristics, and the cut, color, clarity, and carat are also similar between natural diamonds and lab grown diamonds. Therefore, it is impossible to detect a lab made diamonds from natural diamonds. Lab made diamonds also have the same sparkle as mined diamonds. So it is now possible to buy diamonds without breaking your bank and still dazzle and shine like the queen!

Grading Certificate Of Lab Made Diamonds –

Since lab made diamonds and natural diamonds have the same physical and chemical characteristics, they are provided with a grading certificate. Both Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and International Gemological Institute (IGI) provide grading certificates to man made diamonds. In addition, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has introduced sophisticated devices to identify between lab made diamonds and mined diamonds.

Which One To Prefer – Lab Made Diamonds Or Mined Diamonds?

Mined diamonds have a scarce supply. They are very limited in number. The scarcity of mined diamonds automatically increases their price. On the other hand, experts can produce lab diamonds in large amounts, and they take only a few months to form. Thus if you have a limited budget and still want to own this piece of luxury and sophistication, you should opt for the laboratory made diamonds. There is hardly any difference between lab made and mined diamonds except for their origin. Also, lab made diamonds are a more responsible choice. Mining puts a lot of unnecessary pressure on our mother earth. Mining not only depletes our natural resources, but exploitation of workers also occurs. Thus, lab made diamonds are a more eco-friendly alternative. They are sustainable and more ecologically sound. Therefore, lab made diamonds are the best choice to own something luxurious, which is within your means and also very sustainable.

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