You may have gone through many of the articles on lab-grown diamond and natural diamonds. Today we are going to discuss the difference between the lab-grown diamonds and the natural diamonds.
What Is A Lab-Grown Diamond?
Lab-grown diamonds are created in a highly-controlled laboratory by CVD or HPHT process. Which replicates the conditions of the creation of the natural diamonds. The lab-grown diamonds are identical to chemical composition, optical and physical properties, and crystal structure of the natural diamond. Lab-grown diamond are not diamond stimulants. As they are created in the same chemical composition of natural diamonds.
According to Dr. James Shigley, the lab-grown diamonds are created in two methods. The HPHT (High-Pressure High-Temperature) and CVD (Chemical Vapor Depositions). He was researching on the laboratory-grown diamonds at GIA for years.
Any of either method can grow any size of lab-grown diamond which requires less than a month. To change or enhance the color of the crystals after the growth process requires additional treatment like heat or irradiation.
What is Natural Diamond?
Three billion years ago the natural diamonds were formed deep inside the mantle of the earth’s crust under extreme heat and pressure. The natural diamonds came to the surface due to volcanic activity. These diamonds were laid in the type of volcanic rock formation. Which was waiting to be mined known as Kimberlite pipes.
How Diamonds are Created?
Diamonds are the hardest material found in earth. Which is a form of pure carbon that occurs naturally within the earth’s mantle. And undergoes in super high temperature and pressure through billions of years. Not all diamonds are form in the equal process. As every trace of minerals influences a diamond to grow in a different size, clarity, and color.
Lab-Grow Diamonds vs Natural Diamonds
The difference between natural diamonds and lab-grown diamonds are the appearance, color, price & value, certification, and sustainability. Originally, you won’t be able to find any difference between. The natural diamonds and the lab-grown diamonds unless you are a gemmologist. As the only difference between the lab-grown diamonds and the natural diamonds are their origin. Here we have the differences below:
1: The Appearance
Well, high-quality lab-grown diamonds are identical to the natural diamonds. Whereas, the lower quality lab-grown diamonds have few inclusions which do not occur in the natural diamonds. When we say the appearance of the diamonds both natural and lab-grown can be colorless. And nearly colorless or available in fancy colors.
Both the lab-grown and the natural diamonds come in all shapes and sizes as the brilliance of the natural diamonds. And the lab-grown diamonds are identical to each other. The higher quality of the natural diamonds is identical. And low quality may have different inclusions which are visible to the naked eye.
2: The Color
The color of a diamond comes from the impurities such as nitrogen molecules. That get trapped inside the diamond lattice as it grows. The lab-grown diamonds can be found in different color grades. Which range from D to K like white, yellow, blue, pink, and green. Whereas, the natural diamonds occur in every infinite number of hues, saturation levels, and tonality.
The causes of different colors and saturation levels are the different types of trace chemicals. Which are found in the pure carbon. The rare type of color of the diamond includes yellow, pink, and vivid blue. But the most common diamonds are the classic white.
3: The Pricing and Value of Lab-grown Diamond
Lab-grown diamond can be approximately 30% to 40% less pricing. Comparing to the natural diamonds according to the quality and size. According to the natural counterparts, lab-grown diamonds are a bit luxurious due to their brilliance and durability. The most important difference is: the lab-grown has no resale value whereas, the natural diamond has the resale value.
4: Certification
The lab-grown diamonds and the natural diamonds have a different organization for the certification. For the lab-grown diamond certification, you have to get it from the International Gemological Institute (IGI). Or Gem Certification and Assurance Lab (GCAL) for the certification. But, for the natural diamonds certifications, you have to get it from GIA. The organizations like AGS & GIA doesn’t grade the lab-grown diamonds on the same strict scale.
5: Sustainability
Basically, the natural diamonds you are thinking to purchase. Are dug up from 100,000 tons of dirt just to get 1.00 carat of diamond. A natural diamond is created by pure carbon through millions of years in the mantle deep inside the Earth’s crust. Removing 100,000 tons of dirt on a regular basis for natural diamonds. Will be a disaster for the earth and this is not a sustainable practice.
Whereas, the lab-grown diamonds are sustainable, as it takes only a few months to grow an excellent diamond in the laboratory. Where to create lab-grown diamonds the scientist use common elements and methods. A lab-grown diamond is created from a diamond seed to form into a crystal the methods. Which are the Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) and High-Pressure High-Temperature (HPHT).