What Are Lab-Created Diamonds?

You may have heard about lab-created diamonds, also known as lab-grown diamonds, popping up more often over the past few years. But what actually are lab-created diamonds, and how are they different from natural diamonds?

Are Lab-Created Diamonds Real?

A lab-created diamond is a diamond that is grown in a controlled laboratory setting through a process which helps to mimic the structure of a natural diamond as it’s being formed. While natural diamonds can take millions of years (and an extensive amount of pressure!) to form, lab-created diamonds can be formed within only weeks. Although they are not the same as natural diamonds, their chemical structure is inherently similar, and if they are not graded by the GIA and marked as lab-created, it’s possible to confuse them for natural diamonds because of their similarities in structure.

The Cost of Lab-Created Diamonds

Because of their lower price point, you can get a bigger diamond for your budget with a lab-grown diamond. Shane Co. carries both natural and lab-grown diamonds, so you can make the choice that works best for you and your significant other!

How Are Lab-Created Diamonds Made?

Labs that produce lab-created diamonds use two different methods to create them: High Pressure-High Temperature (HPHT), and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD). 

With HPHT, a small diamond “seed” is put into a piece of carbon, then pressurized to 1.5 million pounds per square inch using a belt press, cubic press, or split-sphere press. It’s also exposed to temperatures ranging over 2,700 degrees Fahrenheit. The combined pressure and heat melt the carbon, forming a diamond around the “seed” that is subsequently cooled once formed.

CVD also begins with a diamond seed, which is placed inside a sealed chamber and then heated to over 1,400 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s filled with carbon-rich gases, such as methane and hydrogen, then ionized into plasma using a technology that’s similar to lasers or microwaves. This process breaks down the molecular bond of the gas, causing pure carbon to begin to stick to the seed, forming a new diamond.

What Makes Shane Co. Diamonds Better

At Shane Co., we value long-lasting relationships — whether it’s the love of two partners or our relationships with our customers and diamond suppliers. We believe that an engagement ring is more than just a token, it’s a symbol of your love. Both our lab-grown diamonds and are natural diamonds are hand-picked for quality, and cut by the best diamond cutters for superior sparkle. We get first pick of all natural and lab-grown diamonds because of our long-standing relationships with our suppliers, enabling us to ensure only the highest quality for all our stones. Whether you choose a natural or a lab-grown diamond for your engagement ring, you’ll have all the perks of our Free Lifetime Warranty…because that’s what a friend would do.