Synthetic diamond
Synthetic diamonds, also known as lab-grown or man-made diamonds, are diamonds created in a laboratory setting, mimicking the natural geological processes that form diamonds over millions of years. They possess a chemical composition and crystal structure nearly identical to that of mined diamonds, making them difficult to distinguish even for experts. The first synthetic diamonds were produced in the 1950s using high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) methods, while advancements in chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technology have allowed for the creation of larger and higher-quality diamonds in recent years.
These diamonds can be produced in various colors and sizes, with the largest being up to five carats, and they are often certified as real diamonds by organizations like the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Synthetic diamonds offer several advantages, including lower costs—typically 20-30% less than natural diamonds—and a more sustainable production process that alleviates concerns regarding conflict diamonds, or "blood diamonds." However, they still represent a small segment of the overall diamond market, primarily due to societal perceptions that favor the rarity and natural origins of mined diamonds. Despite their advantages, some consumers remain hesitant to embrace synthetic diamonds due to the enduring stigma surrounding their laboratory-created nature.
Synthetic diamond
A synthetic diamond is a diamond created in a laboratory. Unlike simulated diamonds, such as cubic zirconia, which only look like diamonds, synthetic diamonds are almost chemically identical to diamonds mined from the earth. They are so close in appearance and composition to diamonds from the earth that even experts sometimes have a hard time distinguishing between them. Synthetic diamonds are also known as man-made diamonds, laboratory-grown diamonds, or laboratory-created diamonds. The first synthetic diamonds were manufactured in the 1950s. Newer technology allows companies to create diamonds that are clearer, brighter, and harder than mined diamonds.
Background
Natural diamonds form when carbon atoms are subjected to high heat (about 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit, or about 1,204 degrees Celsius) and high pressure (equal to about 725,000 pounds per square inch, or 50,973 kilograms per square centimeter). This normally occurs about one hundred miles (or 161 kilometers) below Earth's surface in the upper portion of Earth's mantle. Under these conditions, carbon atoms form very strong bonds—each bonds to four other carbon atoms. This process forms crystals that become diamonds. The final step in the process occurs when deep-seated volcanic eruptions push volcanic material called kimberlite, which often contains diamonds, closer to the surface. The whole process takes millions of years to complete.
The scarcity of diamonds and the cost associated with mining and shaping them has made them quite expensive. As a result, people have sought diamond alternatives for centuries. In some cases, stones such as clear quartz have been substituted for diamonds. In others, simulated diamonds—stones that look like diamonds but that are chemically different from them—have been substituted for diamonds. In the 1950s, scientists discovered ways to replicate some of the natural diamond-forming process in a laboratory. Starting with graphite, the same substance used in pencils, technicians applied high pressure and high temperature (HPHT) in a special machine while applying an electrical current to change the graphite into a diamond. The process took months instead of millions of years. However, the earliest diamonds produced this way were small and lacked clarity. They were more suitable for industrial uses than for jewelry and adornments.
In the early twentieth century, scientists discovered a new technique—chemical vapor deposition (CVD)—that allows them to produce diamonds in larger sizes and of much better quality. Starting with a small piece of real diamond—a diamond seed—scientists found a way to get carbon atoms to pile on top of the seed until a larger synthetic diamond forms. The technique involves placing a diamond seed (usually an HPHT synthetic) into a depressurized chamber and then introducing a natural gas. Microwaves are used to break down the gas molecules, which causes carbon atoms to precipitate onto the diamond seed and form layers of crystals on top of it. The equipment used to produce CVD diamonds is smaller and easier to use than the equipment used to produce HPHT diamonds, and the resulting diamonds are of much higher quality.
Overview
Using CVD technology, companies can now produce synthetic diamonds of up to five carats—the unit of weight for diamonds and other gemstones—that can be certified as real diamonds by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). These diamonds may be manufactured in an array of colors, including some that cannot be found in natural diamonds.
Manufactured diamonds can be of such high quality that only a trained diamond grader can detect the differences. They have the same chemical makeup, a nearly identical crystal structure, the same visual or optical appearance, and the same feel and hardness as natural diamonds. The differences can be so hard to detect that the GIA uses a laser to etch a unique number and notation into the girdle, or the thin edge between the top surface of the diamond and the lower portion, of any synthetic diamond they examine to indicate that it is laboratory made.
Despite all this, manufactured diamonds still make up only a small portion of the diamond market for two main reasons. First, although the machinery to make laboratory-created diamonds has improved in size and ease of use, it is still expensive to set up a facility to make diamonds. Second, the marketplace is reluctant to purchase diamonds perceived to be less "real" because they were manufactured in a laboratory rather than naturally formed.
Proponents say that synthetic diamonds have many advantages. The method used to create synthetic diamonds is more ecologically friendly than traditional diamond-mining methods. Synthetic diamonds also eliminate concerns about "blood diamonds," which are diamonds mined from war-torn areas and sold to fund wars and rebellions. In addition, synthetically produced diamonds can be produced in just a few months, while earth-grown diamonds take millions of years to form. Thus, lab-grown diamonds are more plentiful and less expensive. A synthetic diamond is, on average, about twenty to thirty percent less expensive than a mined diamond of the same size, color, and clarity. Synthetic diamonds are more sustainable, since an infinite amount can be created in a short period. Experts predict that the market for mined diamonds could exceed the available supply in 2019.
The carbon-based process by which synthetic diamonds are made has led to a specialized side market in the industry: custom diamonds using a carbon source of the customer's choosing. Since all living things are made of carbon, people can provide a sample of something meaningful to be incorporated into a diamond keepsake. Anything from a special flower to a baby tooth to the ashes of a loved one can be processed into raw carbon and used to produce a special custom diamond.
The major disadvantage of synthetic diamonds is the stigma associated with them. Although their chemical composition is nearly identical to natural diamonds, some people believe that the rareness of natural diamonds and the time it takes for them to be created are part of what makes them special. For these people, the cost savings are not enough to overcome the fact that synthetic diamonds are created in laboratories rather than inside Earth.
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