Diamonds are considered to be some of the more precious stones on Earth. Their sparkle has made these stones the classic choice for engagement and wedding ring additions.
CVD and HPHT Diamonds: What’s The Difference?
Yet given the demand and the supply from the various mines around the world, it’s no wonder that scientists have tried to create lab-grown diamonds of different varieties. Beyond answering the demand, many scientists and jewelers see the value of lab grown diamonds. Because after all, it’s the thought that counts. And lab-grown diamonds put a lot of care and thought into everyone’s future.
Understanding Synthetic Diamonds
Advocates of ethical mining of various precious stones and purveyors of advancements in jewelry making technology meet in the middle with the creation of lab-grown diamonds. This alternative is fast becoming the preferred option for rings, pendants, and even earrings.
Synthetic diamonds answer an important need. It caters to the demand for good, quality jewelry without abusing the Earth and its resources.
The process of making synthetic diamonds
It’s commonly heard in millennial circles: interest in and demand for diamonds have diminished with the younger generation. When you have other bills to pay and concerns to worry about, it becomes harder to focus on sparkly things.
Yet that does not mean that there is truly no interest from this generation. Gifts are gifts, but it would make a bigger impact if the gift keeps on giving.
Imagine diamonds that are environmentally-friendly and ethically-sourced. These are some of the traits that younger customers tend to resonate with. Lab-grown diamonds have become famous for having this same approach. They encourage the younger generation to see the goodness in the synthetic diamond’s creation process so they can buy their own.
To make this the new norm, new jewelry technologies and innovations have furthered the improvements in jewelry making.
The general process of growing diamonds
On a natural level, diamonds form from the combination of high temperature and pressure and carbon atoms. This process naturally happens inside the earth and under intense conditions.
In the end, diamonds harden from the process of compression and high temperature. While there are no confirmed ways to gauge how natural diamonds form, the finite number of naturally-occurring diamonds tend to push the price tag higher.
To address this, lab-grown diamonds have started to emerge. Not only does it have the ability to fast-track the growth of diamonds, but it is also capable of sourcing them in a manner that does not hurt anyone or anything.
HPHT diamond process
Perhaps the oldest way to get diamonds by creating them is through the High Pressure, High Temperature synthetic process. Since the mid-1950s, lab-grown diamonds have been part of the market through this technique.
General Electric first introduced this method, which takes after the natural process of diamond-creation. It closely mimics the process of making natural diamonds. It involves crystallizing the carbon deep in the earth using pressure and heat. From there, the diamonds need to be exposed to up to 2,600 Celsius of heat to harden.
Between the supervision required to create good diamonds and the equipment needed to do so, the HPHT process can rack up the costs. It does not help that sometimes, if not properly done, the end result could be colored or even brownish diamonds.
Yet successfully done, HPHT diamonds can also be the best, ranging anywhere between VS1 to VVS2. The GIA also recognizes HPHT diamonds and gives it a certification to qualify as real diamonds.
The CVD diamond process
Lab-grown diamonds can also come from the process called CVD. This stands for Chemical Vapor Deposition, which is a fairly new approach that is gaining more traction and support among jewelry enthusiasts.
CVD diamonds come from various gases like methane. They are kept in a vacuum chamber that breaks down the molecules of the gases, which then accumulate on a preexisting diamond seed crystal.
Unlike HPHT diamonds, CVD diamonds are less expensive to create because they only require moderate heat and far lower pressure. The creators can also control the color of the diamonds. Carbon and hydrogen create colorless crystals, while introducing other gases like boron can produce yellow or blue synthetic diamonds.
If it’s a comparison between CVD vs natural diamond, it’s good to be aware of potential flaws that you can get. Because of the process, CVD diamonds may have brown color and some strain lines, which can make the diamonds look fuzzy.
When comparing lab-grown diamonds vs CVD, particularly of the HPHT variety, the cost may be the biggest difference. The quality of CVD diamonds has improved over time, with GIA tests finding that previous flaws and graining have significantly lessened in more recently produced diamonds.
Moissanite: A third option
The lab-grown diamond trend has grown in more ways than one. Another type of stone that mimics diamonds is the moissanite. This near-colorless precious stone is made from silicon carbide, which is a naturally-occurring yet very rare mineral. Because of its rarity, natural moissanite is usually not used in jewelry.
However, there are ways to have a moissanite as a jewelry piece, including lab-grown moissanite gems. Moissanite may be lab-grown like diamonds, but they still differ in composition and appearance.
When it comes to the gauge between CVD diamond vs moissanite, the latter is lighter by 15%. This makes it harder for it to weigh using carats. To the trained enthusiast’s eye, diamonds and moissanites differ in color. While the latter has fire and can range from colorless to yellowish, most moissanites have a yellow or green tinge. These hue tints become more obvious the bigger the moissanite, which can become a disadvantage.
Burning Questions Answered: Digging the Dirt on Synthetic Diamonds
It’s easy to ask, “Is a CVD diamond real?” If one has to base it in terms of the composition and actual content, there are very big differences. But before you skip synthetic diamonds, here are a few things you may want to know to inform your decision.
What’s the difference between CVD and HPHT diamonds?
CVD and HPHT differ in terms of the creation process of the diamonds. HPHT has been around longer as a synthetic technique, whereas CVD is a newer, less expensive technique. While a CVD diamond is more likely to have brown streaks, the HPHT diamonds usually have a bluish streak. Some of the flaws may be due to the process, though both techniques have started to improve immensely.
How do you tell a lab grown diamond from a real diamond?
One persistent question is “Can you tell the difference between a lab grown diamond and a real diamond?” If one seeks a test between a CVD diamond vs natural diamond, it may take a trained eye to truly identify one from the other. This may be especially the case when it comes to quality-made diamonds.
One sure way to know would be to ask your jeweler. Every diamond, especially those sold properly and legally, need to have the right documentation and certification. It pays to have a trusted jeweler who is transparent about the diamonds they sell.
How do you test for diamond CVD?
Officially testing whether it is CVD or HPHT diamond requires the expertise of bodies that certify the authenticity of diamonds. GIA is very particular about the origins of diamonds as they can contribute to the identification process.
According to GIA’s official website, HPHT and CVD diamonds follow specific growth morphology. Thus, the identification criteria for these diamonds may differ on a foundational level. This has become even more important because, over the years, the process for creating these diamonds have changed and improved. Those changes also brought about new varieties that affect the testing and certification of diamonds.
Diamond and jewelry enthusiasts would do well to access these institutions in having their diamonds certified. They are constantly updated not only with the right trends for certification but also with the overall process of creating lab-grown diamonds.
What is the price difference between synthetic and real diamonds?
If there is any advantage to buying synthetic diamonds, it would have to be the price. CVD diamond price has been going down as technology for production improves overtime.
If you are on a budget, but would still want to have your own diamond ring, then synthetic diamonds may be a good start. Remember, the value of a ring is not confined to its diamond. It also involves the craftsmanship of the setting, the metal used, and the personal value imbibed in the ring.
Important Benefits Of Lab-Grown Diamonds
Contrary to popular belief, more people have started favoring lab-grown diamonds. In a time where finite resources have started to pose an issue, finding ways around this while remaining ethical is key to enjoying diamonds. Here are a few benefits to buying synthetic ones.
Ethical and eco-friendly
From stringent guidelines to making diamonds, to improving jewelry technology in general, diamond labs keep up the tradition of a safe and sustainable way of making diamonds.
Mining diamonds have had a history of conflicts and issues. When done within the confines of laboratories and proper quality checks, one can be assured that these diamonds are clean of conflicts.
For environmentalists, the appeal of synthetic diamonds also come with the benefit of minimal damage to the environment. In general, the methods for mining diamonds have become less sustainable over time. On the other hand, diamond laboratories have constantly been improving their methods to increase efficiency in every batch created.
Affordability
Jewelry making technology has evolved to make synthetic diamonds cheaper than mined diamonds by as much as 40%. Better technology has also allowed a kind of mass production for synthetic diamonds.
Additionally, for customers, it’s now possible to get larger and clearer diamonds at a lower price. Higher carat diamonds no longer need to be inaccessible to those on a tight budget.
Purity
Tight control over the procedures of making diamonds have churned out many quality-looking diamonds. In fact, their authenticity has never been questioned as far as being real diamonds is concerned.
Many jewelers now use synthetic diamonds for fine jewelry. The only difference in terms of the purity of these stones is their origin. Though natural diamonds may have been mined on paper, the purity of how lab-grown diamonds have been created also has a weight of its own.
Larger sizes for your needs
Apart from budget issues, some individuals may have specific needs in terms of diamond carats and sizes. Some cuts and styles tend to require bigger diamond sizes. Prices can add up not only in purchasing the actual diamond but also in the process of cutting and preparing it.
Lab-grown diamonds can be processed in such a way that specific standards can be easily achieved. This is perfect for jewelry buyers looking to get a more uniform size and appearance to their diamonds.
More colored options
The variety of lab-grown diamonds are not confined to the clarity or color from brown to white. Different laboratories subscribe to varied methods of making diamonds. This is mostly so that they can also create more options for potential customers.
Outside of the colorless option, HPHT diamonds tend to have pink, blue, and green hues as a result of post-growth treatments. This happens when certain treatments, like the addition of boron or nickel, are carried out. For CVD diamonds, the result can be somewhere between the typical yellow or brown diamonds, or post-treatments that can create pink and red variants.
Jewelry enthusiasts on a budget can easily access these colored variants as more affordable options. If you do not have the means for colored diamonds or even their colored precious stone counterparts, then this is the next sensible step to take. Put those extra savings to good use with a great setting choice or the addition of smaller stones for a more elegant pave setting.
A Growing Trend: Fewer Mining, More Making
The benefit of synthetic diamonds goes beyond mere jewelry. As a mineral, diamonds have other uses, especially in industrial sectors. As lab-grown diamonds become cheaper, they become more accessible for use in laser, surgical equipment, and engines. In fact, research show that the jewelry industry only makes up 10% of the profit share of lab-grown diamonds.
Future improvements in jewelry making will surely make this technique even more valuable in the coming years. For now, jewelry enthusiasts and a few key industrial sectors will get to make the most out of the growing trend for synthetic diamonds.
If you want to learn more about the technology for making jewelry, read “Tech and Bling: Sparking A Difference In Making Jewelry With New Technology.”