How lab-created diamonds are becoming choice for many
Is a diamond only a diamond when it’s formed over millions of years in the ground?
Evidently, the answer to that question is becoming a resounding “no” to many who shop for jewelry.
More and more, people are turning to diamonds made in labs, not found in mines.
According to reports, the lab-grown diamond market is expected to be a $50 billion industry by 2030.
Diamonds made by scientists in a lab are often a much less expensive option for jewelers and consumers, and more readily available than diamonds that have to be mined.
But how exactly are diamonds made in a lab and just how authentic are they?
Dr. James Shigley, research fellow at the Gemological Institute of America, lent insight on how diamonds are produced in a lab compared to naturally, and their authenticity.
Is a lab created diamond a cubic zirconia?
It should be noted that there are differences between lab-created diamonds and a cubic zirconia, as explained here by Luminesce Lab Grown Diamonds.
How are diamonds naturally formed?
Shigley said diamonds are naturally formed over millions of years in the ground in certain parts of the planet.
“Once the diamond crystals form in the Earth, they stay down there in that high temperature and pressure environment for millions of years,” he said. “They kind of come up accidentally in a way by eruptions of a special magma called kimberlite. It’s kind of like an elevator bringing them to the surface. They’re blown up on the surface by an eruption. That is what’s being mined today for natural diamonds.”
How are diamonds made in a lab?
Shigley said there are two main methods to doing, both of which are similar to “growing sugar crystals in hot water.”
“You’ve got a source of carbon, which