Lab-grown diamonds
When you hear the words, lab diamonds, you immediately think these are fake diamonds. Not at all and they are not to be confused with a moissanite or cubic zirconia stone. A lab-grown diamond is a real diamond, which is chemically, physically and optically identical to a natural mined diamond. The only difference is that it has been formed within a laboratory over a six to ten week period whereas a natural diamond is formed beneath the Earths’ mantle around 100 miles underground.
The process
A lab-grown diamond is usually formed during a process called HPHT where a seed is placed amidst pure graphite carbon and exposed to immense pressure and extreme temperatures of approximately 1,500C. This process imitates one of a naturally formed mined diamond.
Are lab-grown diamonds certified?
Yes. Just like natural diamonds, lab-grown diamonds go through a strict grading process for all the usual characteristics of a diamond.
Lab-grown diamonds versus natural diamonds
Both lab-grown and natural diamonds are bright and brilliant as they share the same chemical composition and thus it's virtually impossible to visually tell them apart. The only real difference is the origin of the stones – lab versus mine, which is noted on your diamond certificate. lAl lab-grown diamonds are laser-inscribed with the certificate number to align with the provided certificate.
Cost saving
Whilst Purely Diamonds believes that the beauty of a diamond comes from one that has grown beneath the Earths’ surface over billions of years, it recognises that there is not only a huge demand for them but a substantial cost saving for the customer so that’s why it has been slowly introducing them to its clients over the past six months.
The cost saving will differentiate depending on the size and shape of the diamond but on average, the saving is between 60 – 70%.
The ethical choice
People may also choose a lab diamond over a natural one for ethical reasons to absolutely sure their diamond is conflict free.
Not just rings
Lab grown diamonds are becoming increasingly popular on the market today and Purely Diamonds has seen a huge rise in the requests for not only lab-grown diamond rings but also other jewellery such a bracelets, pendants and earrings. Here we choose a selection of what Purely Diamonds offers.
