The jewelry industry is a $228 billion global business, but that number is expected to soon increase. Within the jewelry industry, diamond is one of the most prized and popular. However, the current diamond supply chain has been slow, inefficient, and expensive — which is why lab grown diamonds have been developed.
Lab grown diamonds are the next step in the evolution of the diamond industry. They are made from carbon and are indistinguishable from natural diamonds in terms of appearance and chemical properties.
Making loose lab grown diamonds is not new, in fact, it has been around for decades. It’s just that now, thanks to technological advances, we can make them faster and more efficiently. Let’s check out how lab grown diamonds form.
How Lab Grown Diamonds Are Formed
This process is called “synthetic diamond growth.” It’s a way of growing diamonds without using natural rocks or sand. Chemical vapor deposition is the process used to make lab grown diamonds (CVD). A tiny seed diamond is placed in a chamber exposed to a plasma of carbon-containing gas. The gas breaks down and forms a carbon-rich film on the diamond seed.
Another standard method is high pressure and high temperature (HPHT). In this method,tiny diamond seeds are placed in a chamber with a metal catalyst. Exceptionally high temperatures and pressures are then applied to the chamber. It causes the diamond seeds to grow into full-sized loose lab created diamonds, which will be cut and polished for jewelry-making.
Lab grown diamonds are identical to those mined from the earth in terms of their physical and chemical characteristics and are considered real diamonds, just like those found in a jewelry store. Many people choose lab created diamonds for their engagement rings or other jewelry because they are more affordable than natural diamonds.
Characteristics of Lab Created Diamonds
The characteristics of the diamond itself determine the color of lab grown diamonds. The color of a diamond depends on the type of carbon it contains, its size, shape, and clarity.
The most common types of diamonds are yellow diamonds (F-color) which have a yellowish tint. There are also rare pink diamonds (P-color) that have a pinkish hue. Both types of color are caused by high levels of chromium in the crystal structure.
The cutters who shape the rough stones take a rough diamond and use it as a template to create finished diamonds with high polish and clarity. These polished stones are then sent to the polisher. It uses special techniques to smooth out any imperfections so that the finished product has all of the qualities of a mined diamond.
Current Status of the Lab Grown Diamond Industry
Lab grown diamonds have been making headlines in the jewelry industry for the past few years. These diamonds are created in a laboratory setting, using advanced technology to mimic the natural diamond-forming process.
Despite their growing popularity, lab grown diamonds still face some challenges. Some jewelers are hesitant to embrace them due to concerns about their long-term value. Additionally, the lab grown diamond market is still relatively small compared to the natural diamond market.
But with more and more consumers becoming aware of lab grown diamonds, their popularity will likely continue to grow.
How Will Lab Grown Diamonds Change the Future of Jewelry
The jewelry industry must adapt to the changing landscape created by lab grown diamonds. If natural diamonds become less valuable, jewelers may need to find new ways to set them apart from their synthetic counterparts.
Conversely, if lab grown diamonds become more popular, the industry may need to find ways to produce them on a larger scale. Either way, the jewelry industry must be flexible to survive in a market that includes natural and synthetic diamonds.
While the traditional diamond industry has been slow to respond to lab grown diamonds, some companies are experimenting with using them in jewelry. Lab grown diamonds could change the future of the jewelry industry, making diamonds more accessible and affordable for everyone.
But how?
01.Offers Lower Pricing
Lab grown diamonds are going to affect the jewelry industry in one way: they’re going to make it cheaper. The cost of growing diamonds in the lab is pretty low compared to mining them from the earth’s surface. This means that they’re going to be able to enter the market at a lower price point than natural diamonds.
This also signifies that the jewelry industry as a whole will see an increase in sales since more people will be able to afford these diamonds.
02. Quality Is Better than Natural Diamonds
Many would think that the quality of mined diamonds is better than the ones grown in laboratories. However, they couldn’t be more wrong.
Lab diamonds are grown under controlled and monitored conditions, making them less vulnerable to blemishes and inclusions. Unlike in the natural process where dirt can easily be included in the carbon formation of natural diamonds.
This difference in quality may make lab grown diamonds more desirable to some buyers. For many people, the fact that lab grown diamonds can have more clarity and different colors makes them more unique and valuable.
03. Aligns with Ethical and Moral Values
Diamond mines are notorious for implementing unfair labor practices. These include child labor, unfair salary, and deficient safety gear and equipment while on site. Sadly, these wrong exercises have led to many accidents and even deaths.
The diamond mining industry also uses a lot of huge and heavy machinery when extracting gemstones from the earth’s surface. This in return, emits tons of harmful pollutants that adversely affect the locals and the environment.
Lab created diamonds are free from such issues. Lab workers are ensured to wear the proper safety gear when working. The methods they use to cultivate diamonds emit significantly fewer pollutants than heavy machinery used in mining.
Final Thoughts
The market for lab grown diamonds is overgrowing, and these diamonds could soon change the future of jewelry. Lab grown diamonds are identical to natural diamonds in every way, but they are created in a laboratory instead of being mined from the earth.
This process is much more environmentally friendly and allows for a greater degree of control over the quality of the diamonds. Lab grown diamonds are becoming increasingly popular, eventually overtaking natural diamonds in the jewelry market.
It would be a considerable shift and would have a significant impact on the diamond industry. It would also be good for the environment, as mining diamonds is very destructive.
