Lab-grown diamonds, also referred to as synthetic or man-made gems, are created through a process that replicates how natural Best Lab Grown Diamonds form. They are formed by heating and cooling carbon-containing gas into a crystal form of diamond.
Testing to determine whether a diamond is natural or lab-grown requires using highly-specialized machines. But what indicators can they look for?
The Cut
One of the most critical characteristics when purchasing a lab grown diamonds UK is its cut. This factor can make or break its sparkle. A diamond’s cut is determined by its proportions, angles, and measurements that create ideal reflections of light.
Round brilliant diamonds are known for their perfect proportions and angles that maximize brilliance, fire, and scintillation (the scattering of white light into all colours of the rainbow). Fancy shapes such as princess, cushion, radiant, and heart-shaped diamonds may vary in shape and measurements but all make stunning centre pieces for engagement rings or necklaces.
Lab-grown diamonds are created by growing carbon atoms inside a laboratory through CVD, an advanced manufacturing process. As these atoms grow, they form atomic bonds and can be cut to any desired shape or size. These stones tend to be very hard with excellent clarity – making them a great alternative to natural mined diamonds.
The Colour
Lab-grown diamonds come in an array of colours. Whether you’re searching for a vibrant yellow, exotic blue or classic white, a lab-grown diamond can give your jewellery an individual, one-of-a kind appearance.
Diamond colour is determined by several elements in the soil, such as trace minerals and other trace elements. All these must be present at precisely the right times and amounts for a diamond to achieve its unique hue.
Certain lab-grown diamonds may experience photochromic, a phenomenon which causes them to change colour when exposed to sunlight.
The Clarity
As with mined diamonds, lab-grown gemstones undergo intense heat and pressure to create them. This results in both internal (inclusions) and external (blemishes) characteristics which determine a gemstone’s Clarity Rating.
The higher the clarity, the rarer and more valuable your diamond is. You can select from an extensive range of lab-grown diamonds with various clarity grades to find the ethically made gem that best symbolizes your love for one another.
GIA grading laboratories grade diamond clarity on a scale from flawless (FL) to I3 by magnifying it 10 times or more, in order to detect size, location and severity of imperfections. The more challenging these imperfections are to spot, the lower the clarity grade assigned.
Internally Flawless diamonds are the rarest and most expensive type of lab-grown diamond, but if you can’t stomach spending that much money on a stunning gemstone, lower clarity options like those with surface blemishes but no internal inclusions may be more your style.
The Carat
When selecting a lab-grown diamond, carat size is an important factor to take into account. Not only will this determine its appearance and cost, but its size also has an effect on how durable and long lasting the stone lasts.
Lab diamonds can be grown through two methods: high pressure/high temperature (HPHT) and chemical vapour deposition (CVD). Both processes produce diamonds at an incredible rate – much faster than naturally mined ones can form.
Lab-grown diamonds, unlike cubic zirconia and moissanite, which are imitation or fake diamonds, are true diamonds.
These synthetic diamonds boast all of the optical and physical characteristics of natural diamonds.
However, a lab-grown diamond is different than one mined naturally and will exhibit certain features that help it be distinguished geologically from a naturally formed one.
Conclusion
When selecting a lab-grown diamond, it is important to remember that carat weight may not be as significant an element as cut, colour and clarity – particularly for engagement rings. This allows you to save money while still getting an equally beautiful stone as natural mined ones.
