What are lab-grown diamonds? Busting the sparkling myths

A diamond can take anywhere from 1 billion to 3.3 billion years to form in nature. The long process and the manpower that it takes to mine the diamonds account for the high pricing of diamonds. But technology has produced a more cost-effective method of producing the coveted stone. Lab-grown diamonds (LGDs) are created in a tiny fraction of the time it takes natural diamonds to form, which results in lower costs. But what is a lab-grown diamond and how it is made? Let’s dive deeper into the world of LGDs.

What are lab-grown diamonds?

A lab-grown diamond is exactly what it sounds like, which is a real, authentic diamond that is formed with scientists duplicating nature’s process above ground. There are essentially two methods to create lab-grown diamonds- Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) and High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT). The CVD method is the most common method used by jewellers.

Process behind the CVD method

The LGD jewellers start working with a very slim slice of a diamond, where the crystalline structure of the diamond is already formed. This is often called the diamond ‘seed’ and is composed of pure carbon; either natural or existing lab-created diamond. The seed is placed in a vacuum where carbon molecules assimilate to the diamond seed. It’s almost like 3-D printing a diamond. Once the diamond is ‘grown’ in this chamber, it will be ready to be cut and polished, just like a natural diamond. Both the lab and mined diamonds use the same certification and inspection process, which includes grading for carat size, cut quality, colour, and clarity.

While the demand for lab-grown diamonds has been increasing rapidly in the US, UK, and markets like Australia, the concept is slowly gaining momentum in India. However, there are still many misconceptions about these gems due to which certain consumers are leery of purchasing them. We are here to help you sort the fiction from the facts and to bust these lab-grown diamond myths once and for all.

#Myth 1

Lab-grown diamonds aren’t as durable as mined diamonds

This is false because lab-grown diamonds are the same as mined diamonds physically. They have the same strength and resilience as mined diamonds. These diamonds have the same Mohs hardness of 10 as mined diamonds. In fact, the use of the words “natural” and “synthetic” was prohibited in diamond marketing as of July 2018.

#Myth 2

Lab-grown diamonds are cheaper because they are of poor quality

Fact: Lab-grown diamonds are created using advanced technology in laboratories whereas mined diamonds are mined from under the surface of the earth. Lab-grown diamonds do not incur the expense of mining and hence pass on the cost-benefit to the consumers with lower pricing. Their quality is not inferior to that of mined diamonds.

#Myth 3

Lab-grown diamonds are not certified

Fact: Lab-grown diamonds are certified by the same diamond grading & certifying agencies that grade & certify mined diamonds including world-renowned organisations such as GIA, IGI, and SGL.

#Myth 4

Lab-grown diamonds do not have a resale value

Fact: Lab-grown diamonds have resale value with brands like Wondr Diamonds offering buyback and exchange opportunities to the end consumers.

#Myth 5

Lab-grown diamonds impact the environment and our society in the same way as mined diamonds do

Fact: Lab-grown diamonds are not mined diamonds. As a result, they do not bear the burden of mining and associated environmental impacts. In fact, lab-grown diamonds are a sustainable alternative to mined diamonds.

To give us a sneak peek into the world of lab-grown diamonds, Wondr Diamonds is taking part in “The Indian Designer’s Haat” at Novotel, Visakhapatnam, on 16 February and 17 February 2023. Visitors can shop from their curated collections of 14k and 18k gold pendants, bangles, necklaces, bracelets, trendy jewellery, bridal jewellery, contemporary jewellery, kids collections, and customised wedding and engagement rings, says Mrs Saranya, franchise partner of Wondr Diamonds, Bangalore, Jayanagar store. Winner of the Times of India award for Best Emegering Diamond Jewellery Brand in 2021, Wondr Diamonds has its presence across four states in South India with 12 stores in eight cities.