The reason that these synthetic diamonds can be so similar to the real thing is that they are produced in identical conditions, from the same materials. Basically, a spray of carbon is injected into a chamber at very high pressure and temperature, which mimics the conditions found deep in the earth. Tiny seed diamonds are used as a base, and larger diamonds crystallize out of the carbon and other trace elements which are present.

Because of some of the trace elements found naturally in the atmosphere, which are hard to completely eliminate, Lab diamonds are very often yellowish. They are often sold in this form, as ‘champagne’ diamonds are quite desirable. Also if they are set into a yellow gold ring this color cast can be less noticeable.

If clear diamonds are required however, these initial synthetic diamonds can be subjected to a second process, called HPHT. The HPHT process can be used to change the color of diamonds (controversially, it can also be used on natural diamonds to ‘improve’ the color).

Because of the costs of the equipment, lab diamonds are still a significant proportion of the price of natural stones. If shopping for a synthetic, you can tell what you are getting from the price of the stone – if it is in the tens or even hundreds of dollars, you will  likely be getting a stimulant such as moissanite or cubic zirconia – fine if that’s what you are shopping for of course but not chemically identical to a real diamond.

The economic turbulence of the last 18 months has left many families looking for cheaper ways to enjoy some of their favorite things without compromising on quality. This extends to all facets of life – food, entertainment, and of course shopping for jewelry along with that. As such, lab created diamonds are enjoying a resurgence in popularity!

The amazing thing about man made diamonds is that they are chemically identical to a real mined stone. They have the same physical properties such as hardness, and they can not be told apart by the naked eye! It takes a complex and dedicated piece of machinery to detect whether a diamond is real or man-made. These machines work by using UV light to analyze the invisible internal structure of the stone to identify the growth pattern and tell whether it grew in a machine or under the ground.

Lab diamonds weren’t always made with jewelry in mind though. They were initially produced for military use by the Soviet Union, so that international embargoes could not stop Russia producing tools and military equipment! This technology was perfected to the point that synthetic diamonds produced by the Russians were soon on the market in Europe, before anyone was able to identify that they weren’t the real thing.So next time you are shopping for a synthetic stone, think about the interesting and chequered history of the new sparkler that is about to be on your finger!