Diamonds are associated with many qualities. They can be luxurious, exceptionally hard, dazzling or even bloodstained. In recent years, however, laboratory-grown diamonds have become increasingly common.
As the name suggests, laboratory-grown diamonds are created by people in a laboratory. This means that neither people nor nature have to suffer. Luxury with a reduced environmental impact is now accessible to many more people.
The History of Laboratory-Grown Diamond Production
The first attempts to produce diamonds in a laboratory date back to 1892, when French chemist Henri Moissan tried to create one. However, it was not until 1952 that the jewellery world saw the first tiny synthetic diamonds. Owing to the demanding production process, they were not yet suitable for the commercial market.
The methods used to produce diamonds have developed significantly over the past 30 years, with laboratory-grown diamonds experiencing their greatest boom during the last decade. Jewellery-quality laboratory-grown diamonds have only recently reached the Czech market, although synthetic diamonds have been produced here for industrial purposes for many years.
Laboratory-Grown Diamonds Are Popular with International Celebrities Too
Laboratory-grown diamonds are very popular abroad and can even be seen in celebrity jewellery. Leonardo DiCaprio, for example, invested a substantial sum in developing technology for producing diamonds in laboratories. And he is not alone. Meghan Markle, Evan Williams and Tony Fadell have also shown an interest in laboratory-grown diamonds.
Former Apple chief design officer Jony Ive and designer Marc Newson even created a ring cut from a single piece of diamond. The ring was valued at approximately CZK 6 million but ultimately sold at auction for CZK 10.4 million. The Gates Foundation added a significant contribution, and the proceeds went towards supporting the fight against AIDS.
How Synthetic Diamonds Are Made
There are currently two methods of producing diamonds. A laboratory-grown diamond is completely identical to a natural diamond in terms of its physical, chemical and optical properties. Even experts cannot distinguish a laboratory-grown diamond from a natural one without specialist equipment.
The most commonly used method is HPHT, which stands for High Pressure High Temperature. It recreates the conditions under which diamonds form naturally. A tiny diamond seed, which may also have been created in a laboratory, gradually grows into a larger diamond.
The other method is CVD, or Chemical Vapour Deposition. In this process, a carbon-rich gas is used to grow a new diamond around a tiny diamond seed.
The Impact of Natural Diamond Mining
For many years, people avoided synthetic diamonds because they considered them less valuable. Although laboratory-grown diamonds are identical to natural ones, they are significantly less expensive.
Natural diamond mining also causes extensive damage to the landscape. Producing one carat of diamond requires the removal of an average of up to 250 tonnes of earth, fundamentally altering the surrounding landscape and ecosystem.
This does not even take into account the human rights abuses faced by people working in diamond mines in conflict-affected regions of Africa. The sale of blood diamonds is also frequently used to finance the purchase of weapons. Moreover, the carbon footprint of laboratory-grown diamond production is many times lower than that of conventional mining.
Why Choose a Laboratory-Grown Diamond?
f you care about the environment but also love jewellery, a laboratory-grown diamond may be the perfect choice for you. Its production uses considerably less water and electricity and generates a much smaller carbon footprint than traditional mining.
Environmental sustainability is a key priority for producers of laboratory-grown diamonds. You can enjoy the sparkle of a beautiful diamond without moral concerns – and save money at the same time.