Lab-grown diamonds have ushered in a new era of sustainability, offering an environmentally friendly choice in an industry historically dominated by mined diamonds. They share the same physical, optical and chemical properties as a mined diamond. The only difference between the two is their origin. Origin unrelated, both diamond types share an identical creation process, forming first as carbon items under high temperature and enormous pressure, bonding together to form a crystalline matrix structure. Once formed, rough diamonds meant for jewelry are cut and polished to reveal their maximum brilliance. Just like mined diamonds, lab-grown diamonds also carry unique variations in color and clarity.

Lab-grown diamonds are also graded and certified by gemological laboratories, such as the International Gemological Institute (IGI), the same way mined diamonds are, based on the same characteristics as mined diamonds – cut, color, clarity and carat, known as the 4 Cs.

As of 2018, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) considers lab-grown diamonds and mined diamonds to be equally real. The only difference between the two is their origin. 

Lab-grown diamonds are created in a controlled laboratory environment whereas natural diamonds are formed deep within the earth. Both types of diamonds have the same physical and chemical properties and are made in the same material, carbon. They can look identical to the naked eye and even experts have difficulty identifying lab-grown diamonds from mined diamonds without the use of specialized equipment. 

The difference between lab-created and natural diamonds could be compared to the difference between ice formed outside and ice formed inside your refrigerator; both are equally as much ice, just created differently.

Sustainability is guaranteed with man-created diamonds. It is all in the production methods. For earth-mined diamonds to be extracted, people dig miles and miles down the earth surface, removing on average 250 tons of soil per carat of diamonds. These practices require more than 100 gallons of water per carat being extracted. The results of these operations are, most of the time, deforestation, soil degeneration, and large quantities of polluted wastewater.

It is challenging to the environment and the natural balance. Contrary to a diamond mined with heavy-duty equipment and explosives, the lab-grown diamond is one with a smaller impact on the earth’s resources. Its carbon emissions come down to only 4.8% of its mined counterpart, and overall emissions are a-billion-and-a-half times lower. Water and energy consumption are also 85% and 50% lower for lab-grown diamonds. Per carat, they disrupt just 0.07 square feet of land, so numbers speak for themselves about the many advantages of lab-grown diamonds.

There are two main methods used to create lab-grown diamonds: High-Pressure High-Temperature (HPHT) and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD). 

HPHT method mimics the natural formation process by replicating the high pressure and high temperature conditions deep within the earth. 

CVD method, creates a diamond by introducing a small amount of carbon atoms to a substrate in a low-pressure chamber, and then using a chemical process to crystallize the atoms into a diamond.

Lab-grown diamonds are graded and certified by gemological laboratories, such as the International Gemological Institute (IGI), the same way mined diamonds are, based on the same characteristics as mined diamonds – cut, color, clarity and carat, known as the 4 Cs. All round brilliant cut diamonds 0.30 ct and fancy cut diamonds 0.50 ct or bigger will be accompanied by a certificate from IGI.