The first artificial Diamonds were produced over 80 years ago in the late 1930s and early 1940s by both General Electric and Travers Clement. However, the diamonds produced were only a few carats in size and of poor quality. It was not until 1955 that the true mass production of artificial Diamonds began when scientists at Monsanto developed the CVD (chemical vapor deposition) and HPHT (high pressure high temperature) methods which are still used today. Through the 1960s and 1970s advancement continued with larger and better quality artificial Diamonds being created for industrial uses such as drill bits, saws and lathe abrasives.
Growth of the Gem-Quality Synthetic Diamond Industry
It was not until the 1980s and 1990s that production capability had advanced to a point where near-colorless gem-quality artificial Diamonds could be manufactured on a commercial scale. Companies like Gemesis and D.NEA began marketing artificial Diamonds for jewelry applications, targeting a more affordable luxury product. Initially customers and jewelers largely dismissed lab-grown diamonds preferring mined stones due to tradition and perception issues. However, ongoing refinement of production methods has seen noticeable improvements in quality where today many artificial Diamonds are virtually indistinguishable from natural stones to the naked eye at smaller sizes.
Physical and Chemical Properties
Artificial Diamonds have the exact same physical and chemical properties as mined diamonds. They are pure carbon crystallized into the same isometric cubic structure known as diamond. Artificial Diamonds have a Mohs hardness of 10 out of 10 on the scale, the highest of any natural or man-made material. They also score very high on several other metrics such as thermal conductivity and light dispersion. Whether produced via CVD or HPHT methods, the end result is an Synthetic Diamond not just diamond-like but composed of the same thing with the same physical structure as one pulled from a millions-year-old kimberlite mine.
Key Production Methods: CVD and HPHT
The two primary industrial methods for manufacturing artificial Diamonds are chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and high pressure high temperature (HPHT). In the CVD approach, a mixture of gases such as methane are heated to extreme temperatures up to 750–950°C in a vacuum chamber along with a diamond seed crystal. The gases break apart and carbon is deposited on the seed crystal over time in a very controlled layer-by-layer growth process to form an actual diamond structure from the bottom up. HPHT production recreates natural geologic conditions by subjecting carbon material to high heat and pressure similar to that found over 100 miles below the earth’s surface, where diamond is naturally formed.
Specifically, temperatures of 1200–2500°C and pressures above 45,000 atmospheres force the carbon into the diamond crystal structure.
Gemological Properties of Synthetics
While having the same crystalline makeup, synthetics can sometimes be differentiated through advanced gemological testing compared to natural diamonds. A few detectable characteristics may include inclusions or flaws not common in nature, unusual isotopic signatures, and distinguishing features in the diamond’s growth structures. Equipment such as microscopes, spectroscopes and isotopic analysis are necessary to examine properties like nitrogen aggregation patterns or the detection of nitrogen-related defects that provide clues. However, technologies are improving all the time, and many advanced CVD samples today are devoid of such identifying features. For the average person without specialized tools, many lab-grown diamonds may not be discernable from natural ones.
Current State of the Market
Synthetic Diamond production has grown significantly in the past 20 years due to advancements in CVD technology and lower manufacturing costs compared to mining. Global artificial Diamond output is estimated at over 20 million carats annually, rivaling the largest kimberlite mines. While still mainly occupying the more affordable end of the jewelry market below 2 carats, synthetics are becoming increasingly popular for engagement rings and other prestige applications. Some producers are now even cultivating investment-grade lab-grown diamonds up to 10 carats in size. With heightened consumer awareness of sustainability and traceability issues surrounding mined diamonds, the market share and social acceptance of synthetics continues to expand rapidly worldwide. Looking ahead, labgrown diamonds will likely account for a substantial portion of new jewelry diamond supply.
Environmental and Social Benefits
From an environmental and social perspective, artificial Diamonds confer several advantages over mined stones. Manufacturing occurs indoors in a highly controlled fashion with almost no impact on landscapes or waterways. There are no issues with polluted tailings or health hazards from deep shaft mines either. Energy usage is also far less than open pit mining requiring massive equipment fleets and round-the-clock lighting/ventilation underground. Perhaps most significantly, synthetic production eliminates security and human rights concerns related to conflict diamonds from wartorn regions in Africa which have long plagued the natural industry. With full traceability back to their labs of origin, lab-grown diamonds offer a responsibly-sourced alternate for ethically-minded consumers without compromising on the brilliant qualities of true gem-grade diamonds.
Synthetic Diamond technology has progressed enormously in the past century to the point where lab-grown diamonds can now serve as a truly viable competitor to traditionally mined stones, both for industrial uses as well as luxury jewelry applications. Manufactured entirely through proven scientific processes, synthetics offer environmental, social and affordability advantages while delivering the same level of brilliance, hardness and optical characteristics that have always captivated about diamond gems. With continual improvement, artificial Diamond production will likely play an even greater role in global diamond supply to meet growing demand for this unique and iconic material into the future.
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