What Are Lab-Grown Diamonds?

Our Different Diamonds

Our Citrus Diamonds

Citrus Studio’s lab-grown diamonds are the 100% ethical, conflict-free diamonds you’ve been searching for. Our lab-grown diamonds aren’t found in a mine, but they have all the same physical, chemical, and optical properties as naturally mined diamonds. This makes our Fresh Diamonds not only beautiful, but also value-priced!

Lab diamonds are an above-ground diamond with top of the chart ratings in brilliance and fire. In addition, our conflict-free lab diamonds are meticulously procured at a fraction of the price. This means you can also get a larger diamond within your budget, all while making a more ethical and environmentally friendly purchase.

Not all diamonds are the same. At first glance, two diamonds may look very similar, but there may be enormous differences in rarity and value. With varying degrees of competency between jewelers and their diamond grading, how do you know how to find the best value?

The lab diamonds we use, on the other hand, MUST have ALL grades that meet or exceed the following: H color, SI2 clarity, and GIA Excellent or Very Good cut. These are the reasons we know our lab diamonds are a “cut above the rest.” All diamonds sold will come with a report of its make and quality for your peace of mind.

What Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Made Of?

After the question, “What are lab-grown diamonds?” the next question we often hear is “Are lab-grown diamonds real diamonds?”

Yes, they are real. The only thing that makes a lab-created diamond different from a mined diamond is its origin. A lab-created diamond is “grown” inside a lab using cutting-edge technology that replicates the natural diamond growing process. The result is a man-made diamond that is chemically, physically, and optically the same as those grown beneath the earth’s surface.

“[Lab-created diamonds] are not fakes. They’re not cubic zirconias. They have all the same physical and chemical properties of a mined diamond,” says Stephen Morisseau, a spokesman for the Gemological Institute of America, a nonprofit organization that oversees the international diamond grading system. If we compare them to other popular diamond simulants, it’s obvious that manufactured diamonds are, in fact, the real deal.

Another frequent question we receive is, “What are the differences between lab-grown diamonds and ‘real’ diamonds? Can you spot a difference?”

As discussed, the only difference between lab-grown and mined diamonds is their modes of growth. To the naked eye, it’s impossible to distinguish a lab-grown diamond from a mined diamond. It’s highly unlikely that even a highly-trained jeweler could determine if a diamond is lab-grown or mined. While there are processes that can identify one from the other, they are incredibly complex and are typically only performed in diamond certification labs. So, the answer is no—you can’t tell the difference between a lab-grown diamond and a mined diamond.

How is it Possible to “Grow” Real Diamonds in a Lab?

Still unclear about what lab-grown diamonds are and how they’re made? First, it’s important to understand how mined diamonds are formed. The processes of growth for lab-grown and mined are extremely similar – only one occurs naturally while the other occurs in a lab.

Mined Diamonds

Geologists know that diamonds formed deep within the earth’s core between 1 billion to 3 billion years ago. While they don’t know exactly how those diamonds came to be, they believe the process starts with carbon dioxide that is buried roughly 100 miles beneath the Earth’s surface.

The carbon dioxide is exposed to heat in excess of 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit and put under extreme pressure of roughly 727,000 pounds per square inch. The diamonds are then transported from deep within the earth’s core to the surface by way of deep volcanic explosions.

Processes Used for Lab-Grown Diamonds

We can further explore what lab-grown diamonds are by looking at the two processes labs use to grow diamonds: High Pressure-High Temperature (HPHT) and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD).

What are Lab-Grown HPHT Diamonds?

These gemstones are made using one of three manufacturing processes: a belt press, the cubic press, and the split-sphere (BARS) press. All these processes create an environment of extremely high pressure and temperature conducive to diamond growth.

An HPHT diamond begins as a small diamond seed that is placed into carbon. Using one of the manufacturing processes above, the seed is exposed to temperatures of about 1,500 degrees Celsius and pressurized to approximately 1.5 million pounds per square inch.

The pure carbon melts and starts to form a diamond around the starter seed. It is then carefully cooled to form a pure carbon diamond.

What are Lab-Grown CVD Diamonds?

These gemstones begin as a thin slice of diamond seed, which is often an HPHT produced diamond. The diamond seed is placed in a sealed chamber and heated to around 800 degrees Celsius.

The chamber is filled with a carbon rich-gas, like methane, and other gases. The gases are ionized into plasma using technology similar to that of microwaves or lasers. The ionization breaks the molecular bonds in the gases, and the pure carbon adheres to the diamond seed and slowly crystallizes.

What Are Lab Grown Diamonds’ Impact on the Environment?

Not only do man-made stones offer the same clarity and quality as mined ones, but they’re created in a way that’s more sustainable, eco-friendly, and better in the long-term for the environment. They also cut out the perilous and conflict-provoking mining industry that’s been the subject of so many movies and tales (see Leonardo DiCaprio’s 2006 film Blood Diamond as an example).

But those are just sweeping statements. What’s the real impact of buying a lab-grown diamond? Exactly how much does it help the world when compared to traditional, mined diamonds?

Effects on the earth: Did you know that 1 carat of mined diamonds = nearly 100 sq. ft of disturbed land & almost 6,000 lbs. of mineral waste? Compare that to 1 carat of lab-grown diamonds, which disrupt just 0.07 sq. ft of land & only 1 lb. of mineral waste.
Effects on people: All in all, mined diamonds result in 1 injury for every 1,000 workers annually, while lab-grown diamonds result in zero injuries.
Effects on your wallet: Lab-grown diamonds can be anywhere from 30-40% less expensive than mined diamonds. This means you can purchase a larger diamond within the same budget while also reducing your ecological footprint on earth.

Citrus Studios Believes in Responsible Sourcing

Along with our lab-grown diamonds we also sell responsibly sourced below ground diamonds (Mined Diamonds) following the Kimberley Process so you can know your diamond is clean and socially responsible.

All the gold we use is sourced responsibly with our suppliers. We even cast all our rings with at least 50% recycled gold. Taking care of the earth is one of our primary goals, so we do all we can to reduce our ecological footprint and provide you with a one of a kind experience in your custom jewelry process.

Still have questions about what lab grown diamonds are? Contact our customer service team today so they can help!