In recent years, consumers have become increasingly receptive to man-made diamonds, seeing them as a more sustainable option. They also believe they are better for the environment, and many millennials are turning to synthetic stones instead of natural ones out of their ethical convictions.
Despite the long-standing skepticism of luxury jewelers, lab grown diamonds have started to show serious traction within the affordable luxury market. De Beers group, the world’s largest producer and distributor of natural diamonds, introduced its accessibly priced LGD LightBox brand in 2018.
For a fraction of the price of a comparable, natural diamond, you can buy a lab diamonds Melbourne that is virtually identical in size and quality. These new stones are made through chemical vapor deposition (CVD).
CVD begins with a diamond seed placed in a chamber filled with gasses that contain carbon. The gas molecules stick to the seeds, and as they heat up, the carbon atoms bond to the seeds, growing a diamond atom by atom. The results are a high-quality diamond that is much harder than a naturally mined one, and less likely to chip than a traditional mined stone.
The lab diamond industry is constantly innovating to produce better and more accessible lab-grown rough diamonds that can be cut into various shapes and sizes. Companies like LUSIX have recently secured funding from LVMH Moet Hennessy – Louis Vuitton, Societe Europeenne, Ragnar Crossover Fund and More Investments to grow their business and expand production capacity across the globe.
While the technology behind the creation of lab-grown diamonds is still evolving, experts estimate that they will be able to make diamonds at prices up to 50 percent cheaper than those of natural diamonds. This will be due to a number of factors including advances in technology, more efficient manufacturing, and the fact that the same supply chains don’t control them.
There are two main ways to make laboratory-grown diamonds: the High Pressure High Temperature method and the Chemical Vapor Deposition method. Using the HPHT method, a small diamond seed is placed in a chamber where it is subjected to very high temperatures and pressures. The seeds then begin to grow in a way similar to how they do on the ground.
The chemical vapor deposition process is more advanced and involves placing the diamond seed in a sealed chamber where carbon-rich gasses are heated to around 800C. The gases stick to the seeds, growing a diamond molecule by molecule.
These lab diamonds are so hard that they can be used for jewelry purposes, and the cost is significantly lower than a natural stone because the same suppliers don’t control them. They are also more environmentally friendly, as they don’t use water, and aren’t produced on land damaged by mining operations.
As the demand for lab-grown diamonds rises, more and more jewelry makers are experimenting with new designs and styles incorporating these gemstones. Some, like Lusant, backed by Chinese jewelry conglomerate Yuyuan Holding, are disassociating diamonds from the romantic cliche and making contemporary edgy jewellery for self-gifting Gen Zers. Others, like The Future Rocks, have created a marketplace that offers jewelry made from lab-grown diamonds from independent and creative labels.