The Science Behind Lab-Grown Diamonds
A lab-grown diamond is a genuine diamond created in a controlled laboratory environment rather than extracted from the earth. It is composed of the same material - pure crystallised carbon - and possesses the same physical, chemical, and optical properties as a mined diamond.
Identical in Every Way
Lab-grown diamonds are not imitations, simulants, or substitutes. They are real diamonds that:
- Score 10 on the Mohs hardness scale (the hardest known natural material)
- Have the same refractive index (2.42) and dispersion as mined diamonds
- Are graded by the same independent laboratories (IGI, GIA, HRD) using the same 4Cs criteria
- Are visually indistinguishable from mined diamonds, even under standard gemological magnification
Two Methods of Creation
HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature): Replicates the conditions found 150 kilometres below the earth's surface. A small diamond seed is placed in a press that generates pressures of over 1.5 million pounds per square inch at temperatures exceeding 1,500 degrees Celsius. Carbon dissolves and crystallises around the seed, growing a diamond over days to weeks.
CVD (Chemical Vapour Deposition): A diamond seed is placed in a sealed chamber filled with a carbon-rich gas (typically methane). The gas is ionised into a plasma using microwaves, breaking the molecular bonds and allowing individual carbon atoms to deposit onto the seed, building the diamond layer by layer.
Why Choose Lab-Grown?
- Value: Lab-grown diamonds typically cost 60-80% less than comparable mined diamonds, allowing you to choose a larger or higher-quality stone within your budget
- Sustainability: No mining, no land disruption, significantly lower carbon footprint per carat
- Transparency: Complete traceability from laboratory to you - no ethical ambiguity
- Quality: Controlled growth conditions often produce diamonds with fewer inclusions and better consistency than their mined equivalents
Certification
Every CRTD diamond is independently certified by a leading gemological laboratory. The certificate details the stone's exact specifications - carat weight, colour, clarity, cut, measurements, and any distinguishing features. The certificate will clearly state the diamond's lab-grown origin.