Understanding The Difference Between Mined And Lab-Grown Brilliance
Mined diamonds are formed deep in the Earth’s mantle, through processes that take millions, if not billions of years. Simply put, diamonds are made up of carbon.
Beyond the glitter of traditional diamonds, Lab-grown diamonds are synthetic gems that signify more than just an alternative; they embody a shift toward sustainability and ethical sourcing.
When carbon deposits in the depths of the Earth are subjected to heat and pressure, the carbon atoms start moving towards each other, to the point where they come in contact with each other. This results in the crystallisation of carbon which leads to the creation of diamonds.
Diamonds are further scientifically categorised into 5 different types based on the level and type of their chemical impurities- Type IaA, Type IaB, Type Ib, Type IIa, Type IIb.
Types IaA, IaB and Ib form 95% of all nautral diamonds, with nitrogen as their main impurity. Of these three, Type Ib accounts for only 0.1% of all mined diamonds, making them extremely rare.
Type IIa diamonds make up 1-2% of all mined diamonds, but are free of all impurities and are usually colourless. As for Type IIb, they are the rarest of all mined diamonds, accounting for only 0.1% of all diamonds, making them the most valuable as well.
The HPHT method was used to create the first-ever lab-grown diamond in 1954. In this process, pure carbon is pressed inside a metal cube structure and is exposed to immense heat and pressure through electric pulses. Through sustained exposure, the carbon eventually breaks down and crystallises, and what emerges is a diamond with miniscule traces of metal from the box it is created in.
It involves placing a tiny slice of diamond in a vacuum chamber, where it is exposed to carbon-rich gas and is ionised into plasma. Over the next few weeks, the plasma eventually allows carbon atoms to bond which eventually forms a diamond crystal layer, which then crystallises into a diamond.
Ricky Vasandani, CEO, Solitario Lab Grown Diamonds