Are synthetic diamonds better than natural diamonds?

Can you tell the difference between natural and synthetic/lab-grown diamonds?

Are synthetic diamonds better than natural ones? You may have come across lab-grown or synthetic diamonds. Colourless synthetic or lab-grown diamonds are created by a process called Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD), and are increasingly more common in the market. Unlike natural diamonds formed by geological processes in the Earth, CVD-processed stones differ significantly. They also contrast with High Pressure, High Temperature (HPHT) synthetic diamonds that have been manufactured since the 1950s.

Around a decade ago, retailers and manufacturers started selling CVD synthetic diamonds in the diamond market. The manufacturing process involves introducing a gas (such as methane) into a vacuum chamber, and then activating and breaking down the gas molecules using microwaves. This leads to the accumulation of carbon atoms on a substrate (typically an HPHT synthetic diamond seed crystal). As more carbon atom accumulate, the synthetic diamond is formed.

The HPHT method closely mimics the natural process of diamond crystallization. It involves intense heat and pressure just like the mantle deep within the Earth. However, the HPHT process is expensive due to the energy and equipment requirements, resulting in diamonds primarily with yellowish or brownish-yellow hues.

In contrast, the CVD method is more cost-effective. It operates at moderate temperatures and low pressure, requiring smaller and less expensive equipment. By using a vacuum chamber containing only carbon and some hydrogen, colourless synthetic diamonds can be grown. Introducing nitrogen or boron into the chamber allows for the production of yellow or blue synthetic diamond crystals.

For jewellery, synthetic diamonds cost 50%-80% less than natural diamonds, assuming other factors such as carat are equivalent. For example, a $5000 natural diamond ring could only cost $2500 or less with synthetic diamonds. Both synthetic and natural diamonds have similar physical properties (i.e. contains carbon), but one is lab-created and the other was created thousands and millions of years ago in the Earth's mantle. Both qualities can be similar.

Therefore, if you are looking to maintain a budget on your jewellery, but want a larger diamond, one option is to choose synthetic diamonds instead. Synthetic and natural diamonds look similar to the naked eye. Just remember that at the end of the day, no matter which type of diamond you choose, what matters most is your endless love and commitment to your spouse!

What matters most is love, not the diamond