Benefits of synthetic diamonds

The main difference between a synthetic diamond and a real stone is the type of production. A synthetic version is made by a technological process (man-made) and a real diamond is created by a geological process in nature. Synthetic diamonds may also be referred to as “HPHT diamonds” or “CVD diamonds”, named after production methods.

HPHT stands for High Pressure High Temperature, and this is the original process used to grow diamonds in the laboratory. It has the disadvantage of consuming quite a bit of energy and is therefore expensive. CVD, or chemical vapor deposition, is a newer process in which the gem is grown in a smaller pressurized chamber. In this process, vaporized carbon is used to “grow” the diamond around a seed crystal. CVD diamonds are much cheaper to produce, but often have a pronounced yellow color. If this is not desired, further treatments are necessary to whiten the diamond.

HPHT and CVD synthetic diamonds can be found in a variety of colors including: clear white, yellow, brown, blue, green, and orange.

There is a cost benefit to those who wish to purchase synthetic diamonds instead of real diamonds. Lab-produced diamonds and gems cost up to 30% less than those mined from Earth.

For those who are wary of the harmful ecological effects and illicit diamond trade that comes with real diamond mining, the synthetic option is best.

There are also more styles and sizes available in synthetic diamonds, as lab producers can control the variables when creating the gems rather than allowing the Earth’s natural processes to do the creating. If you want a larger, more colorful diamond without paying high prices, your best bet is to buy a synthetic diamond or gem. While natural diamonds take millions of years to produce, man-made gems can take as little as days to create, making the ordering process quick and easy.

For those who wish to design their own piece of jewelry, the synthetic option is ideal for choosing the right color and size at a reasonable price.