Lab Grown Diamonds: HPHT vs. CVD Explained
HPHT and CVT diamonds: is one better than the other?
Having been widely embraced for the first time over the past few years, lab grown diamonds represent a new era for jewellery. For the first time we’re seeing man-made diamonds used in all sorts of designs and people are getting excited about the positive environmental impact these stunning gemstones can have.
But as with any new technology, there’s plenty of questions surrounding this transformative product. Probably the most common question we get is: how are lab grown diamonds made?
The answer isn’t too complicated, but requires a bit of explanation. Lab grown diamonds are made in laboratories using one of two methods. The first method involves replicating the high pressure and high temperature (HPHT) found in the earth’s mantle where mined diamonds are formed. The second method is known as CVD (or Chemical Vapor Deposition) and this is where superheated gas is used to stimulate and grow a small ‘seed’ of diamond crystal into a full sized diamond.
At Taylor & Hart, we provide both types of lab grown diamond but it’s important to note that any CVD diamond we offer has also undergone the HPHT process after its production. HPHT is a great way to enhance any diamond’s clarity and colour (sometimes natural diamonds undergo this process as well!) and we find that CVD diamonds that have been finished in this way look better and brighter than gemstones that have undergone CVD alone.
Are lab grown diamonds real diamonds?
Yes! Sometimes a lab grown diamond is described as a ‘synthetic diamond’. However this terminology is somewhat misleading as lab grown diamonds have an identical chemical and physical structure as mined diamonds, and as such should only be distinguished by the means of their production.
This is especially true in comparison to other crystals such as cubic zirconia or moissanite which are well known diamond simulants or diamond alternatives. These crystals have a completely different chemical structure to lab grown diamonds and should only be seen as a diamond substitute.
Lab grown diamonds vs. earth mined diamonds
Compared to a natural diamond, a laboratory grown diamond is optically, physically, and chemically the same as an earth mined diamond. Lab grown diamonds, whether grown in with the HPHT or CVD method, have some key advantages compared to mined diamonds. Because of the high cost of mining and rarity of an earth grown diamond, man made diamonds are almost 40% cheaper than a natural diamond. Lab grown diamonds also come from a transparent supply chain and can be more ecologically sustainable, especially if grown with renewable energy sources.
HPHT Lab Grown Diamonds
What are HPHT lab grown diamonds?
The process to create an HPHT diamond (High Pressure High Temperature) was initially developed in the 1950s for industrial purposes. As mentioned above, the HPHT process can also be used to treat mined diamonds to enhance their overall colour and clarity. The process was designed to mimic the pressure and temperatures found within the earth where natural diamond crystals are formed over millions of years. The HPHT process manages to recreate this environment, but allows a diamond to form in a matter of weeks compared to the roughly 150 million years it took to form the world’s natural diamonds!
CVD Lab Grown Diamonds
What are CVD diamonds?
A CVD diamond (Chemical Vapour Deposition) is a recently invented technique in which diamonds are grown from a hydrocarbon gas mixture, similar to how diamonds form in interstellar gas clouds. The CVD process was created in the 1980s and is generally understood to be the less costly method of creating diamonds out of the two as it requires much less energy.
How are CVD diamonds made?
A thin slice of diamond seed is placed in a sealed chamber and heated to around 800 degrees celsius, and then the chamber is filled with other carbon rich gases such as methane. The gases are ionised into plasma using microwaves, lasers, and other techniques. The ionisation breaks down the gases and allows the carbon to merge with the diamond seed, growing the diamond up layer by layer.
What are the benefits of CVD diamonds?
Generally, the CVD process produces lab grown diamonds of a high clarity. The CVD process can produce colourless diamonds easily because the process doesn’t involve metal. The CVD process is also less energy intensive, producing more competitively priced diamonds.
HPHT vs CVD diamonds
Ultimately, the key difference between an HPHT diamond and a CVD diamond is that they have different diamond growth patterns. If inspected closely with magnification, a lab diamond expert would potentially be able to tell the difference between an HPHT and a CVD diamond by looking at the crystal structure. HPHT diamonds grow in a cuboctahedron shape and have 14 different growth directions, while a CVD diamond has a cubic shape and only one growth direction. This can sometimes cause a CVD diamond to show evidence of strains, but this is rare and only can be seen under magnification.
Historically HPHT diamonds have produced higher amounts of colour, but with advances in technology both methods can now produce colourless diamonds.
Which type of lab grown diamond should I purchase?
At Taylor & Hart, we sell both HPHT and CVD diamonds. We feel that both methods can produce high quality diamonds, therefore we don’t choose one over the other when procuring our lab grown diamonds. When you’re shopping for a lab grown diamond with us, it’s important to note that while all of our lab grown diamonds are IGI (International Gemological Institute) certified, the method of growth isn’t always stated. All of our diamonds are inspected for quality control and have an excellent cut, clarity and colour. No matter which method, a lab grown diamond that has excellent characteristics will stand the test of time.
