Lab Grown Diamonds

Why Lab Grown Diamonds?

Identical to Mined Diamonds

Optically, physically & anatomically identical to mined diamonds. The main difference being the way they are created!

Sustainable, Ethical, Conflict Free

The responsible choice when choosing a diamond, free from mining, 100% guaranteed conflict free & a lower impact on the environment.

Value for Money

A more affordable option than mined diamonds, allows you to choose a larger, higher quality diamond for your budget.

Learn About Lab Grown Diamonds

What is a lab grown diamond?

Lab created diamonds are diamonds that have been created using the power of science in a laboratory, they are identical to natural diamonds in every way. Think of lab diamonds as carbon copies of natural diamonds - the only difference being the way in which they’re created. Natural diamonds are created over billions of years under the earth's crust, whereas lab diamonds are grown in a matter of weeks in the lab.

Lab diamonds & mined diamonds have the same carbon structure, which means their physical, optical & anatomical properties are identical. Their beauty & sparkle is just the same as their mined alternatives, making them perfect for creating fine jewellery.

At Pure Carats, we have a huge inventory of exquisite man made diamonds for you to choose from, with every diamond shape & carat weight available online in 360HD, allowing you to view your diamond under magnification before purchasing it.

1 carat E colour VS1 clarity lab grown diamond being compared with a 1ct E colour, VS1 clarity natural diamond, both are identical

Are Lab Grown Diamonds real?

YES! Lab diamonds are 100% real diamonds, they have the same chemical makeup as a mined diamond - even trained gemologists and jewellers cannot tell them apart without specialised equipment in the laboratory.

Lab diamonds & mined diamonds have the same isometric cubic carbon structure, which means they both rank at 10 for hardness on the mohs scale and therefore are one of the hardest substances known to man. This means that man-made diamonds are just as durable as natural diamonds and have the same resistance to scratches & abrasions.

Lab created diamonds are often referred to as “synthetic diamonds” which means that they can be mistaken for fake diamonds stimulants. such as cubic zirconia or moissanite - which are not real diamonds. Diamond stimulants do not reflect or refract light in the same way as real diamonds and do not have the same brilliance, fire & scintillation. The beauty of a real diamond lies in its ability to play with light creating splendid displays of sparkle and its extreme durability.

Diagram comparing the price of lab grown diamonds to mined diamonds - lab grown diamonds are less expensive ad the natural diamonds are more expensive.

How Much do Lab Grown Diamonds Cost?

Lab grown diamonds are much more attractively priced than mined diamonds making them the perfect option if you prefer a larger, better quality diamond. Just like natural diamonds, the price of a lab grown diamond is determined its 4C’s: cut, colour, carat weight & clarity.

Pure Carats’ lab grown diamonds are generally priced between 40-60% less than their mined alternatives. For example a 1ct lab grown diamond is usually round the same price as a 0.50ct mined diamond. Similarly, a 2ct lab grown diamond is the same price as a 0.90ct mined diamond.

To give you an idea, a 1ct G colour VS2 clarity round brilliant cut lab diamond costs around £1800; a 2ct lab diamond of the same quality will usually cost around £4000. Our lab grown diamonds are priced very transparently online, check out our loose diamond listing to compare lab diamond prices.

Browse Loose Diamonds

5ct emerald cut lab created diamond engagement ring, set with a pair of matching lab grown shoulder diamonds created in recycled platinum.

Are Lab Grown Diamonds Certified?

Lab grown diamonds have the same flaws & imperfections as natural diamonds, which is not surprising seeing as they’re created by replicating nature's processes. This means that lab created diamonds come in an array of different shapes, sizes and qualities, which must be graded & certified by a specialised diamond grading laboratory.

At Pure Carats, all of our lab diamonds are certified by renowned gemological grading laboratories including: International Gemological Institute (IGI), Gemological Institute of America (GIA) & Gem Certification & Assurance Lab (GCAL). At these laboratories, our diamonds are examined in the same way as mined diamonds and are graded for their colour, clarity, cut grade, carat weight & a multitude of other factors.

Your lab diamond will come with a diamond dossier outlining its specifications in detail to ensure that you have a fair unbiased opinion of your diamonds quality.

Lab Grown Diamond Certification

Engagement ring set with a round brilliant cut lab created diamond

Should I buy a Lab created diamond?

The short answer is YES! The fact that we are now able to create 100% real diamonds using ground-breaking science & technology in the laboratory is astounding. Lab grown diamonds are the perfect alternative to natural diamonds giving us the opportunity to create scintillating fine diamond jewellery for a fraction of the cost. Lab grown diamonds are also a great environmental & ethical option eliminating the need for diamond mining.

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How Are Lab Diamonds Created?

Before explaining how lab grown diamonds are created it’s important to understand the chemical makeup of a diamond. A diamond is made entirely of carbon and it's the way in which these carbon atoms are structured which makes a diamond so special. In a diamond, the carbon atoms are arranged in a tetrahedral structure, which gives it its extremely strong and hard properties. Other forms of natural carbon include graphite (used in pencils) which does not have the same desirable properties as diamond.

In order to produce a diamond in the laboratory, carbon must be put under the perfect conditions to allow it to crystallise just as it would in nature. There are two techniques we use to grow these diamonds in the laboratory; High Pressure-High Temperature (HTHP) & Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD):

CVD

This technique uses thin diamond plates which are put into a growth cell and then placed into vaccum plasma reactor. Hydrocarbon gases are injected into the reactor where they are heated until carbon bonds break allowing atoms to fall onto the diamond plates. These carbon atoms build up in a tetrahedral structure eventually creating a rough diamond.

HTHP

Conjunctive to its name, HTHP technology uses high temperature and high pressure conditions to mimic the natural environment in which carbon crystalises into diamond.

This technique starts with a diamond seed, which is placed into a growth cell. Highly refined graphite is then carefully placed on top of the seed and the put into a HPHT chamber. The chamber creates a high pressure, high temperature environment, which causes the graphite to melt into liquid carbon. Once the optimum conditions are met, the growth cell is cooled over a period of several days allowing the carbon atoms to bond in a tetrahedral structure, thus creating a rough diamond.