Natural and synthetic diamonds may look exactly similar to one another when it comes to physical appearance, but they are very two different stones in terms of composition and physical properties. Customers who are new to the world of diamond ring shopping will not be able to tell the difference between these two stones. As a result, they often end up buying a cheap and less durable synthetic diamonds. If you wish to avoid such hassles, then you must definitely know the difference between natural and synthetic diamonds.
Natural Diamonds vs. Synthetic Diamonds
In simple words, natural diamonds can be defined as the gemstones that naturally occur on the Earth’s crust. Real or natural diamond gemstones are usually formed approximately 150 to 200 kilometers beneath the crust of the Earth, and the formation process of natural diamonds can take approximately 3 billion years. The diamonds that are obtained from the crust of the Earth are treated, cut, and polished by diamond cutters before they are used for making jewelry pieces. The clarity and color enhanced processes that natural diamonds are subjected to increase their appeal and make them suitable for making diamond rings and other pieces of jewelry.
Synthetic lab-grown diamonds are created in a laboratory setting. The extensive researches and studies conducted by expert scientists have allowed them to develop an excellent alternative to natural diamonds without the need to wait for billions of years. Synthetic diamond is actually a term that is used to describe man-made diamonds that are made inside a laboratory. Synthetic diamonds are often described as a complete copy of real diamonds because they are created from the same procedures and methods used for making real diamonds. In fact, the crystal lattice structure of lab created and real diamonds is exactly similar.
How are Synthetic Diamonds Created
It is a widely known and accepted fact that the methods and techniques that are used for creating synthetic diamonds are less important than the origins of a real diamond. As you would probably know, real diamonds are mined all over the world with the help of different types of equipment and machinery. On the other hand, manmade or synthetic diamonds are made in laboratories by simulating the exact similar conditions that natural diamonds are subjected to under the crust of the Earth. Scientists usually place carbon atoms under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions in order to create a diamond crystal. In some cases, scientists also incorporate the use of Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) to yield diamonds.
Chemical Vapor Deposition
Diamonds were first produced with the help of chemical vapor deposition process, approximately a decade ago. This means that diamonds that are produced with the help of this method are relatively new to the market. During this process, scientists expose carbon-based gases to extreme high-temperature conditions within a CVD machine. The heat treatment process is continued until the molecule breaks and give rise to carbon atoms.
The CVD diamonds that were produced during the initial years were brown or black in color. However, a few years later, scientists discovered the fact that it is possible to create colorless diamonds by simply changing the gas inside the machine and by treating the carbon-based gases at high pressure and temperature conditions. Today, customers find it very difficult to tell the difference between CVD diamonds and natural diamonds.
The Price of Synthetic Diamonds
When it comes to the cost, majority of the synthetic diamonds available in the market are approximately 20 to 40 percent less expensive than natural diamonds. The price of manmade diamonds may significantly vary from one another based on factors such as clarity, color, and size. However, if the lab created diamond comes with a D to F grading in color, then it might be a little bit expensive than naturally mined diamonds because the former will belong to an extremely rare group of diamonds.
It is seen that customers who are in the market to buy diamond rings are a bit hesitant to invest in synthetic diamond rings. This is because they have a misconception that manmade diamonds are counterfeit stones. Even though the origins of natural and synthetic diamonds are different, both of them have the exact same crystal lattice structure. As a result, synthetic diamonds are often considered as real diamonds. However, you will need to pay attention to the fact that Earth mined diamonds are one of a kind of gemstone. The remarkable character and breathtaking beauty of real diamonds might not be present in synthetic diamonds. This is why some customers prefer not to buy manmade diamonds, despite their low cost.