Best Lab Created Diamonds

There is not much difference between the origins of artificial and real diamonds. The real ones are found beneath the earth's surface and take millions of years to form, while their man-made cousins are developed in a highly controlled laboratory environment using methods that replicate the conditions in which real diamonds are born.

After they are ready, finishing touches are added and they look exactly as their real counterparts. The difference between the two can only be detected by using specialized instruments. HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature) and CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) are the two methods used to create lab created diamonds.

Since its origin in the 1950s, the High Pressure High Temperature method has been modified by various laboratories who make synthetic diamonds. HPHT duplicates the natural geological conditions that occur almost 200 km deep in the Earth's crust.

The machines used have the capacity to build up pressure of almost 60,000 atmospheres and temperature of 2,500°C. This method is mainly used to grow high-quality diamonds. HPHT uses three main press designs to produce an artificial diamond - the cubic press, the belt press and the split-sphere (BARS) press.

Through Chemical Vapor Deposition, diamonds can be produced with the aid of a hydrocarbon gas mixture. The diamond is formed from a vapor phase after subjecting it to low pressure and temperature conditions.

Individual or isolated blocks are then provided to replicate the polycrystalline nature resembling a diamond. While HPHT is still the standard procedure for making high quality synthetic diamonds, the flexibility and easiness which comes from using CVD is making it popular all across the globe.

Founded in 1996, Gemesis Corporation is the largest producer of colorless and colorful artificial diamonds. It also has the largest facilities for producing both HPHT and CVD diamonds. The diamonds offered by the Gemesis range from 0.50 to 1.50 carat (colorless) and 0.75 to 2.5 carat (colorful).

Chatham is based in San Francisco and only grows fancy colored man-made diamonds which range from canary yellow and champagne to pink and midnight blue. The price range of fancy colored diamonds can be around $100,000 per carat and each stone is laser inscribed with the company's name and serial number.

Based in Chicago, Illinois, LifeGem is the first company to create artificial diamonds using the carbonized remains of humans and pets. Such diamonds are also known as "memorial diamonds" and their range starts from $3500 for 0.20 to 0.29 carat and $20,000 for 0.90 to 0.99 carat.

The company is also known to create the Ludwig van Beethoven LifeGem diamond - a blue 0.56 carat round diamond created from the carbon of a historical figure. A total of three diamonds were created from 130 mg of carbon extracted from 10 strands of hair from the remains of the great Ludwig van Beethoven.

The company is a joint venture between the Russian Academy of Sciences (Siberian Branch) and Tairus Co. Ltd. of Bangkok. Tairus grows fancy yellow, orange and Cognac color diamonds by using the "Split Sphere" system.

In this system the carbon crystallizes in an alkaline carbonate fluid solution and that has a similar bearing capacity like a natural diamond. The wholesale price starts from the range of $50,000 for 1-2 carat.

Most mined diamonds are found as the result of the extensive mining operations that disrupt the ecological balance of our planet. In addition to that, most of these diamonds come from the war-torn nations of Africa and are regarded as the prime funding source for civil wars.

Contrary to all this, man-made diamonds are produced in a controlled research facility by trained technicians and are conflict free. Another advantage of an artificial diamonds is that they cost almost 30% to 40% less than mined ones.