Lab grown diamonds are identical – in chemical, physical, and optical aspects – to natural diamonds. These diamonds are created and developed in a laboratory, using the same principles of heat and pressure that lead to the formation of natural diamonds under the Earth’s crust. Lab grown diamonds are 100% real diamonds.

There are two main methods for creating diamonds in a laboratory:

1. High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT)
2. CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition)

For high-quality stones, CVD is the most popular method. The process starts with a tiny diamond “seed”, formed by carbon atoms, just like all diamonds.
The seed is placed inside a furnace that transforms natural gas into a carbon plasma that slowly, atom by atom, forms the diamond.
After growing (the process can take up to 12 weeks), the diamonds are then sent to specialized companies and artisans for cutting and polishing for faceting.

The only difference between a natural diamond and a lab grown diamond is the creation process, on one hand a natural process that takes millions or billions of years, on the other a technological process – much faster – carried out by humans in a laboratory.
Certified lab-produced diamonds are graded on the same 4 C scale (cut, clarity, color, carats) by gemological laboratories, making them entirely comparable to natural diamonds.

Only a qualified gemologist can be able to distinguish between a natural diamond and a lab-grown one through inspection. The best way to know the difference is to purchase a diamond certified by an accredited laboratory such as GIA or IGI.

IGI (International Gemological Institute) and GIA (Gemological Institute of America) are the most important gemological laboratories that grade and certify diamonds.
Both produce certifications that accurately evaluate diamonds – both natural and laboratory-grown – according to the 4 main parameters (cut, color, clarity, and carat weight). Additionally, the certifications also report accurate information on proportions, inclusions, fluorescence, and symmetry.

Being created in a laboratory, our diamonds are free from conflicts, corruption, and worker abuse generally associated with mining sites. Moreover, they are not responsible for reckless exploitation of the land.

Depending on the size, a laboratory-produced diamond can cost up to 70% less than a natural diamond with the same characteristics.

Diamonds (natural or lab grown) are evaluated through 4 parameters, known as the 4Cs from the initials of the English terms, namely:

CUT – Not to be confused with the shape of the diamond (round, oval, heart-shaped, etc.), this parameter refers to the quality of the diamond’s angles, proportions, facet symmetry, brilliance, and finish.
Cut grades can range from “fair” to “excellent”, the higher the cut quality, the greater the amount of light returned to the observer, thus the brilliance of the stone.

COLOUR – Although at first glance diamonds may appear colorless, the presence of small nitrogen atoms within their structure can cause a more or less intense shade of yellow color.
Diamonds are classified on a scale from D to Z, where D represents the most colorless stones and Z those with the greatest presence of yellow tints.

Beyond the Z grade, for particularly intense shades, we speak of fancy colors

CLARITY – The process of creating diamonds (whether natural or artificial) can produce a variety of internal characteristics called “inclusions” and external characteristics defined as “blemishes”. Evaluating the clarity of a diamond means determining the quantity, size, relief, nature, and position of these “imperfections” and how they affect the overall appearance of the stone.

Diamonds are classified according to the following scale of values:

• IF (Internally Flawless) – no inclusions visible at 10x magnification
• VERY, VERY SLIGHTLY INCLUDED (VVS1 and VVS2)
• VERY SLIGHTLY INCLUDED (VS1 and VS2)
• SLIGHTLY INCLUDED (SI 1 and SI 2)
• INCLUDED (I 1, I 2, I 3) – inclusions are evident at 10x magnification and may affect the transparency and brilliance of the stone

Most inclusions and blemishes are too small to be seen by anyone other than a gemologist. To the naked eye, a VS1 and an SI2 may look the same even though the differences in quality are significant.

CARAT (weight) – The weight of diamonds and precious stones is measured in carats (ct).
The proportion between grams and carats is as follows: 0.2 g = 1 ct or 1 g = 5 ct

Another unit of measurement used in the diamond trade is the “point”, which is used for stones weighing less than a carat. The proportions are as follows: 1 point = 0.01 ct therefore 100 points = 1 ct

The weight (mass) of a diamond is measured using precision scales capable of measuring to the fourth decimal place (with a tolerance of +/- 0.0001 g).