What is the difference between synthetic diamonds VS real diamonds

While there are several types of precious gems used in the jewelry market, the supremacy and elegance of diamonds will always remain unparallel and unmatched. These sparkling gems come in varied shapes, sizes, and color combinations, which is why they are most preferred in making a wide range of accessories and jewelry products. Furthermore, they seamlessly accentuate the beauty of the metal structure by adding more value to the aesthetics of the jewelry piece and casting a bright, shiny illumination.

Despite being so precious, buying the real diamonds is not possible for everyone, owing to the whopping high costs. Therefore, choosing synthetic diamonds seems to be a far rational option, especially when they resemble the real diamonds and bring equal benefits, if not more. Since not everyone is aware of the major distinguishing features between the real and synthetic diamonds, we have curated a comparative guide below. This will help you understand the key differences between these two gem categories and choose the right one for you. 

What are the price factors for real and synthetic diamonds?

Considering the real and synthetic diamond price rates will help you further determine their differences. Firstly, natural diamonds are formed over a period of one to three billion years, which means that the existing reserve of the gem is quite short in volume. Furthermore, extraction of the material from earth’s crust is a long-term and risky process, which is why the availability of crude diamonds for polishing and cutting is scarce. Due to shorter supply chain, the number of diamonds available in the market for end users is small, thereby having a higher price rate. 

But if we consider the lab-grown or synthetic diamonds, they do not take so long time to take the shape. As a result, the availability of the material is more along the entire supply chain, which is why the price index is much lower than the natural diamonds. These can be easily made in special laboratories, without having to bear the overheads of mining, transportation, and so on. Owing to all these reasons, the lab grown diamond price is pretty less than the real ones, and hence you won’t have to worry about a dent forming in your pocket.

How are lab diamonds created?

Synthetic diamonds in India are curated in the laboratories under special conditions that mimic the original environmental conditions needed to form the real gems. Ideally, there are two processes through which these are manufactured artificially, including:

• HTHP technique: In this, a small mined diamond is placed inside a chamber, after which the temperature and pressure are increased to an extent where the interior of the chamber can resemble the natural environment. It facilitates the deposition of hardened carbon atoms on the mined diamond as it continues to grow to take the shape of the gem. Based on the physical factors, different types of synthetic diamonds are formed, and these can be classified based on their color and hues. 
• CVD technique: This is a more refined approach where a gas is released into the chamber with the mined diamond. The temperature is increased to a point where the gas converts into plasma and starts releasing carbon atoms. These carbon atoms fuse and form hardened layers on top of the mined diamond to form the synthetic diamonds. 

At the core of these two techniques, a natural diamond seed is to be used , which is then grown into a full-fledged diamond through artificial methods. Due to the involvement of chemical and physical processes, there might be some inclusions in the synthetic diamonds in their crude form. However, once polished and cut, they do resemble the natural diamonds in every sense, which is why differentiating them with naked eyes seems to be excruciatingly painful. 

Origin of real diamonds

As the name implies, real diamonds are formed in nature, usually in the coal mines. When carbon is subjected to extremely high pressure and temperature, it hardens and crystallizes to form strong carbon-carbon bonds. The crystal lattice takes the shape of a tetrahedron, which ultimately results in the formation of crude diamonds. These are usually formed over a period of one to three billion years and found deep inside the earth’s surface, approximately at a depth of 90 to 120 miles from the crust. The diamonds travel to shallower depths through molten lava during volcanic eruptions, which is why they are quarried at coal mines and excavation grounds on volcanic lands. 

What are the advantages of real diamonds?

1. The value of natural diamonds increases with time due to price inflation, which is why it is often considered as an investment.
2. Natural diamonds with higher clarity and purity indices are considered to be most valuable as they are found in rare places on the earth surface.
3. Colored natural diamonds are considered a great asset because of the rarity of their chemical compositions, which impart a hue within the gem’s crystal lattice. 

Benefits of lab-grown diamonds

1. Without a doubt, synthetic diamonds are cost-effective alternatives for the natural gems, which is why jewelry products and accessories made with them are highly affordable. 
2. Customizing synthetic diamonds is much easier than the natural ones, which is yet another benefit you can enjoy with the former.
3. Since the same environmental conditions are maintained to manufacture the synthetic diamonds, they retain all the physical and chemical properties of the natural diamonds. 

Conclusion

In this article, we have clearly established the difference between synthetic diamonds and the ones formed in nature. While both might look similar at a glance, they do have significant differences which can be understood through special examination techniques. Nevertheless, if you want to have lab grown diamond jewellery for yourself, Ayaani Diamonds is the one-stop destination.