Scroll down to learn more about where diamonds come from
Mined Diamonds
How diamonds are grown in nature
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Lab-Grown Diamonds
How diamonds are grown in a laboratory
What is a diamond?
Diamonds are crystals made up of carbon atoms arranged in a particular way. The arrangement of these atoms is what gives diamond its unique physical and optical properties. While graphite is also made up entirely of carbon atoms, it is soft enough to write with; whereas, diamond is so hard it can only be scratched by another diamond. Carbon atoms only arrange themselves into the unique structure needed to create diamonds under very specific conditions.
Diamond structure seen on the left and graphite on the right
How diamonds form in nature
Diamonds are created approx. 100 miles beneath the earth's surface under immense heat and pressure
They then make their way to the surface over millions of years through volcanic activity
How diamonds are formed in a laboratory
High Pressure/ High Temperature
This process replicates the conditions that cause diamond formation in nature
Chemical Vapor Deposition
Hydro-carbon gas is superheated into plasma which releases carbon atoms that rain down onto a slice of diamond. These atoms attach to the existing crystal structure, and this causes the diamond to grow in vertical layers
These processes create different looking diamond rough
However, once cut and polished the result is a beautiful stone that is 100% a diamond
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