About Mark Reyes, G.G.
Mark Reyes is the Lead Instructor for IGI North America, designing and teaching diamond, gem and jewelry grading workshops, seminars & webinars and coordinating online learning for IGI clients across all sectors.View all posts by Mark Reyes, G.G.
Is cultured diamond a real thing?
Yes and no. In France, for example, that term is specifically prohibited by the government. In fact the term “lab grown diamond,” which is in common use in America, is also prohibited. In France, the land of wine and fashion, you must not use cultured or lab grown. You must say “synthetic diamond.”
There are other geographies where that term would be a head-scratcher at least and is completely prohibited at most. In the USA it’s permissible to use “cultured diamond,” according to the Federal Trade Commission, as long as there is clear and conspicuous disclosure conveying that the diamond is not mined. To that end, these gemstones are far more commonly referred to as “lab grown diamonds,” “synthetic diamonds,” or “manmade diamonds.”
Let’s take a journey into the world of lab grown diamonds, where science meets sparkle, and brilliance blooms in laboratories rather than deep within the Earth’s embrace.
Picture this: a mad scientist’s laboratory, complete with bubbling beakers, crackling machines, and a hint of logic in the air. But instead of concocting potions, our brilliant scientists are cooking up something truly extraordinary: Diamonds!
Like created pearls, the term cultured simply means humans have had a hand in their creation.
Lab grown diamonds use only one element which is carbon. Other Synthesized gemstones use multiple elements in their synthesis. Lab Grown Ruby and Sapphire are a good example.
Lab grown diamonds, aka cultured diamonds, are created through two primary methods: High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD). They have the same chemical composition and crystal structure as natural diamonds. They are both composed of carbon atoms arranged in a cubic crystal lattice structure, which gives diamonds their exceptional hardness and brilliance.
What’s fascinating is the variety of diamonds that can be produced. Depending on what recipe is used, you can end up with vastly different treasures. There are many different colors that can be created, from yellows to blues to fiery reds.
Advances in technology have made it possible to produce cultured diamonds that are virtually indistinguishable from natural diamonds in terms of appearance and quality. These diamonds are graded using the same criteria by gemological laboratories.
In summary, “cultured diamond” is a term that may or may not be permitted by local trade regulations. When allowed, it refers to diamonds produced in a laboratory setting using advanced technological processes. The potential for engineered diamonds extends into the realms of technology and medicine. For instance, researchers are exploring their use in quantum computing and data storage. In medicine, diamonds could be used for drug delivery and as a biocompatible material for implants. Also, these diamonds are used in many industrial applications, one of them is electronics. But we will save that discussion for another time.
For more information on what some countries call cultured diamonds, visit our website’s section on lab grown diamonds. Their resources provide invaluable insights into the world of gemology, helping you deepen your understanding of this fascinating field.