Synthetic diamonds


Today, the conditions that formed diamonds millions of years ago can be reproduced in a laboratory. Man-made diamonds are manufactured by subjecting pure carbon to intense heat and pressure in a simulation of the organic process.

To the naked eye, these synthetic diamonds are indistinguishable from natural ones and display the same chemical structure and physical properties as mined diamonds.

They are as durable, have the same lustre as actual diamonds, retain their brilliance forever and cost less. Laboratory-grown diamonds are not simulants like cubic zirconia or moissanite.

Nearly all synthetic diamonds produced per year are for industrial use.

Natural diamonds, however, remain the premium product. Identification and appropriate classification is key to ensure that customer confidence in natural diamonds is not eroded, and equipment has been developed that is able to detect synthetics with 100% accuracy.

Synthetic diamonds are also required to be separately certified, a key industry control, which helps cement consumer confidence in the industry.

Did you know?

The synthesised material known as cubic zirconia is a crystalline form of zirconium dioxide (ZrO2). It is at times in competition with diamonds because as well as being hard, optically flawless and colourless, it is also durable and cheap.