Lab Diamonds

The diamond is one of nature’s ultimate creations. With some diamond deposits estimated as much as a billion years old they are one of the earth’s oldest and rarest miracles. They are highly prized, expensive, extremely hard and have many uses besides being beautiful. This is probably why man has strived to produce lab diamonds to supplement nature’s gifts in a controlled environment. Since the early 19th century scientists have struggled to reproduce the extremes of heat and pressure required to turn carbon into diamonds. This is almost a modern type of alchemy if you like.

The breakthrough date for synthetic diamonds came on December 16 in 1954 by Tracy Hall at GE. The principles of his machine, the belt press and anvil are still the foundation for today’s commercial machines. With temperatures exceeding 2000 degrees Celsius, lab created diamonds are a commercially viable entity and have produced many benefits across the world.

Perhaps the one new benefit that could be realized from the production of lab diamonds is in the alleviation of human suffering. Natural diamonds have to be mined from huge depths, with most of the sources being in developing countries. Let’s just say safety and decent conditions and pay may not be a priority for mine owners and many die every year in an attempt to support their families. On top of that diamonds from some areas have been used to fund wars. These blood diamonds or conflict diamonds are banned worldwide and it is illegal to sell or buy them. This does not stop them finding a market all the same. Lab diamonds help to provide a cheaper and less dangerous source of diamonds, undermining and de-valuing many natural sources. This can only be of benefit to those affected.

Cultured diamonds contribute to many aspects of our lives. They are used in lasers for all sorts of industrial and medical applications. Many uses are already part of our every day lives, such as diamond tipped drills, diamond coated saws and abrasion wheels, cutting tools, heat sinks, the list goes on and on. There is probably very few areas of activity diamonds like these do not contribute to. Of course when we mention lab grown diamonds, jewelry is a major market for them and rapidly expanding. Looking and behaving just like natural diamonds, lab diamonds are used in diamond engagement rings, pendants and necklaces with increasing popularity due to their significantly lower price. The lab diamonds vs real diamonds debate is a very heated one amoung fashion experts. Lab created diamond rings are just as beautiful as the rings made with diamonds that have been excavated from mines.

But of more surprise is the new ways lab diamonds jewelry are being used to produce a personal touch, with built in memory, to jewelry. If you loose a loved one, be it human or pet, it is now possible to have their ashes made into a diamond and set into a piece of jewelry as a permanent memorial. Usually their name is inscribed on one of the gems facets as well. Some companies offer this for the living as well. Send the right amount of carbon containing hair for instance and you will have an engraved diamond back within 30 days. This is quite a remarkable use for such a simple idea.