Laboratory-grown diamond seeds are small pieces of natural diamond used as the starting point for the growth of lab-created diamonds. These seeds act as the foundation upon which the new diamond crystals form. During the diamond growth process, the lab-grown diamond seeds are placed in a growth cell or a vacuum chamber, depending on the method used (HPHT or CVD). Carbon atoms from a carbon source are then added, and under controlled conditions of high pressure and high temperature (HPHT) or chemical vapour deposition (CVD), the carbon atoms accumulate and deposit onto the seed. As more carbon atoms join the existing lattice structure of the seed, the lab-grown diamond crystal gradually grows layer by layer until the desired size is achieved. The use of natural diamond seeds ensures that the resulting lab-grown diamonds have the same crystal structure and properties as mined diamonds, making them virtually indistinguishable without specialised equipment.