Lab-grown diamonds are created using advanced technology in controlled laboratory environments. Two main methods are employed: High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) and Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD). In the HPHT process, a small natural diamond seed is placed in a growth cell with a carbon source, and the cell is subjected to high pressure and temperature. This environment enables carbon atoms to dissolve in a metal solvent and then precipitate onto the seed, forming a diamond crystal over several weeks or months. In the CVD method, a diamond seed is placed in a vacuum chamber, and a mixture of hydrogen and carbon-containing gases is introduced. By activating the gases with energy sources, carbon atoms deposit on the seed, resulting in diamond growth layer by layer. After either process, the lab-grown diamonds are cut, polished, and graded following the same standards as mined diamonds. The finished lab-grown diamonds are physically, chemically, and optically identical to natural diamonds, indistinguishable without specialised equipment.
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