Natural Versus Laboratory-Grown Diamonds

The Difference Between Natural and Laboratory-Grown Diamonds

Diamonds are a crystalline form of carbon. Natural diamonds were formed in the Earth's upper mantle, when high temperatures and pressures caused carbon intrusions to crystallize into diamonds. These diamonds were then brought towards the Earth's surface via pipes or "diatremes" that were created through upward volcanic activity. The "youngest" diamonds appear to be 900 million years old and the oldest may be more than three billion years old.

Laboratory-grown diamonds are produced in a facility, either using high pressure and high temperature (HPHT) to synthesize carbon into a diamond by mimicking the Earth's natural processes, or produced layer by layer using hydrocarbon gas in a process known as chemical vapor deposition (CVD). While a laboratory-grown diamond is essentially the same as a natural diamond in its composition, physical, and optical properties, there are differences that a skilled gemologist can readily detect with special equipment and sometimes even under a microscope.

Detecting the Difference Between a Natural and a Laboratory-Grown Diamond

Often, there's no difference to the naked eye between natural and laboratory-grown diamonds. You need special equipment and advanced gemological knowledge that can be found through a qualified gemological laboratory such as AGS Laboratories. AGS Laboratories offers a Natural Diamond Verification Service in order to serve this need. Through this service, AGS Laboratories can determine if your diamond is a natural or laboratory-grown diamond. The resulting report is a card-sized document verifying the results, which is helpful when you sell, or resell, diamonds.

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