HISTORY

Scientists have attempted to recreate the miracle of diamonds for over 100 years. Nobel Prize recipient, Henri Moissan, thought he had discovered a technique to produce diamond in 1901, but that wasn’t the case. The actual stone he created still bears his name, Moissanite. In the early 1950’s, H. Tracy Hall joined General Electric's "Project Superpressure." Their focus was to synthesize diamond in the lab using high pressure science, Hall's area of expertise. His team succeeded in growing diamond and today he is known as the pioneering father of grown diamonds. Their early successes, while pivotal, only yielded low quality crystals unsuitable for jewelry. It was not until very recently that growing gem quality diamonds became possible.

PROCESS

Lab diamonds begin their journey in a chamber designed to mimic the conditions of earth’s interior when it first formed diamond. It begins with a seed diamond crystal surrounded by carbon solids or gas. Over time, and under intense heat and pressure this carbon adheres to the seed crystal and grows larger. Throughout this process the crystal is subject to the same influences that make all diamonds unique. They all have their own fingerprint and their size, color and clarity cannot be pre-determined.

So, are they diamonds…? YES! They are identical to mined diamonds both chemically and gemologically.

HOW DO YOU TELL THE DIFFERENCE?

SIGNIFICANCE

ARE THEY BETTER FOR THE EARTH?

DO GROWN DIAMONDS COST LESS THAN MINED DIAMONDS?