Lab Grown Diamonds

Lab grown diamonds are, as the name suggests, diamonds that are not obtained by conventional methods but are grown in the laboratory.

Reason for the boom in the synthetic diamond industry is that "regular" diamonds are not resource-friendly and are difficult to obtain. But until now it was more or less impossible to produce diamonds synthetically, because you could easily distinguish them from conventional ones and they were not really perceived as appealing.

Scientists have only recently been able to artificially produce high-quality diamonds using special technologies. As a result, stones with several carats are now artificially grown, which are suitable for large and small diamond rings due to their size. This technique has so far proven itself so well that nowadays artificially produced diamonds can hardly be distinguished from the real ones.

Traditional diamonds were formed millions of years ago, deep within the earth, hundreds of kilometers below the earth's crust. Under great pressure and in the presence of scorching heat, carbon atoms form a solid crystal lattice and form rough diamonds. During volcanic eruptions they are transported to the surface of the earth. That is why rough diamonds are also found in the rocks of extinct volcanoes.

Generally, the process is that during a pressure equalization of a volcanic eruption, hot diamond-bearing magma slowly flows to the earth's surface from great depths. Ultimately, this is how the diamonds reach the surface, where they are accessible to humans. However, this natural process of formation also describes a risky procurement of diamonds, which is why more and more manufacturers are switching to laboratory-grown diamonds.

Another key point about lab grown diamonds is that they are much more sustainable. The reason for this is that they can be obtained without conflict and thus have a positive impact on the environment and society.

In order to be able to produce diamonds in the laboratory, you first need the smallest diamond chips. The method for this is called “Chemical Vapor Deposition” (CVD) and is still relatively new. Compared to the traditional method, CVD has proven to be very promising and, according to the renowned Gemological Institute of America (GIA), promises major improvements, especially in terms of quality and manufacturing costs.

The new method involves placing a fragment in a vacuum room filled with hydrogen and methane for eight weeks. These substances then become plasma, which is ionized gas. Highly charged carbon atoms then settle on the splinter, causing it to begin to grow. Once the stone has reached a certain size, it is processed in another chamber with laser beams to remove the “seed stone” and give the new diamond a cut.

A clear, chemical process that has proven very effective. Since the chemically grown diamonds can hardly be distinguished from real ones, the artificial stones are certified by testing centers such as the International Gemological Institute after they have been cut. There you will receive the microscopic label “grown in the laboratory” and a serial number.

Our conclusion: We at Elli are committed to sustainable products and production processes. That's why we're all the more pleased that we can offer you jewelry with sustainable, laboratory-grown diamonds.

BY KIRA