Lab grown diamonds

As a gemologist and jewelry designer, my journey has been a continuous exploration of beauty. I have worked with natural diamonds and admired their origin and charm. I have also embraced the innovation of laboratory-grown diamonds, an option that expands possibilities in jewelry.

In my atelier I celebrate the beauty of all diamonds, each with its own story and value. The choice depends on you: your values, your dreams and your budget.

What is a laboratory-grown diamond? A laboratory-grown diamond is a genuine diamond with the same chemical composition (pure carbon), crystal lattice (cubic/face-centered cubic), optical properties (refractive index ~2.42, strong dispersion) and hardness (10 on the Mohs scale) as a mined diamond. The only difference is the origin: formed in a controlled environment rather than over geological timescales.

How are they produced? Main methods:

• HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature): Graphitic carbon or diamond seed is exposed to pressures >5 GPa and temperatures >1,300 °C, inducing carbon to crystallize into diamond mimicking mantle conditions.
• CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition): A carbon-rich gas (e.g., methane/hydrogen mix) is activated in a low-pressure chamber; carbon atoms deposit onto a diamond seed, forming layers that grow into a single-crystal diamond. CVD allows precise control over growth conditions and impurity levels.

Technical considerations:

• Purity and colour: Growth environment and post-growth treatments determine nitrogen/boron impurities and resulting colour (D–Z scale) or type (Type IIa, etc.).
• Inclusions and defects: Natural vs lab-grown diamonds have different inclusion signatures (metal flux or strain patterns for HPHT; growth sector patterns for CVD). Both can be graded by standard gemological labs.
• Traceability: Laboratory diamonds can be produced with known provenance and are often easier to certify for origin sourcing.

Why choose a lab-grown diamond?

• Better size/quality for a given budget.
• Identical optical and physical properties to natural diamonds.
• Greater traceability and often a smaller environmental/social footprint, depending on practices.

My aim is to help you choose the diamond that aligns with your values and style. Whether a natural diamond with ancient history or an innovative lab-grown stone, I will help you find the jewel that makes you feel special.

Schedule a consultation and let’s talk about your dreams.