| There are many benefits to cultured diamonds. | | | | value of these gems. The properties of cultured |
| But first a brief definition of what they are. | | | | diamonds depend on the manufacturing process |
| Cultured diamonds, also known as "synthetic," are | | | | used to produce it, but in general are higher than |
| diamond crystals that are produced by a | | | | mother nature's version. Cultured diamonds are |
| technological process, as opposed to a natural | | | | formed just as mother nature would make them, |
| diamond, which is produced by geological process. | | | | except in a much more controlled environment, |
| Most cultured diamonds are produced by chemical | | | | allowing for a consistently higher quality diamond. |
| vapor deposition, which is a method of growing | | | | The second major benefit over a natural diamond |
| them by creating the environment and | | | | is that they are often much less expensive. The |
| circumstances necessary for carbon atoms in a | | | | typical price of cultured or synthetic diamonds is a |
| gas to settle on a diamond substrate in the | | | | small fraction of a natural, making them an |
| correct crystalline form. They can also be | | | | affordable alternative, while sacrificing none of the |
| referred to as "man made" diamonds. | | | | benefits of a natural diamond. It's much like the |
| Brief Historyin their pioneering work in the area, | | | | difference between using recycled paper and not. |
| the Japanese passed a mixture of | | | | Both are paper, but one is beneficial to the |
| carbon-containing gas (methane in their case) and | | | | environment. You aren't sacrificing quality by using |
| hydrogen into a quartz tube at a pressure of 0.05 | | | | recycled paper, but you are most assuredly |
| atmospheres. Using microwaves the mixture was | | | | offending a purist somewhere. |
| heated to 800 °C, disassociating both the | | | | Lastly, another benefit to purchasing synthetic |
| methane and hydrogen into elemental forms. The | | | | diamonds is color. Fancy color diamonds are rare |
| carbon is deposited on a substrate, the majority | | | | in nature making them prohibitively expensive. |
| as graphite but a very small proportion as | | | | Cultured diamonds can often be colored and sized |
| diamond crystal. the graphite is 'removed' by the | | | | to the liking of the customer. |
| hydrogen leaving a thin layer of diamond, initially | | | | Years ago, your mother would have shrieked at |
| the layer was around 25μm in thickness. | | | | the thought of a man made diamond. But |
| The Benefits | | | | nowadays, they are becoming more and more |
| There are many benefits of a cultured diamond | | | | common and the benefits are hard to pass up. So |
| over a natural diamond. The first benefit is quality. | | | | when you are considering your next diamond |
| Mother nature has rarely produced a flawless | | | | purchase, make sure to keep cultured diamonds |
| diamond and is the reason why clarity and | | | | as one of your many options. |
| inclusions are a major part of determining the | | | | |