Laboratory-created diamonds, or lab created diamonds, are created in a controlled environment using advanced technology. This environment allows the gemologists to control the color, clarity, and other characteristics of the diamond. The color of lab created diamonds is one of the most important aspects, and it is graded on a scale from D to Z.
The color of natural diamonds is determined by the amount and type of impurities found in the crystal. For example, a diamond with a yellow tint can be caused by the presence of nitrogen. However, lab created diamonds do not have these impurities, and their color is determined by the chemical composition of the growth solution used to create them.
The most common method for creating colored lab diamonds is called High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) method, which includes adding impurities to the growth solution. For example, if boron is added, a blue lab diamond may be produced. The concentration of the added impurities determines the intensity of the color.
Another method for creating colored lab diamonds is Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD), where a thin layer of diamond is grown on top of a substrate. The substrate is infused with boron, nitrogen, or other elements to produce the desired color. The concentration of the infused elements determines the intensity of the color.
Once the lab created diamonds are grown, color grading is conducted using the same scale as with natural diamonds. The process is performed by gemologists and involves studying the diamond under controlled lighting conditions to determine the presence and intensity of color.
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA), which is a leading diamond grading authority, grades lab created diamonds in the same way as natural diamonds. Each diamond is thoroughly examined under controlled conditions to identify the colors and any variations present. The GIA, as well as other leading diamond grading authorities, recognize that lab created diamonds can have the same quality, beauty, and rarity as natural diamonds.
Despite the lack of impurities present in lab created diamonds, they can still have a wide range of hues. Colors can range from white, to yellow, to pink, blue, green, and even black. The color intensity can also vary from
