Hyde Park Blog

The CVD diamonds are diamonds created in a laboratory to imitate natural diamonds. They are a great alternative to natural diamonds since it is hard to tell them apart from natural diamonds. How so? CVD diamonds are created to have similar physical, optical, and chemical properties as natural diamonds. You will not only need a professional to identify the difference but also a technique tool.

CVD diamonds are created through a process known as Chemical Vapor Deposition, one of the two processes of making lab-grown diamonds. The process involves breaking down natural gas such as methane into carbon atoms, making a diamond. The other method is High-Pressure High Temperature (HPHT).

Characteristics Of A CVD Diamond

• They are identical to natural diamonds optically, chemically, and physically.
• Have inclusions, just like natural diamonds. It is rare to find a flawless CVD diamond.
• CVD diamonds are hard with a durability of 10 on the Mohs scale.
• They are also graded using the 4Cs by certified professional labs, just like natural diamonds.
• Professional labs encrypt a specific code on the CVD diamond and its certificate for identification.

History Of CVD Diamonds

General Electric produced the first lab-grown diamond one year after the first CVD diamond patent was issued in 1954. De Beers later bought the HPHT technology. The technology disappeared for a while and later laid a foundation for creating the first CVD diamond in the 1980s.

The Process of Making CVD Diamonds

The step-by-step process of making CVD diamonds involves professionals working in a laboratory.

• The first step is selecting a thin diamond seed and placing it in a sealed chamber.
• The second step is heating the sealed chamber to about 800 °C as you flood it with carbon-rich gas.
• The gas is ionized to pure carbon.
• The pure carbon then attaches to the selected diamond seed.
• The last step is to continue with the process until it yields a total diamond. Depending on the diamond specifications, the process could take 5-10 days or even 6-8 weeks.

Identifying A CVD Diamond

Due to its similarities to natural diamonds, it is essential to know how to identify a CVD diamond. The following tools will be beneficial;

• Diamond View machine- it is a machine that will observe the CVD diamond under heavy ultraviolet light. It will turn dark red under a CVD diamond.
• Microscope- the machine observes the chemical patterns and structures of a gemstone.
• Ultraviolet lamp- its UV light will turn blue when observing a CVD diamond.
• Diamond tester- this test identifies electrical conductivity, of which a CVD diamond will have a unique one.

Grading And Certification Of CVD Diamonds

Grading

Due to its similarities to natural diamonds, CVD diamonds are also graded using the 4Cs of quality by certified labs such as GIA and IGI. The 4Cs of quality are color, carat, cut, and clarity. They define their value hence their price.

Certification

From the grading, the professional labs certify the CVD diamonds with unique codes encrypted on the stone's girdle. The codes are only viewable under high magnification. The same codes are also input in the digital or manual certificates. The code contains information about the diamond's origin and grading.

Advantages and Disadvantages Of CVD Diamonds

Advantages

• Compared to natural diamonds, lab grown diamonds are less expensive.
• They are free from mining-related conflicts such as human rights violations and child labor abuse.
• They have scintillation, brilliance, and fire.
• They are eco-friendly since they are created in an engineered environment in the laboratory and not mining.
• They can be made in different sizes, colors, and shapes.
• They take lesser time compared to natural diamonds. They are created in 6-8 weeks, while natural diamonds are formed over the years.

Disadvantages

• CVD diamonds are not widely available since they are less popular than natural diamonds.
• They are available in very few brands.

Where To Buy A CVD Diamond

CVD diamond is a great option for your jewelry. With all their advantages, why not buy one? We have wedding bands, engagement rings, promise rings, bracelets, earrings, studs, and many other jewelries for you to buy. We have properly graded and certified CVD diamonds for you to choose from at Hyde Park Jewelers. Contact us to start your shopping today!