Lab-grown diamonds account for about 10% of the global diamond industry. The market size of the worldwide diamond industry was $79 billion in 2019. However, it shrunk to $68 billion in 2020 due to supply chain issues caused by the pandemic.
Lab-grown diamonds have so many names. It is also known as man-made diamonds, cultured diamonds, or synthetic diamonds. And there is a growing interest in lab-grown diamonds due to increased consumer education. By 2025, the lab-grown diamond market value will reach over $29 billion as reports say.
It gets you bigger diamond stones for less money than naturally mined diamonds. So, if you wish to surprise your significant other with an unforgettable wedding proposal, they can come in handy. They have the same quality as natural mined alternatives.
Also, they are more appealing as eco-friendly since they don’t involve interference of natural biodiversity to mine. Cultured diamonds are also a solution to conflict diamonds that have destabilized mining communities like Sierra Leone and DR Congo.
However, you need specialized training to produce quality lab-grown diamonds similar to natural ones. The increasing market value of cultured diamonds makes production courses vital to tap into the growth.
The article highlights the benefits of lab-grown diamond courses and how they’re beneficial.
What are Lab-Grown Diamonds
Lab-grown diamonds are produced or “grown” in the lab using advanced state-of-the-art technology that mimics the natural diamond growing process. Some people argue that lab-grown diamonds are for the “masses” while naturally mined ones are for “classes.”
Some also deem lab-grown diamonds as “synthetic” or “fake.” As mentioned earlier, lab-grown diamonds have the same quality as natural mined diamonds and are 100% real. They have similar chemical, optical and physical properties as those mined below the earth's surface.
The only difference is origin-one is grown in a lab and another in a natural setting. You can get different lab-grown diamond styles at cheaper rates per carat. However, the quality of lab-grown diamonds depends on the production methods.
The chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method produces the highest quality diamonds. But yellow or brown diamonds produced by high pressure and high temperature (HPHT) methods have less value.
It is also important to note that lab-grown diamonds undergo certification and grading by international standards similar to naturally mined diamonds for quality assurance.
Benefits of Lab-Grown Diamond Courses in 2022
A lab-grown diamond course is important to anyone. Whether you are a valuer, gemmologist, or diamond jewelry enthusiast, you should spot and differentiate lab-grown and mined diamonds. Knowing its grade and other vital properties will help you pay the right price for the diamond.
You do not want to pay premium prices for diamond wedding jewelry that does not match its value. Diamonds, even lab-grown ones, are graded based on 4Cs:
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Carat weight
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Color
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Clarity
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Cut quality of the diamond.
The lab-grown diamond price is finally determined by its grade. The grade is evaluated and assigned certificates by accredited gemological labs like the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Hence, you can know that you’re paying for the right value diamond with the right grading certificate.
Below are some of the benefits of lab-grown diamonds courses:
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Understand the Sparkling History of Lab-Grown Diamonds
The first step of learning anything is by knowing its past or origin. But, the past does not necessarily dictate the future. The lab-grown courses will help grasp the history of laboratory-grown diamonds.
Lab-grown diamonds started just before World War II. The war paused progress but later picked up traction with significant development. Initially, mimicking the natural diamond formation process in the lab was costly, expensive, and low quality. But, it has improved over time.
Lab-grown diamonds offer two main solutions. It breaks the prohibitive costs that bar people from owning diamonds. You can now purchase any diamond type, including wedding jewelry, at relatively cheap rates.
It also addresses conflict diamonds that undermine economies, political stability, and the environment of mining communities. In short, lab-grown diamonds are killing two birds with one stone.
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Learn Current Lab Production Technologies
Lab-grown diamonds undergo different methods to achieve the quality and sparkle you see at the store. The training course exposes you to theoretical concepts and practical operation of these methods. Currently, there are two methods for producing lab-grown diamonds.
Current methods grow mostly diamond seeds like graphite into gem diamonds using temperature and pressure. The high pressure/high temperature (HPHT) method subjects the diamond seed to excessive temperature and pressure. The sheer amount of heat and pressure needed makes it expensive. It also leaves you with yellow diamonds with little clarity and sparkle.
Chemical vapor disposition (CVD) is an alternative method. It uses carbon gas to heat a diamond seed. The carbon then sticks to the seed and grows into a massive diamond. It is achievable in low temperature and pressure conditions hence less expensive. Besides, you can easily grow diamonds with your preferred properties.
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Gain Knowledge of Post-Treatment Process
The HPHT process needs rigorous post-treatment processing for better clarity and grade. Besides, the lab growth may leave some microscopic voids on the diamond that needs to be filled. Post-growth annealing gives a smooth touch to the diamond’s openings.
You will use the irradiation method to improve the optical properties of the lab-grown diamond. It is common on colored diamonds. All naturally colored diamonds have been exposed to radiation, giving them their colorful hues. For lab-grown diamonds, you can achieve the same using irradiation.
You will learn all these theoretical processes for lab-grown diamonds. Also, the lab-grown courses will expose you to the practical application of these production methods. So, you will get hands-on skills on post-treatment of lab-grown diamonds.
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Help You Identify Lab-Grown Diamonds
You can hardly spot the difference between natural diamonds and lab-grown ones using naked eyes. Natural diamonds have some traces of nitrogen while lab-grown diamonds don’t. There are other signifiers that gemologists use to differentiate them.
Knowing these signifiers will help you identify whether what you’re buying is a diamond or not. Besides, you will learn various grading standards and certificates assigned to lag-grown diamonds. Collectively, it helps you know the type and quality of a diamond. You can evaluate whether the diamond gems you are buying are worth the asking price.
Take Away
As a diamond gem enthusiast, taking a lab-grown diamond course is vital. It enriches your knowledge base and gets your value for money when buying a lab-grown diamond of choice. Also, you’ll know and apply the latest lab-grown diamond production techniques.
You should be able to identify and differentiate lab-grown diamonds from the rest. Lab-grown diamond courses can come in handy.
