High-quality artificial diamond: history of the mineral, what properties it has, where it is used, how to distinguish it from a real stone, photo

Diamond has been known to mankind for a very long time (more than three billion years). Why is he so famous? This stone has always been in great demand. It is known for its durability, extraordinary shine and is used to make jewelry that has a very high value. It is no coincidence that scientists around the world have long been working on creating artificial diamonds that are as similar as possible to the original and even surpass it in certain parameters.

Today, the creation of artificial diamonds has become a successful business that satisfies the demand for this mineral.

From the history of artificial diamonds

Natural diamonds can be found on all continents of the globe, but man-made diamonds were created not so long ago.

The possibility of obtaining a synthetic diamond was first discussed in 1797, when they came to a conclusion about the carbon composition of the mineral. At the end of the 19th century, chemists from Scotland and France tried to obtain diamonds from carbon, matte black graphite.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the English scientist William Crookes conducted a similar experiment, and in 1926 the first artificial diamond was created, but such a stone could not be put into production due to its characteristics. Now it is on display as an exhibit in the Museum of the United States of America (in Kansas).

A little later (in the thirties of the twentieth century), our physicists made all the necessary calculations to obtain a diamond, but they were tested in practice by the American scientist Tracy Hall, who used a high-pressure apparatus that turned graphite into a diamond. This significant event occurred in December 1954.

Production and sale of synthetic - laboratory diamonds CVD and HPHT

In Russia, in new Moscow, there is a unique place where real miracles happen. Here, in one of the technological institutes, diamonds are grown under the supervision of scientists. Usually nature takes billions of years to create these precious stones, and very rarely truly valuable stones are obtained, without many impurities, with excellent characteristics. Over billions of years, many factors interfere with the process and spoil the final result. But people have learned to grow perfect diamonds in laboratory conditions. And today you will learn how this magical process happens.

Diamonds are the strongest materials in nature. They can be preserved for as long as desired without being destroyed. This means that diamonds can be used in the production of various microcircuits, and grandma's diamond (cut diamond) ring will sparkle as brightly as when she was young, even after several generations.

By the way, why do diamonds attract so much attention with their brilliance? Among minerals, this stone has the highest refractive index of light, which is why it is able to shimmer in all colors.

How are diamonds grown? The farm uses the HPHT (high-pressurehigh-temperature) method. This is a development of Russian scientists, which is recognized throughout the world. In nature, diamonds are formed when magma solidifies at a depth of 100 to 200 kilometers. The HPHT method simply imitates the natural process, but significantly speeds it up. To grow diamonds, the temperature in special containers is maintained at approximately 1,500 degrees Celsius. In addition, the process takes place under high pressure of 50-70 thousand atmospheres.

A molten metal alloy, which usually consists of iron, nickel, cobalt and other metals, and graphite is placed inside the container. A substrate with small diamond crystals – a seed – is placed in the container. Next, an electric current is passed through the chamber, in which the metal serves as a catalyst for the crystallization of carbon on the seed - this is how precious stones grow. On the farm, one large diamond or several small ones grow in 12-13 days. Where to buy CVD or HPHT diamonds? The easiest thing is to choose the stones you like on the website https://hp-ht.ru/ in the catalog and order their delivery. The company sells HPHT diamonds directly from the manufacturer. Therefore, the catalog presents the best prices that cannot be found in other stores.

HPHT diamonds are suitable for jewelers. Stones grown using this method have high characteristics. It is possible to synthesize a diamond of any purity and color at the customer's request. Characteristics can also be varied. For example, some jewelers prefer HPHT diamonds with medium characteristics, which are in commercial demand. But it is also possible to grow ideal HPHT diamonds, which jewelers use to create exclusive collections.

Thanks to their amazing characteristics, HPHT diamonds are confidently conquering international markets. Experts have calculated that by 2035 the volume of production of synthetic diamonds will be equal to the volume of production of natural stones.

In our company, you can buy synthetic (laboratory) CVD diamonds at an attractive price. We guarantee excellent quality and full compliance with the stated characteristics. Our production is located in Russia, so we can easily deliver the stones you need in Moscow, St. Petersburg and to any city in our country and neighboring countries.

Shades of laboratory minerals

Many people are interested in knowing what color lab-grown diamonds can be. Today, artificial stones can take on different shades, but the most common colors are blue, yellow and black. Of course, colorless diamonds are much more valuable, and they can also be grown, but creating such a diamond will take much longer, as it is a very labor-intensive process.

The blue color of the stone is obtained by mixing carbon with bromine. To obtain a yellow diamond, chemists use nitrogen, and to give the diamond a black color, they add nickel.

Artificial Diamond Colors

Crystals formed in natural conditions are distinguished by a rich color palette. This cannot be said about artificial stones. The colors here are not so varied. Despite this, the color of each synthetic mineral is attractive in its own way:

• The most popular color of grown diamonds is white. Externally, such crystals are more similar to natural diamonds than others. However, the process of producing stones is accompanied by difficulties. After all, you need to constantly monitor the conditions in which the mineral is grown. If foreign substances get inside, the shade of the imitation will change, which will affect the market value. Such crystals usually weigh no more than a carat.
• Yellow stones are easier to grow than white ones. The range of shades ranges from bright lemon to rich yellow. Such tones are obtained due to nitrogen impurities. There are synthetic diamonds with a fiery orange color. The weight of yellow gems reaches 2 carats.
• Blue colored stones show shades ranging from heavenly to deep blue. This diversity is achieved through the use of boron in the growing process. Typically, synthetic blue diamonds weigh 1.25 carats.

There are also other colors of artificial stones. Grown black diamonds, for the production of which nickel is used, are famous throughout the world.

The main advantages of synthetic diamond

Cultivated diamonds have properties that make them so popular all over the world. Let us list the main important qualities of such diamonds:

• absence of crystal defects;
• shine of stone;
• purity;
• transparency;
• greatest hardness;
• highest thermal conductivity;
• the presence of impurities to obtain any additional properties.

The most common technologies for growing artificial stone

Several methods for growing synthetic diamonds have been developed in laboratories, but the two most recognized are:

• HPHT technology, in which diamond is grown in a special chamber at very high pressure and temperature of 1400-1600 degrees. This method allows you to grow a diamond in five to seven days.
• CVD technology (based on the use of a gaseous environment): evaporated carbon and oxygen are applied in layers to a diamond seed placed in a low-pressure chamber. Using this method, artificial diamonds of very high quality are obtained, which are difficult to distinguish from real stones. It takes about two days to produce such diamonds.

Distinguishing between natural and synthetic melee diamonds

Progress is still a strange thing. You never know at what angle he can turn a well-known problem so that it becomes the most painful. Synthetic diamonds have been known for a long time. In 2021 and 2021, on the pages of this magazine, we have already discussed how the massive appearance of synthetics could potentially affect the jewelry market. 2021 has made its own adjustments. Now no one has a problem with large synthetic diamonds, whether set in a piece or not. Nowadays, only a very arrogant scammer will try to sell a client jewelry with a one- or two-carat artificial diamond. There are no problems recognizing large stones.

The main misfortune of today is synthetic melee diamonds. Small stones for "sprinkling", with a diameter of 0.6 to 3.5 mm, are sold and bought in the thousands of carats. If synthetics are mixed into such a batch with natural diamonds, then identifying such a mix is ​​incredibly difficult. No magnifying glass or simple thermal and electrical conductivity detectors will help identify fraud. Synthetic diamonds are no different in appearance or physical characteristics from natural stones. To continue the conversation, let’s remember what synthetic diamonds are and what types they come in.

All colorless, shiny stones that may or may not be diamonds and set in your jewelry can be roughly divided into five types:

1. Real natural diamonds, without signs of refining, that is, without obvious human intervention in the natural structure of the stone.

2. Natural diamonds whose color is enhanced using HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature) technology. Not all diamonds are susceptible to this effect. This method is mainly used to improve the color of relatively large natural stones, weighing from 0.5 carats. Visually, such diamonds are no different from untreated ones. The fact of color improvement can only be revealed by laboratory testing.

3. HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature) Synthetic Diamonds. They are completely created by man in special installations. In terms of chemical composition and physical properties, these stones are almost no different from natural diamonds. Until recently, HPHT synthetics had only a few distinctive features. These were mainly unusual luminescence and magnetic metallic inclusions. In ultraviolet light, a special pattern could be seen in such stones - a “cross”, and the luminescence color was usually from yellowish-green to green. However, the improvement of technology has led to the fact that these characteristics do not always appear in modern synthetic diamonds. There may be situations when you get HPHT synthetics without luminescence and without magnetic metallic inclusions.

4. Synthetic diamonds CVD (chemical vapor deposition technology). This is a more modern method of diamond synthesis compared to HPHT. Not many key features of CVD stones are known. This is mainly an unusual fluorescence color (orange), but there are cases where CVD-grown diamonds do not fluoresce at all or show a very real blue tint of natural diamond in short and long ultraviolet light.

5. Synthetic CVD diamonds whose color is enhanced by HPHT. Mainly applied to PT color stones in the GIA 4C color nomenclature for colorless diamonds. With this type of treatment, stones with a noticeable yellow or yellow-brown tint are improved to I GIA color. The hue of fluorescence may change from orange to natural bluish or not quite natural bluish-green. A phosphorescence effect may occur when, after exposure to UV rays, the diamond continues to glow on its own in the dark from several seconds to several tens of minutes.

We will not discuss the option with imitation diamonds in this article, since distinguishing a natural or synthetic diamond from glass, cubic zirconia, moissanite or titanite does not present any problem.

Unfortunately, despite a detailed description of the characteristics of synthetics, none of the listed characteristics allows one to reliably distinguish artificially grown diamonds from natural ones. Only spectral analysis can give an accurate answer. However, such equipment is not available everywhere.

And yet, a reliable key sign of synthetics exists, although it cannot be seen with the naked eye. We are talking about the content and distribution of the chemical elements nitrogen and boron in the diamond crystal lattice. Depending on the presence or absence of nitrogen atoms, as well as the nature of their distribution in the crystal lattice of the mineral, diamond is classified into one of five types. All of them are shown in Table 1.

Table 1. Classification of diamond types according to the content and distribution of nitrogen and boron atoms in the crystal lattice.

Most modern devices distinguish grown stones from natural ones precisely by the type to which the diamond belongs. To put it very simply, if your stone is Type IaA, then there are currently no known problems with this stone and there cannot be any. Any other type of stone (IaB, Ib, IIa, IIb) means that your diamond will need to be examined in a laboratory in more detail, as it may be either natural or synthetic.

The modern market is filled with expensive and cheap devices for rapid examination of stones: screeners and diamond identifiers. There is a big difference between these two types of devices. The screener detects only 100% natural stones of type IaA. In all other cases, the reading of this device will be: “additional research is required.” The identifier gives a complete and detailed answer to the question about the nature of origin and the specific type of diamond. It is quite natural that screeners are in most cases much cheaper than identifiers.

The harsh truth of life is that most often neither the jeweler nor the appraiser is at all interested in scientific, gemological details about the chemical composition and type of diamond. They only need to know whether it is a natural stone or whether there is doubt about it. Therefore, the most common among jewelers are screeners, which are not so expensive and are ready to give an almost instant answer to the question about the nature of the origin.

We have come to the main question. The main problem of the modern diamond market is melee. How can you test, say, a thousand small diamonds? Who will do this, and how much time should be spent on this? The key question is: how accurate are modern instruments? In the description of some device models, accuracy is not specified at all; in other cases, the probability of error is 1–5%. It makes sense to consider some models of devices that are designed to help jewelers in their difficult war with synthetic melee.

Today on sale you can find several dozen types of screeners and identifiers that allow you to distinguish artificial diamonds and polished diamonds from natural ones. The price range for these devices is very wide: from $500 to $150,000 per device. The functionality of these devices also varies greatly: some will not only analyze your stones, but also sort them according to classification, while others will only determine whether the diamond being tested is Type IIa (CVD synthetic) or Ib (HPHT synthetic). .

The main question that should be answered before you start looking for a device is whether your company works only with loose diamonds or whether you periodically need to check finished products with already set stones. This is a factor that greatly influences the price of the device.

The most expensive devices on the market are high-speed chalk testers, mainly intended for large players in the jewelry market.

One of the most expensive devices is M-Screen Plus, developed by the HRD laboratory. Costing around $90,000, this device can test up to 15,000 stones per hour, which is invaluable when working with chalk. Diamonds inspected must be in the DJ color range and weigh between 0.005 and 0.2 carats. The device automatically sorts all incoming stones into three categories: natural, potentially laboratory-grown or HPHT color-enhanced, as well as imitation diamonds (cubic zirconia, glass, moissanites, etc.).

Photo 1. M-Screen Plus screener. Photo by HRD Antwerp

The new version of the AMS2 device from IIDGR and DeBeers will cost $45,000. The device can automatically process up to 3,600 loose stones per hour and sort them into four categories: natural, synthetic, “requires further research” and imitation. The device works with round-cut melee weighing from 0.0033 to 0.2 ct, as well as fancy shapes weighing from 0.01 to 0.2 ct. Now we will discuss several models that allow you to also examine fixed stones.

The ALPHA II Diamond Analyzer is well known on the market, a device jointly produced by Bruker and HRD Antwerp. For approximately $30,000, the user receives a device that, in less than a minute, conducts a complete FTIR examination of a diamond and outputs a PDF file that shows the IR spectra of the examined stone, as well as identifying its type and nature of origin. With this device, no “additional research” of the diamond is required; the answer the device gives is unequivocal. Both loose and fixed stones can be examined. The device is one of the few IDs available on the market. It works slowly, but thoroughly and reliably. This is the very case when the user wants to know for sure whether he has got a natural IIa type or is it a grown CVD.

Photo 2. ALPHA II Diamond Analyzer ID. Photo by HRD Antwerp

GIA id100 will cost you $3995 (according to information from the official website as of November 2018). The device distinguishes natural type Ia diamonds from all others: synthetic, refined, synthetic-refined and simulants. That is, this is a typical screener. The diameter of the stones is from 0.9 to 4.0 mm, weight from 0.005 to 0.25 ct. The color range is not specified, only colorless and almost colorless stones are said. If we assume that “near colorless” in the GIA reading is GJ, then the range of analyzed colors for this device should be DJ. The average time to examine one stone is less than two seconds. Nothing is said about the operating principles of the device, except that advanced spectroscopy technologies are used.

Photo 3. GIA id100 screener.
Photo by GIA Perhaps the most interesting and original solution to date has been presented by the Israeli company Yehuda. Their device, called Sherlock Holmes, which is based on a mobile phone, allows you to almost instantly examine both loose diamonds and set stones. The company itself claims to have achieved a level of determination accuracy of 99%. The device costs about $5000.

Photo 4. Sherlock Holmes CVD and HPHT diamond detector. Yehuda Photos

In addition to the above, there are several inexpensive, pocket-sized devices on the market, as they say, “for individual entrepreneurs.” For example, models Screen 1 CVD Tester from SmartPro and Synthetic Diamond Screener II from the famous manufacturer of jewelry equipment Presidium. Both devices cost around $500. The working range of colors is from D to J, the weight of stones is from 0.01 to 12 carats. Determination time is about 2 seconds. Unfortunately, nothing is known about the accuracy of these devices; apparently, this is a topic for independent research. However, adding a combined thermal and electrical conductivity tester costing about $100 to one of these two instruments can create a very inexpensive solution for pawn shops and small jewelry stores that want to convince customers of the “honesty” of their stones.

Photo 5. Screen 1 CVD Tester and combined thermal and electrical conductivity tester made in China

Finally, the domestic device should be mentioned separately. In 2018, the Russian company finally introduced a commercial version of its diamond screener called ALROSA Diamond Inspector. As of October 2021, this device cost about $7,500. The device can distinguish natural diamonds from synthetics, HPHT processing and imitations. It takes 47 seconds to analyze one stone, the weight of the diamonds being examined is from 0.03 to 10 kt. A distinctive feature of this device is that it uses three methods for determining stone: Raman scattering, photoluminescence and spectroscopy in the visible range.

Photo 6. ALROSA Diamond Inspector screener. Photo by ALROSA

Unfortunately, we were never able to find out any details about the accuracy of the device, or whether there are plans to somehow increase its speed. The big question is the lower stone weight limit of 0.03 kt. For a standard Kr-57 cut diamond, this weight corresponds to a stone diameter of 2.0 mm, while the main problem is observed in the market of so-called “mele stars”, diamonds weighing from 0.001 to 0.025 ct, which corresponds to a stone diameter from 0.6 to 1.9 mm.

Call it luck, but we were finally able to obtain live samples of synthetic HPHT diamonds for testing. According to the seller, who allowed the stones to be examined, this product was made in China. The author had two mele stones at his disposal, weighing 0.01 and 0.03 carats.

When examined through a microscope, no features could be noticed. In terms of clarity, diamonds can be classified in VS, GI color, that is, the most popular category of beading. The luminescence of the stones is very, very weak orange; in the daytime it simply cannot be seen. The main feature of these diamonds is electrical conductivity, so the combination device for distinguishing between diamonds and moissanites indicates that they are moissanites. But the second device, a screener for synthetic diamonds, clearly indicated synthetics in both cases for the first time. It worked clearly on both stones 0.01 and 0.03 kt. The analysis time was 2-3 seconds.

Most likely, in the near future, Chinese manufacturers will get rid of electrical conductivity and the moissanite tester will no longer respond to HPHT. Only screeners will remain and their use will apparently become a strict necessity.

Photo 7. HPHT 0.03 kt under a microscope

Photo 8. Barely noticeable orange fluorescence

Photo 9. Electrical conductivity of a Chinese HPHT diamond. The tester reacts to a diamond as if it were a moissanite

Photo 10. Checking the stones in the screener

Photo 11. The screener confidently shows HPHT/Synthetics

At the end of the conversation, I would like to voice one more problem associated with synthetic melee, which is discussed by Messrs. Richard B. Drucker and John S. Phillips in the article “Diamond screeners/testers” [1]. Let's say you purchased a ring with a scattering of small diamonds in a retail store and took it to an expert who has a device for identifying synthetics. The device showed that some of the stones in your ring “require further investigation.” These are likely Type Ib or Type IIa diamonds, which may be more synthetic than natural.

The question arises, what should the buyer do in such a situation? Formally, the ring is set with diamonds. The screener that the store has at its disposal does not show anything special. Who should deal with the problem of identifying synthetics, pay for the examination and take all other actions? Buyer or seller? The seller does not see the problem, he has a reliable supplier, his device says that everything is in order with the stones. Determining the nature of origin and certifying a melee diamond can cost a significant amount. And what if it turns out that the expert's detector showed an erroneous result? Formally, the expert is not to blame - he is not responsible for the actions of the device. Who should be summoned to court? Manufacturer of the device?

The widespread appearance of artificial diamonds on the jewelry market is not only a problem of distinguishing the nature of the stones. There are also many serious ethical and legal questions that have not yet been answered. Some manufacturers of synthetic stones are already seriously concerned about creating a brand and dividing the market. On the one hand, jewelry with natural diamonds is expensive, prestigious, and the price for them will, if not increase, then remain stable. On the other hand, there are jewelry with synthetic diamonds. These stones will become cheaper from year to year, however, they will continue to remain diamonds, which are practically no different from their natural counterparts. Now everything is just beginning, and therefore mixes of artificial and natural melee in one product are still possible. Most likely, the market will see qualitative changes in the near future, not only due to improved quality of diamond examination, but also because, most likely, additional legislative regulation will appear. This process is already being discussed at the international level, and it will definitely not bypass our country. Maybe now is the time to look for a niche in the emerging synthetic diamond market?

[1] DIAMOND SCREENERS/TESTERS by Richard B. Drucker, GIA GG, Honorary FGA and Jon C. Phillips, GIA GG, AGS CG, GEMGUIDE, SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2018

—————

ANNOUNCEMENT! “Big Illustrated Guide” was published . From this beautifully illustrated publication you will learn a lot about precious and exotic collectible stones. The book provides tips on caring for jewelry. Particular attention in the book is paid to the healing and metaphysical properties of precious minerals. The publication can be purchased on book24.ru

The most common types of synthetic diamonds

It cannot be said that artificial diamonds are an exact copy of the king of stones.

The most famous is nexus, obtained by chemical splicing with other compounds and having high strength.

Cubic zirconia is made from zirconium and oxide. It is very beautiful and not so expensive, but it has a drawback - it is not a very durable stone (it is easy to scratch).

The most beautiful grown diamond is moissanite, which is characterized by incredible brilliance and high strength. It is difficult to distinguish it from a real diamond, which is why its price is appropriate.

It should be noted that laboratory-made stones may cost no less than real ones, especially clear white diamonds, and for some the price will be even higher due to the absence of defects that sometimes occur with natural diamonds.

Methods for growing synthetic diamonds

A man-made diamond is called a stone that does not require many steps to produce. However, strict laboratory conditions must be observed. Fluctuations of even a hundredth of a degree in temperature will lead to disastrous results.

The technology in demand is under the influence of pressure and high temperature. The material – crystalline carbon – is placed in a vessel and then placed under a press. Water is supplied to the grate with a strong stream. It acts on crystalline carbon under high pressure. To further increase this figure, refrigerants are added. The pressure increases 10 times and reaches 5 hPa.

After reaching the required pressure, an electrical bus is connected to the crystal lattice. Current is supplied through it. As a result, the material heats up quickly. Graphite turns into a solid stone. At the final stage, the structures are defrosted and the liquid remaining from the refrigerants is drained. Artificial diamonds are removed and further processed.

The process of making artificial diamonds at a factory

Growing diamond with methane

Growing diamonds with methane is an affordable technology. Its use is not difficult, but safety rules must be followed. Methane technology is a method in which a crystal of artificial stone is obtained under the influence of an explosion of a substance.

A methane explosion leads to disruption of the integrity of the carbon lattice. The artificial diamond grows, the procedure is repeated again. No special temperature requirements are required.

There are several methane explosion technologies. The first is that an impulse push occurs. There are a lot of stones, but they are small in size. The second method is that the diamond is blown with methane at a temperature of 1100 degrees Celsius. The second method is expensive and requires laboratory conditions. But the result is a stone of any size, which is sold at a bargain price.

The main differences between an artificial diamond and a real one

How to understand which stone is in front of you: real or artificial? The artificially grown mineral has some features: - reacts to a magnet; - transparent, but can be seen in water (unlike real stone); — does not shine very brightly in the sun; - the boundary separating the bottom and top of the stone (rudnist) is very smooth, and not rough, like a real mineral.

How to distinguish a natural diamond from a synthetic one

Unfortunately, for ordinary people, it is possible to determine the naturalness of a stone only with the help of special gemological equipment and tests.

Color zoning

The technique is used only for colored diamonds.

• Colored diamonds grown using HPHT technology have color zoning according to a geometrically ideal pattern.
• Natural diamonds may also exhibit color zoning, but it will not follow any geometric pattern.
• CVD diamonds have a perfectly even color distribution throughout the entire sample.

Thus, using a microscope, a gemologist can understand which stone is in front of him based on the type of color zoning.

Metal and graphite inclusions

Due to the peculiarities of the technology, HPHT diamonds often contain inclusions of hardened metal, while CVD diamonds often contain graphite. They can only be seen with very high magnification. But HPHT stones react to a strong magnet: up to 95% of samples of such synthetic diamonds have magnetic properties. Thus, the magnet test allows you to “reject” only HPHT diamonds. A detailed examination of the samples under powerful magnifying technology will reveal inclusions of metal and graphite, which will most likely indicate the synthetic nature of the stone.

Note that natural diamonds can also contain inclusions of graphite, ilmenite, magnetite, garnet, malacolite, etc. But, as a rule, these inclusions have a typical “feather” appearance - an experienced gemologist can immediately determine their natural origin.

Interference (deformation) of colors

This test is based on placing the diamond between two polarizing filters at an angle of 90 degrees to each other. Natural stone will exhibit a cross-hatching or mosaic pattern of color interference that occurs due to uneven pressure being applied to the crystal during the growth period. Synthetic stones grown at constant pressure values ​​do not show a color deformation pattern.

Fluorescence

The fluorescence of synthetic diamonds has a characteristic pattern. For HPHT stones it has a cross-shaped shape, and for CVD stones it has a striped pattern. Under a UV lamp, HPHT synthetics often have a green, yellow-green or yellow color, while CVD synthetics are predominantly orange or red. But natural diamonds glow blue.

Figure 1. On the left is a CVD diamond, in the center is an HPHT diamond, on the right is a natural diamond.

A special DiamondView installation allows fluorescence visualization to reveal patterns of crystal growth. Based on the picture, it becomes clear which sample is in front of the gemologist - HPHT, CVD or natural stone. Unfortunately, the cost of installation is so high that they are not found in domestic laboratories.

Figure 2. Cross-shaped patterns of HPHT diamonds when viewed on DiamondView.

Phosphorescence

After turning off the UV lamp, natural stones “go out”, but synthetics (especially HPHT) can glow for more than a minute.

To summarize, we can say that to accurately determine the origin of a diamond, special expensive equipment is needed: refractometers, ultraviolet gemological lamps, polariscopes and microscopes. They cannot be found in all laboratories. Therefore, in order not to guess what kind of stone you purchased, it is better to make purchases exclusively in trusted places.

All diamonds in our showroom are completely natural. They are certified by the independent gemological center of Moscow State University. The stones are accompanied by a certificate indicating the main characteristics of natural stone, as well as a number and a link to the test laboratory report.

Application area

Man-made diamonds (approximately 80 percent) are widely used in industry (glass cutters, drill tips, bearings, spraying of grinding tools and knives), in electronics (for making interlayers in microcircuits), in medicine (using laser technologies, dental treatment ).

The need for this mineral is also explained by the high demand for jewelry (rings, earrings, pendants, bracelets).

Every year the scope of use of this stone expands.

Interesting Facts

The Guinness Book of Records contains information about the largest diamond created by man. Its size is 34 carats.

At the very end of the twentieth century, chemists obtained diamonds from human and animal remains. Having learned about this technology, many wealthy people preserve the memory of deceased relatives in diamonds. This is how a very profitable business arose.

The largest diamond market is the United States of America (residents of the country purchase more than half of the diamond jewelry in the world).

Scientists in Germany have created artificial crystals from peanut butter, and Mexican chemists have obtained diamond-containing steam from tequila, which can be used to spray a diamond film.

The minerals closest in structure are graphite and diamond. Graphite can turn into diamond and vice versa, but diamond is one of the hardest minerals, and graphite is one of the softest.

Summing up

It would be wrong to consider artificial diamonds a copy, because in all respects they are the same mineral, the only difference is in the way they appear. While a natural diamond is created by nature itself, an artificial diamond is grown by humans. The laboratory mineral not only acquires all the properties of natural stone, but even surpasses it in some ways.

Today, more than two dozen countries are engaged in the production of artificial diamonds; more than half of the diamonds existing in the world are synthetic.

According to many analysts, the production of such minerals will only increase over time due to the needs of not only the jewelry industry, but also other high-tech areas.

Photo of artificial diamond