Synthetic Diamonds

Synthetic diamonds are created artificially from carbon. This process barely requires three weeks, compared to tens of thousands of years for natural diamonds. Only laboratories possessing leading-edge technology are able to detect these diamonds, which have exactly the same physical and chemical properties as natural diamonds. Laboratories do not deliver certificates for these stones.

Two different techniques are currently used to produce synthetic diamonds:

- HPHT (high pressure high temperature):

This is the best-known technique. HPHT subjects carbon atoms to very high temperatures and pressures, re-creating the geological conditions in which diamonds crystallize. Diamonds created using this technique are extremely similar to the "real thing" and one of the only ways to detect them is to use special equipment that can reveal the growth lines of the crystal. These lines are younger in synthetic diamonds than in natural diamonds and this can be seen. HPHT processes produce yellow and orange diamonds that can be quite large (0.5 to 3 carats).

- CVD (chemical vapor deposition):

This technique was developed in the late 1960's and involves the propulsion of CO2 into plasma. The diamonds created with that process are low nitrogen type IIa crystals. Their color is usually brown, but also sometimes colorless, faint pink, blue or black.