Synthetic Diamonds: Man-Made Diamonds with Real Diamond Quality

Synthetic diamonds offer diamond quality that can be superior to natural diamonds. Here's what you need to know before buying any piece of this stone.

Synthetic diamonds can easily match the diamond quality of natural diamonds. So before you spend a lot of money on a piece of diamond, that's "the real thing," learn why a man-made diamond may be right for you.

How Are Synthetic Diamonds Made?

Synthetic diamonds are created in labs by using one of two methods: HTHP (or high-temperature high-pressure) or CVD (chemical vapor deposition). This is why synthetic diamonds are also known as HTHP diamonds and CVD diamonds (depending on the production method by which they're created). The HTHP methods simulate the high-pressure geological environment that creates natural diamonds, and the CVD method actually grows the diamonds from a hydrocarbon gas mixture.

Regardless of the production method used, synthetic diamonds can be cut into gems just like natural diamonds, and can be produced in a number of gem colors, including white, yellow and blue. In addition, they can be mounted and cared for just like regular diamonds too.

The Diamond Quality of Man Made Diamonds

Regularly attacked by those who deal in natural diamonds, synthetic diamonds are sometimes called fake or imitation diamonds. It's important to recognize that technically that's not true. Because synthetic diamonds can be chemically, physically and optically identical to natural diamonds, they can have the same diamond quality that natural ones do. And, in some instances, they can even have better diamond quality than natural ones. For the most part, attacking synthetic diamonds by calling them fake is just a ploy to unfairly devalue their quality based on an emotional judgment.

The qualities and characteristics of a synthetic diamond depend on the details of the production process that created it. And, depending on the quality of the production process, a synthetic diamond can even be of superior diamond quality than a natural diamond. For instance, natural diamonds have minute imperfections (called inclusions) that may not be visible to the naked eye but that are visible under high-powered microscopes. A well-made synthetic diamond, however, may be practically flawless and not have any visible imperfections, even under intense magnification.

Synthetic Diamond Quality Makes Them Almost Impossible to Detect

Although natural diamond producers are eager to say otherwise, many of the ways to tell man made diamonds from natural diamonds are by using spectroscopic and UV technology. This technology allows gemologists to see minute inclusions and chemical traces that aren't apparent to the eye. For the average consumer just looking for a high quality diamond that sparkles, synthetic diamonds fit the bill—often with much smaller price tags than non-synthetic ones.

Man Made Diamonds Are Better for the Environment

Another reason to consider man made diamonds over non-synthetic gems is the environmental cost of mining diamonds. Briefly popularized by the movie Blood Diamond, the environmental and human costs of mining real diamonds are substantial. Diamond mines use open-pit mining methods, which have been shown to be extremely damaging to the environment. And they're also known to use child slaves to work the diamond mines. So, while some may think that man-made diamonds don't have the same "romance" that real ones do, others could say that environmentally-friendly man made diamonds have much more.

Synthetic Diamond Engagement Rings and Jewelry Cost Less

Perhaps the biggest draw for man-made diamonds is their cost. Because the man-made diamond trade doesn't have to invest in mining operations and isn't controlled by powerful diamond cartels, synthetic diamonds cost substantially less than natural ones. Whether this is a benefit or not depends on the buyer, and what he or she hopes to get from their diamond.

Synthetic Diamonds vs. Natural Diamonds: Which is better for you?

In the end, choosing between a synthetic diamond and a natural diamond (especially when it comes to choosing an engagement ring), is an emotional decision. If you attach value to the cost and perceived rarity of the diamond, and not the actual physical properties of the diamond itself, then a natural diamond is the right choice for you. If, however, you're interested in finding a diamond that exhibits all of the characteristics of a high-quality diamond (cut, color, clarity and carat) without the expensive price tag, a man-made diamond will fit your needs–and give your love a much larger piece of diamond than she might have otherwise gotten!