Absolutely ‘yes’. They are real. There are a few methods used to create lab-grown diamonds. Typically, lab-grown diamonds start with a tiny lab diamond, like a seed. The seeds are placed in a chamber called a plasma reactor (in the case of CVD synthesis) or a large mechanical press (if manufactured by HPHT). Then, depending on the technology used, some combination of heat, pressure and a carbon source are used to make the crystals grow, layer by layer.
CVD stands for chemical vapor deposition.
Lab grown diamond seeds are loaded into a CVD reactor. Then, a mix of
gasses containing carbon is added at a very low pressure. Microwaves are
added to heat the gases and generate a plasma. When the temperatures
climb over several thousand degrees, the gas molecules break apart and
carbon atoms bond to the seeds, growing them one layer at a time.
HPHT stands for high pressure high temperature.
This method mimics the conditions under which diamonds naturally form.
Large mechanical presses are used to apply extreme pressure and high
temperature to carbon in the presence of a diamond seed. The seeds act as a
template for a lattice of carbon to grow layer by layer over the course of a few
days.
While they may look similar, diamond simulants (like cubic zirconia) are chemically
not diamonds at all. They’re completely different gems and materials. On the other
hand, lab-grown diamonds are chemically the same as natural diamonds, but their
creation process is sped up by science.
What is a simulated diamond?
Diamond simulants and lab-created diamonds often get mixed up, but they’re
completely different. A diamond simulant is not a diamond at all, because the
chemical properties are completely different. They can be made out of anything from
glass to cubic zirconia. While they may look similar at first, diamond simulants aren’t
as hard and don’t have the same optical properties as diamonds, so they’ll show
signs of wear and won’t be as sparkly.
Lab-grown diamonds vs. Cubic zirconia
Cubic zirconia was created to be a less expensive alternative to diamonds. It’s
chemically completely different, not as hard and lacks the same sparkle. It’s also not
considered a gemstone because it can’t be found in nature. It’s made from powdered
zirconium and zirconium dioxide, melted together and formed into a stone.
Lab-grown diamonds vs. Moissanite
Moissanite is a completely different gem, that tends to be less expensive than a
diamond. It started out as a naturally occurring mineral, but natural supply wasn’t
enough to make even the smallest pieces of jewelry. Scientists then found a way to
replicate it in a lab to make it commercially available. While it might look like diamond
it’s a much lower grade on color and hardness.