How are diamonds formed?

Diamonds are precious stones based on carbon, formed under extremely high pressure and heat, and ranked as the hardest on Earth. Carbon exists in all organic matter and, after being preserved and fossilized for many years, becomes coal, pencils, and natural oils that we use daily.

So why doesn't coal turn into diamond? Although both diamonds and coal are carbon-based, they differ in the pressure and temperature at which the carbon was formed. For example, diamonds are formed by crystallization in the Earth's mantle layer, or at depths greater than 160 km from the surface, at temperatures above 1000 degrees Celsius, while coal is formed at 80-250 degrees Celsius.

How much diamond is there on Earth, and where is it located?

Globally, approximately 130 million carats of diamonds are mined annually (1 carat is approximately 0.2 grams, totaling 26,000 kg of diamonds). Only 20-30% of these are used in jewelry, while the remaining 70-80% are utilized in industries and equipment.

How to determine the value of a diamond?

Although diamond mining is very important, when it comes to jewelry, the cut, polish, clarity, and shape of the diamond determine its value. The 4Cs are used worldwide to determine the value and quality of diamonds.

About the 4Cs of Diamond

Lab-grown diamonds and diamond simulants

In modern times, with the emergence of a generation that prioritizes not harming the environment, choosing environmentally friendly, lab-grown diamonds or diamond-alternative stones like lab-grown Moissanite star diamonds for wedding rings has become a modern trend.

Lab-grown, laboratory, or cultured diamonds are produced by accelerating natural processes, and they are cost-effective and financially accessible to buyers. Although these diamonds are created in a laboratory, their color, quality, and clarity vary, similar to natural diamonds. Therefore, they are evaluated using the 4C standards for diamonds, and their prices vary accordingly.

What is the difference between a lab-grown diamond, a created Moissanite, and a star diamond?

Laboratory diamonds are grown from carbon under high pressure and high temperature for an average of 30 days. This method is called HPHT – high pressure, high temperature, and most industrial and equipment-grade grown diamonds are produced using this method. However, CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) is used to produce grown diamonds for jewelry. The average price of a 1-carat laboratory-grown diamond is approximately $2000, depending on its 4C grading.

However, the Moissanite star diamond structure is silicon carbide-based, and compared to diamonds, it has more fire, more sparkle, and higher thermal conductivity. It was first discovered in a meteorite in 1893 by a scientist named Moissan. The highest quality Moissanite star diamonds, manufactured in the United States, grow in an average of 2-3 months and are valued at approximately $800 per carat. Because of its luxurious sparkle and intense fire, even more so than diamonds, Moissanite began to gain popularity when famous American celebrities started wearing it to red carpet events and special occasions.

How to distinguish between natural diamonds, lab-grown diamonds, and moissanite?

It is almost impossible to distinguish between natural diamonds, lab-grown diamonds, and Moissanite stardiamonds of equal quality just by looking at them. The reason I say "almost impossible" is that if you look closely, Moissanite appears to have more fire and brilliance, so a professional with many years of experience might be able to tell the difference.

  • Certificate

    A small percentage of diamonds in the world's jewelry are certified. The top global companies that issue certificates for natural and lab-grown diamonds are GIA (Gemological Institute of America) and IGI (International Gemological Institute). They determine the 4Cs of the gemstone, such as cut angle, whether it's natural or lab-grown, mention the quality of the stone, and engrave the certificate code with a laser inscription on the stone's girdle, thus authenticating it. However, certificates from top companies
    increase the cost of the gemstone by 20-30%, which means certifying all
    diamond jewelry excessively inflates the selling price for consumers.
    Therefore, experts often recommend certifying diamonds that are 0.75 carats
    and above, with D-H color, and VS2 clarity or higher. Moissanite, on the other hand, comes with a GRA (Gemological
    Research Association) certificate.

  • Special equipment

    The simplest device is one that tests the hardness of stones. For example, natural and lab-grown diamonds have a Mohs hardness of 10/10, Moissanite 9.5/10, sapphire 8/10, and cubic zirconia 6.5/10. Since Moissanite and diamond show very close readings, there is a separate Moissanite tester. However, these simple devices cannot distinguish between lab-grown and natural diamonds, both of which read 10/10. Therefore, top global organizations like GIA and IGI have separate devices to differentiate lab-grown diamonds from natural diamonds.

  • Store's reputation and guarantee

    Many reputable diamond stores in the USA do not sell certified diamonds. If they are certified, they are very expensive compared to diamonds of similar quality. That is why buyers rely on the store's reputation, guarantee, assay, and markings when choosing their jewelry. Sometimes, stores provide their own 4C grading as a product guarantee.