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Diamonds 101

All you need to know.

Natural Diamonds

Natural diamonds have captivated for centuries, cherished for their striking sparkle and enduring qualities for fine jewelry. Formed over billions of years under the earth, they are the hardest known natural material, making them exceptionally durable for pieces designed to be worn and treasured over lifetimes.

Lab Grown Diamonds

Lab grown diamonds represent a remarkable innovation in fine jewelry, replicating the natural growth process through advanced technology. Created in controlled environments, they possess the same brilliance, composition, and hardness as natural diamonds, offering exceptional value.

Lab grown diamonds replicate the natural diamond formation process by two primary methods:

Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD)

This method starts with a small diamond seed placed in a chamber filled with carbon-rich gases. These gases are heated until they turn into plasma, breaking down the carbon molecules. The free carbon atoms then slowly settle onto the seed, layering over time and growing into a full-sized diamond. Think of it like snowflakes accumulating to form a snowball. Only in this case, it's pure carbon forming a crystal.

High-Pressure High-Temperature (HPHT)

This process mimics the extreme conditions deep within the Earth, where mined diamonds are formed. A small diamond seed is placed inside a press, where it is exposed to intense heat (over 1,500°C) and immense pressure (about 1.5 million pounds per square inch). Under these conditions, carbon atoms begin to arrange themselves around the seed, gradually forming a larger diamond. Imagine squeezing a lump of coal under immense force until it transforms into a sparkling crystal.

What is the Difference Between Natural and Lab Grown?

The primary difference between natural diamonds and lab grown diamonds lies in their creation process. Natural diamonds form over billions of years beneath the Earth’s surface under extreme pressure and heat. Lab grown diamonds are produced in just weeks or months using advanced technology in controlled environments that mimic these conditions. Despite their different origins, both types exhibit identical physical, chemical, and optical properties, making them virtually indistinguishable, even to experts, without specialized equipment.

Physically Identical

They have the same crystal structure, hardness (10 on the Mohs scale), and density as natural diamonds.

Chemically Identical

Both are made of carbon atoms arranged in the exact same way. There's no difference in composition.

Optically Identical

The same brilliance, fire, and clarity as natural diamonds, indistinguishable to the naked eye — even under magnification.

The only difference is how the diamond is made — one forms over billions of years underground, the other is grown in a lab over a few weeks using advanced technology.

Should I Choose Natural or Lab Grown?

Choosing between natural and lab grown diamonds is a matter of personal preference. Lab grown diamonds are celebrated for their exceptional value, while natural diamonds appeal to those drawn to their legacy, origin, and the romance of something formed by nature over billions of years.

At tinxx, we use a combination of both lab grown diamonds and natural diamonds. Both are treated with the same level of care and craftmanship. The choice is entirely yours.

Other Common FAQs

Are lab grown diamonds “synthetic” diamonds?

Yes, but not in the way many people think.

In gemology, the term synthetic diamond refers to a natural diamond that has been grown in a lab rather than mined. It has the same atomic structure, physical properties, and durability as a natural diamond. However, outside of the scientific community, “synthetic” is often misunderstood to mean “fake” or “imitation.” This is incorrect. Unlike cubic zirconia or moissanite (which are diamond simulants), a lab grown diamond is a real diamond in every sense.

How can I tell whether a diamond is natural or lab grown?

Natural and lab grown diamonds are chemically, physically, and optically identical, meaning you can’t tell the difference with the naked eye. Only specialized, expensive equipment in a gemological lab can determine the origin of a diamond.

Do lab grown diamonds last as long as natural diamonds?

Yes. Lab grown diamonds are just as durable as natural diamonds, with a Mohs hardness of 10, the highest level of hardness found in nature. This means they are highly scratch-resistant, retain their brilliance, and will last a lifetime.

Are lab grown or natural diamonds a good investment?

We do not advise viewing diamonds—natural or lab grown—as assets expected to appreciate or retain monetary value. Jewelry rarely increases in resale worth unless distinguished by exceptional rarity or provenance. The true value of any diamond lies in its emotional significance, timeless appeal, and its role in marking life’s most meaningful moments.