Will Lab Grown Diamonds Pass A Diamond Tester

What Are Lab Grown Diamonds?

Lab grown diamonds, also known as lab-created or synthetic diamonds, are real diamonds that are created in controlled laboratory environments rather than being mined from the earth. These diamonds possess the same physical, chemical, and optical properties as natural diamonds because they’re made of the same material: crystallized carbon in an isotropic 3D form.

The creation process typically involves one of two methods: High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) or Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD). HPHT recreates the natural conditions under which diamonds form in the Earth, using high pressure and temperature to transform carbon into diamond. CVD, on the other hand, involves introducing carbon-rich gas into a chamber where the carbon atoms attach to a diamond seed and gradually build a diamond crystal.

At Emerson Fine Jewelry, we’ve seen increasing interest in lab grown diamonds as consumers become more environmentally and ethically conscious. These diamonds offer the same brilliance and durability as mined diamonds while often coming with a more attractive price point.

Lab grown diamonds are not imitations or simulants like cubic zirconia or moissanite; they are genuine diamonds with identical hardness (10 on the Mohs scale), refractive index, and fire. The only difference is their origin, which brings us to an important question for many buyers: will these lab-created gems pass standard diamond testing methods?

How Diamond Testers Work

Diamond testers are instruments designed to help jewelers and consumers differentiate between genuine diamonds and diamond simulants. These devices typically work on one of two principles: thermal conductivity or electrical conductivity.

Thermal conductivity testers measure how quickly heat dissipates through the gemstone. Diamonds conduct heat exceptionally well, much better than most simulants like cubic zirconia or glass. When the tester’s probe touches a genuine diamond, the heat dissipates rapidly, and the device indicates a positive result.

Electrical conductivity testers, sometimes called moissanite testers, were developed later to address the limitation of thermal testers. Moissanite, a popular diamond simulant, has thermal properties very similar to diamond but conducts electricity differently. These testers can distinguish between moissanite and diamond based on this electrical conductivity difference.

More advanced diamond testers combine both thermal and electrical testing in a single device, providing more reliable results. Some professional equipment goes even further, analyzing optical properties like refraction and fluorescence patterns.

At Emerson Fine Jewelry, we use professional-grade diamond testing equipment to verify the authenticity of all our gemstones, including our oval engagement rings, ensuring that customers always receive exactly what they’re paying for.

Lab Grown vs. Natural Diamonds

Lab grown and natural diamonds share identical physical and chemical properties, making them essentially the same material. Both are pure carbon crystallized in an isotropic structure, giving them the same hardness, brilliance, fire, and scintillation. They both have a refractive index of 2.42, a specific gravity of 3.52, and a Mohs hardness of 10.

The differences between lab grown and natural diamonds are primarily in their origin, price, and certain subtle characteristics that require specialized equipment to detect. Natural diamonds formed over billions of years deep within the Earth under extreme pressure and heat, while lab diamonds are created in weeks or months in controlled environments.

In terms of appearance, even professional jewelers cannot distinguish between lab grown and natural diamonds with the naked eye. Both can display the same range of colors, clarities, and cuts. Both can receive grading from gemological laboratories using the same criteria.

One significant difference is price—lab grown diamonds typically cost 30-50% less than natural diamonds of equivalent quality. This price difference doesn’t reflect inferior quality but rather the different production costs and market positioning.

Some natural diamonds contain tiny inclusions or nitrogen impurities that formed during their creation in the Earth. Lab grown diamonds may have different patterns of inclusions, crystal growth, or trace elements that can help gemologists identify their origin with specialized equipment.

Will Lab Grown Diamonds Pass Diamond Testers?

Yes, lab grown diamonds will pass standard diamond testers. Since these testers primarily check for thermal and/or electrical conductivity, and lab grown diamonds have identical properties to natural diamonds in these aspects, the testers cannot distinguish between the two.

Standard thermal conductivity testers measure how quickly heat moves through the stone. Both lab grown and natural diamonds conduct heat exceptionally well due to their identical crystal structure and chemical composition. When a thermal diamond tester is applied to a lab grown diamond, it will register a positive result, just as it would with a natural diamond.

Similarly, electrical conductivity testers, which were primarily designed to identify moissanite (which conducts electricity differently than diamond), will correctly identify lab grown diamonds as diamonds. This is because lab grown diamonds have the same electrical properties as their mined counterparts.

It’s important to understand that standard diamond testers were designed to distinguish diamonds from simulants like cubic zirconia, glass, or moissanite—not to differentiate between diamonds of different origins. The tester is simply confirming, “This is genuine diamond material,” without determining how that diamond came to exist.

At Emerson Fine Jewelry, we believe in complete transparency regarding the origin of our diamonds. Whether you’re interested in natural or lab grown diamonds for your oval engagement ring, we provide proper certification and disclosure so you can make an informed decision.

Advanced Methods for Identifying Lab Diamonds

While standard diamond testers cannot distinguish between lab grown and natural diamonds, specialized equipment and techniques used by gemological laboratories can reveal their different origins. These advanced identification methods look for subtle differences that aren’t related to the basic diamond properties.

One such method is spectroscopy, which analyzes how the diamond interacts with different wavelengths of light. Natural and lab grown diamonds can show different spectroscopic patterns due to variations in trace elements or growth structure. Photoluminescence spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and UV-visible spectroscopy are commonly used techniques.

X-ray diffraction and X-ray topography can reveal the crystal growth patterns, which differ between natural diamonds (which grow under isotropic pressure) and lab diamonds (which typically grow directionally from a seed crystal).

Many lab grown diamonds also contain distinctive fluorescence patterns under certain lighting conditions or show different phosphorescence behaviors (how they glow after exposure to UV light is removed).

Major gemological laboratories like GIA (Gemological Institute of America) and IGI (International Gemological Institute) have invested in sophisticated equipment specifically designed to identify lab grown diamonds. When these labs issue certificates for diamonds, they clearly state whether the stone is natural or laboratory-grown.

Professional jewelers like those at Emerson Fine Jewelry stay informed about these identification techniques, though the specialized equipment required for definitive testing is typically only found in major gemological laboratories.

Benefits of Lab Grown Diamonds

Lab grown diamonds offer several compelling advantages that have contributed to their rising popularity in the jewelry market. Understanding these benefits can help consumers make informed decisions when choosing between lab grown and natural diamonds.

First, lab grown diamonds are typically 30-50% less expensive than natural diamonds of comparable quality. This price difference allows buyers to get a larger or higher-quality diamond within the same budget, or to save significantly on their purchase.

Environmental considerations also favor lab diamonds. Traditional diamond mining can be destructive to natural habitats, involving the removal of large amounts of earth and potential disruption to ecosystems. Lab grown diamonds require significantly less land disturbance and water usage, resulting in a smaller environmental footprint.

Ethical sourcing is another important benefit. While the diamond industry has made strides with the Kimberley Process to eliminate conflict diamonds, lab grown diamonds provide complete assurance regarding their origin. They are not associated with any concerns about labor practices or regional conflicts.

Lab grown diamonds also offer exceptional quality consistency. The controlled environment in which they’re created allows for precise management of conditions, often resulting in diamonds with excellent clarity characteristics. This consistency extends to color options as well, with some fancy colored diamonds being more accessible in lab grown varieties.

At Emerson Fine Jewelry, we find that many customers shopping for oval engagement rings in Redlands, CA appreciate having the lab grown option, especially younger buyers who value both sustainability and getting more diamond for their budget.

Tips for Buying Lab Grown Diamonds

If you’re considering a lab grown diamond purchase, following these expert tips will help ensure you get the best value and quality for your investment. Like natural diamonds, lab grown stones vary in quality and characteristics, making educated shopping essential.

First, always buy lab grown diamonds with proper certification from a reputable gemological laboratory such as GIA, IGI, or GCAL. These certificates confirm that the stone is a genuine lab grown diamond and provide details about its 4Cs (cut, color, clarity, and carat weight).

When examining lab grown diamonds, apply the same quality standards you would for natural diamonds. The cut quality remains the most important factor affecting a diamond’s brilliance and sparkle. Look for excellent or ideal cut grades for maximum light performance.

Be aware that lab grown diamonds can have inclusions and color variations just like natural diamonds. While the growth process is controlled, variations still occur. The advantage is that you can often get higher clarity and color grades within your budget compared to natural diamonds.

Consider the growth method. HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature) and CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) diamonds may have slightly different characteristics. HPHT diamonds sometimes have metallic inclusions, while CVD diamonds might show strain patterns under certain specialized tests. Neither affects beauty visible to the naked eye, but it’s good to understand what you’re buying.

Purchase from reputable jewelers like Emerson Fine Jewelry who provide full disclosure and have expertise in both natural and lab grown diamonds. We pride ourselves on transparent practices and helping customers understand exactly what they’re purchasing, whether they’re looking at traditional or lab grown diamonds for their jewelry needs.

Finally, consider the setting and overall jewelry design. A well-crafted setting enhances any diamond, lab grown or natural. Our collection of oval engagement rings showcases how beautiful settings can complement lab grown diamonds perfectly.