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While natural diamonds take millennia to form, lab-created diamonds have a significantly shorter growth period. Yet, structurally and visually, they are virtually indistinguishable. Both types, having the same chemical composition and characteristic sparkle, continue to be highly sought after.
Understanding Diamond Types
Thinking about acquiring a dazzling diamond? It’s essential to delve into their types. Diamond type doesn’t refer to shape or size, but to a specific scientific categorization that gauges the degree or nature of impurities within the gem.
The Chemical Composition of Diamonds
Diamonds stand out as the only precious stones composed almost entirely of one element—carbon. The purest diamonds are solely carbon, though pure diamonds are exceedingly rare. Typically, diamonds consist of approximately 99.95% carbon, with trace elements like nitrogen making up the remaining 0.05%. These trace elements can influence the stone’s form and hue.
Evaluating Impurities
Though diamonds often appear flawless, few are completely devoid of imperfections. This holds for both natural and lab-grown diamonds.
Why Aren’t Lab Diamonds Perfect?
Lab-created diamonds are grown under tightly-controlled conditions involving specific temperatures and pressures. However, human error and accidental mineral contamination can introduce imperfections, just as in any process. Consequently, lab-grown diamonds are not always perfect.
Atomic Impurities vs. Inclusions
When discussing diamond types, we refer to atomic impurities within the diamond’s crystal lattice of carbon atoms. These shouldn’t be confused with inclusions, which can be seen with a microscope or even the naked eye, whereas atomic impurities are invisible to the naked eye and can only be detected with an infrared spectrometer. Based on these measurements, diamonds receive specific type classifications.
What is a Type IIa Diamond?
Known as Type IIa or 2a, these diamonds represent one of four classifications. Comprising just about 1-2% of all diamonds, Type IIa diamonds are nearly pure carbon, making them exceptionally valuable.
Type IIa diamonds are typically free of nitrogen atoms in their crystal lattice. These stones can be completely colorless, or exhibit shades of brown, light gray, pink, or yellow.
Other Diamond Types: Type IIB, IA, and IB
Type IIB Diamond
Type IIB diamonds lack nitrogen but contain boron, which absorbs yellow, orange, and red light, creating a faint blue or gray hue.
Type IA Diamond
Approximately 98% of diamonds belong to the Type IA category, where nitrogen atoms are clustered together. These diamonds might look colorless but often absorb blue light, presenting a pale-yellow hue.
Type IB Diamond
With only 0.1% of diamonds classified as Type IB, this type features nitrogen atoms scattered within the carbon lattice, resulting in darker hues like brown, orange, or yellow due to absorption of blue and green light.
What About Green Diamonds?
Lab-grown green diamonds achieve their color through treatments, absorbing beta and gamma rays during growth. Natural fancy green diamonds are remarkably rare, especially those devoid of brown or gray tints. The rarest of all natural diamonds are red, prompting some buyers to opt for lab-created versions, which retain color longer than their natural counterparts.
Does Diamond Type Matter?
When selecting a diamond, you’ve likely heard of the Four C’s: Cut, Clarity, Color, and Carat. These factors are fundamental. As an additional consideration, the type classification can be seen as a fifth “C”. If you strive for perfection, a Type IIa lab diamond may be ideal. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide the importance of purity in your diamond.
Purchasing a Type IIa Diamond
While choosing the perfect diamond, ensure the vendor provides IGI certification, an independent grading report from the International Gemological Institute. This report details all vital characteristics of your diamond, confirming its authenticity and quality.
The price of…
Your diamond should mirror the findings in the IGI report. The prices of Type IIa diamonds differ greatly—you will spend significantly less on a lab-grown Type IIa synthetic diamond compared to a mined one. Additional factors like color and clarity also influence the price. For instance, a ‘D color Type IIa’ diamond is more expensive than a ‘K color Type IIa’ diamond. We recommend shopping around to find the perfect gem for you, checking the IGI report, and ensuring you get a fair deal.
FAQs
What is a Lab Grown Type IIA Diamond?
A lab-grown Type IIA diamond is a diamond created in a laboratory using cutting-edge technology. It is indistinguishable chemically, physically, and optically from a natural diamond. Type IIA diamonds are known for being the purest and most chemically perfect type, composed entirely of pure carbon without impurities or structural flaws.
These lab-grown diamonds are produced via one of two methods: High-Pressure High-Temperature (HPHT) or Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD). In both processes, a small diamond seed is placed in a controlled environment where it faces high pressure and temperature or chemical vapor, leading carbon atoms to crystallize and form a diamond.
Although lab-grown Type IIA diamonds match the quality of natural Type IIA diamonds, they are generally more affordable due to the efficiency of the manufacturing process and the ethical production methods.
Do lab-grown diamonds also have inclusions?
What is a Type IIb diamond?
Is certification important when buying a Lab Grown Type IIa diamond?
Certification is crucial when purchasing a lab-grown Type IIa diamond because it provides comprehensive information about the diamond’s properties and quality. Certification from a reputable gemological lab ensures that the diamond has been meticulously evaluated and graded based on set standards. It includes a detailed report on the diamond’s carat weight, dimensions, color, clarity, and cut.
This certification acts as proof of authenticity, confirming that the diamond is indeed lab-grown and not a naturally occurring diamond that has undergone treatment.
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