Laboratory-grown diamonds can have unique inclusions that set them apart from natural diamonds. These inclusions are a result of the different methods used to create lab-grown diamonds, such as Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) and High-Pressure, High-Temperature (HPHT).
4 Key Inclusions to Know
1. Hydrogen Traces
Lab-grown diamonds produced using the CVD method often contain traces of hydrogen. This is because the CVD process involves the breakdown of carbon-rich gases like methane into hydrogen and carbon atoms. These hydrogen traces are not typically found in natural diamonds and serve as a distinguishing feature of CVD-grown diamonds.
2. Flux Metal Inclusions
HPHT synthetic diamonds frequently display flux metal inclusions, which appear black and opaque in transmitted light but have a metallic luster in reflected light. These inclusions are often composed of nickel-iron (Ni-Fe) and can sometimes be magnetic. This is a characteristic feature of HPHT diamonds and is rarely seen in natural diamonds.
3. Graphite Inclusions
CVD-grown synthetic diamonds often contain dark graphite inclusions or other mineral inclusions. These inclusions are a result of the unique growth process in CVD and differ from metallic inclusions in that they lack a metallic luster. Graphite inclusions are specific to CVD diamonds and are not typically found in natural or HPHT diamonds.
4. Unique Structural Patterns
Lab-grown diamonds, whether CVD or HPHT, can exhibit unique structural patterns that are not found in natural diamonds. For instance, CVD diamonds tend to show banded strain patterns, which are distinct markers used by scientists to differentiate them from HPHT diamonds. In contrast, HPHT diamonds do not show any strain patterns due to the uniform pressure environment in which they are grown.
These inclusions and structural patterns are critical in distinguishing lab-grown diamonds from natural diamonds. They are a direct result of the controlled and specific conditions under which lab-grown diamonds are produced, as opposed to the varied and uncontrolled natural processes that form natural diamonds.
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