A Diamond, is a Diamond, is a Diamond!!
Chemical make-up of a diamond: carbon, its crystal structure regardless whether mined or lab created, is the same. Carbon in a crystal structure is a diamond. Now, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) agrees. There is no longer the term natural diamond. Mined and laboratory grown diamonds are DIAMONDS!!!!
The old definition of a diamond used the term natural “mineral consisting essentially of pure carbon, crystallized in the isometric system.” (aka crystal growth structure).
Gemstones are classified by what structure their crystals have formed in, e.g. cubic (as example: diamond, garnet); orthorhombic (as example: tanzanite, topaz); trigonal (as example: sapphire, ruby); tetragonal (as example: zircon); hexagonal (as example: emerald, morganite); monoclinic (as example: kunzite ,diopside); triclinic (as example: kyanite, turquoise).
The new FTC definition of a diamond states, that it is a “mineral consisting essentially of pure carbon in the isometric system”. GONE is the word natural. It does not apply any more. With technological advances that allows humans to create diamonds with pure carbon applying the same heat and pressure, that it would have taken the earth millions of years to create but faster, what’s the difference? TIME!! You can get a beautiful diamond, less expensively, more eco- friendly, and more politically conscious! They are chemically, physically and optically identical as their million year counterparts.
Let’s clear a common misconception up. The word synthetic means an artificially produced gem, e.g. cubic zirconia.
Carbon is an element ,(periodic table) 6 Carbon
Melting point 3,825 K
Boiling point 5,100 K
Orbits [He] 2s2 2p2
C Atomic mass 12.011
Therefore it is not synthetic, can’t be synthesized.
There is a term in the jewelry industry, simulant. It means, it looks like another real gemstone, it is an imitation, but does not have the same chemical, physical and optical properties of the real gemstone. E.g., Cut glass made to look like a diamond.
The term Cultured Diamond was banned previously. Now, the FTC ruled that the word can be used if they are describing a laboratory-created diamond that has essentially the same physical, optical and chemical properties as a mined diamond, if the term is qualified by a clear, conspicuous disclosure e.g. laboratory-created/grown, etc. Making sure that the consumer realizes it is not a mined stone.
Think about pearls, a pearl is a pearl if it is grown in an oyster or a mollusk. If man has inserted an irritant within the oyster/mollusk to help it create a pearl, we still just call the pearl, for the most part, a pearl. Technically, it is a cultured pearl (aid of man). So, cultured diamonds are heading in the same direction.
The FTC has extended its flexibility in its new guidance addressing cultured diamonds to the other man-made gemstones. As long as they have the same chemical, physical, and optical properties as the named stone. Again with the disclosures as stated above for the diamonds, that it is not a mined stone.
Anybody up for a D-E-F color, near flawless, diamond?! I’ll take an oval (bigger face up value than a round, 2 ct would be nice) Keep in mind there’s still going to be a hefty price, but not nearly as much as before.