Diamonds don’t just form deep within the Earth — they can also be grown in a laboratory environment using advanced technology.

Lab-grown diamonds are created using two main methods: High-Pressure High-Temperature (HPHT) and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD). While both produce real diamonds, their processes are quite different. In this post, we’ll break down how each process works and what makes them unique.

HPHT: Mimicking Nature’s Intensity

HPHT diamonds are created by replicating the extreme heat and pressure found deep inside the Earth. A small diamond “seed” is placed in a press, surrounded by carbon, and subjected to temperatures above 1,500°C and pressures over 1.5 million psi. The carbon melts and crystallizes around the seed, growing into a diamond over a few weeks.

Key Traits of HPHT diamonds:

✔ A method that's been around for a long time, even before we could produce gem-quality diamonds

✔ Also used as a treatment to improve color in in natural diamonds and CVD grown diamonds, or to create fancy colored diamonds such as vivid yellow, green, blue, or pink by altering their internal atomic structure.

✔ Inclusions in a HPHT diamonds can sometimes be "metallic-like" because of the metal catalyst used, called a press

CVD: Growing Diamonds from Carbon Vapor

CVD diamonds are grown in a high-tech chamber using carbon-rich gas. The diamond seed is exposed to plasma that breaks down the gas, allowing pure carbon to build up layer by layer. This method happens at lower pressure and around 800-1,200°C, producing high-quality, nearly flawless diamonds.

Key Traits of CVD diamonds:

✔ Produces diamonds with fewer inclusions

✔ Can sometimes create brownish tinting due to crystal strain, and growth lines (striations) can appear, which are different from traditional inclusions

✔ A slower process, making it more difficult to grow large size gems

Both methods create real diamonds—chemically, physically, and optically identical to mined ones. 

At Identity Diamonds, we believe that a diamond’s beauty, brilliance, and proportions matter far more than the method used to grow it. That’s why we carefully select both CVD and HPHT diamonds, focusing exceptional light return and stunning visual appeal in every piece we create. No matter how it’s grown, a well-cut diamond will always shine with breathtaking fire and elegance, and contribute to a more sustainable and ethical diamond industry. ✨💎🌱