Artificial Diamonds
The term 'artificial diamonds' has acquired a lot of confusion in recent years. The public tends to confuse artificial diamonds with cubic zirconium, glass, or quartz. The truth is that artificial diamonds should probably be classified just as cultured pearls are; lab grown yet one-hundred percent authentic diamond. Since diamonds are the hardest substance on earth, small pieces of diamonds have been used in the past on the tips of industrial machinery that cuts metal. However, within the last two years, scientists have found a way to produce diamonds large enough for jewelry.
Two methods of producing these authentic diamonds exist. One method is by starting out with a small "seed" of the stone and using molten graphite to add to its crystalline structure, steadily making it larger and larger. Another method involves condensation of very small pieces of diamonds which build up layer by layer inside a chamber. This method is called chemical vapor deposition, or CVD. These diamonds are usually perfect and can easily be colored. Jewelers and even gemologists have trouble telling the difference between natural and artificial diamonds. For this reason, some people believe that artificial diamonds should not be allowed to be freely circulated in the diamond market. However, many think that major diamond companies such as DeBeers is merely trying to keep artificial diamonds out of the market in order to continue their monopoly over it. Although artificial diamonds are lab made, it is important to keep in mind that they are the exact composition of natural diamonds.