• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.159-167
• /
• 2022

In the past few decade years, laboratory-grown diamonds, also known as synthetic diamonds usually, have become more and more prosperous in the global diamond market. There are two main crystal growth processes of the gem-quality laboratory-grown diamond, the high pressure and high temperature (HPHT) and chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Synthetic gem diamonds grown by the HPHT press have been commercially available since the mid-1990s. Today, significant amounts of gem-quality colorless HPHT laboratory-grown diamonds have been producing for the jewelry industry. In the last several years, the CVD laboratory-grown diamonds have been gaining popularity in the market. In 2021, the CVD production rose and there are expectations that the trend would move upward continuously. This article presents information about the current status of laboratory-grown diamonds, lower cost compared to natural diamonds, market share, color distribution, spectroscopic properties of laboratory-grown diamonds, and so on.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.435-442
• /
• 2008

Natural, synthetic, and treated diamonds were studied by NMR and EPR. It was demonstrated that natural and synthetic diamonds, treated and non-treated diamonds, high pressure high temperature (HPHT) treated and electron beam treated diamonds could be distinguished among each other based on the $^{13}C$ NMR spectra acquired for relatively short periods of 100 minutes. The $^{13}C$ NMR linewidths of gem quality synthetic diamonds were broader than 1.6 ppm due to the paramagentic effects of transition metals, generally used as catalysts, while the linewidths of gem quality natural diamonds were narrower than 0.5 ppm regardless of the methods of treatment. The linewidth (0.5 ppm) for a HPHT treated, gem quality natural diamond was as broad as more than twice of the linewidth (0.2 ppm) of an electron beam treated diamond. The $^{13}C$ NMR signal intensities of treated, gem quality natural diamonds were as strong as more than 10 times of the intensities of non-treated, gem quality natural diamonds. When correlated with the concentrations of the paramagnetic defects (electrons) obtained from the EPR spectra, the relative $^{13}C$ NMR signal intensities increased in proportion to the concentrations of the paramagnetic electrons contained in each sample but the electron beam treated diamond was an exception. This suggested that the lattice component, in addition to the paramagnetic defect component, should also be considered in determining the $^{13}C$ NMR signal intensity of the electron beam treated diamond.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
• /
• v.25 no.5
• /
• pp.188-192
• /
• 2015

Gemological and spectroscopic properties of HPHT synthetic diamonds from New Diamond Technology (NDT) company in St. Petersburg (Russia) were examined. Their color (colorless, near-colorless with some boron and Fancy blue with high boron content) and clarity ($VVS-SI_1$) grades were comparable to those of top natural diamonds. NDT synthetic diamonds fluoresced and phosphoresced blue or orange under SWUV light. Photoluminescence spectra revealed H3 center with very small intensity and NV centers. The intensity of H3 in NDT synthetic diamond has very weak in comparison with natural one. Using a combination of gemological and spectroscopic tests, gem-quality synthetic diamonds from NDT can be distinguished from natural diamonds of similar quality.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
• /
• v.39 no.5
• /
• pp.229-234
• /
• 2006

Diamonds have been widely employed as polishing media for precise machining and noble substrates for microelectronics. The recent development of the split sphere press has led to the enhancement of low quality natural diamonds. Synthesized and treated diamonds are sometimes traded deceptively as high quality natural diamonds because it is hard to distinguish among these diamonds with conventional gemological characterization method. Therefore, we need to develop a new identification method that is non-destructive, fast, and inexpensive. We proposed using new methods of UV fluorescence and X-ray Lang topography for checking the local HPHT stress field to distinguish these diamonds from natural ones. We observe unique differences in the local stress field images in treated diamonds using UV fluorescence and Lang topography characterization. Our result implies that our proposed methods may be appropriate for identification of the treated diamonds.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.149-153
• /
• 2017

Recently, significant amounts of gem-quality colorless HPHT synthetic melee diamond have produced for the jewelry industry. Consequently, there have been reports of cases of fraud in the world diamond business. For example, intentionally selling synthetic diamond as natural diamond or intentionally mixing a natural diamond parcel with a synthetic. As a result, the separation of natural from synthetic melee diamonds has become increasingly critical. At present, 10,000 cubic hinge presses are used for the production of synthetic diamond in China. From among these, reportedly 1,000 presses are used for gem-quality diamond production. One press can produce up to 10ct melee-size diamonds in 24 hours. Randomly occurring pinpoint or flux-metal inclusions are diagnostic identification clues. However, some synthetic diamonds require advanced laboratory method for identification. In order to ensure consumer confidence, it is essential to screen melees so as to distinguish all synthetic goods.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.7 no.5
• /
• pp.817-822
• /
• 2006

Diamonds have been widely employed as polishing media for precise machining and noble substrates for microelectronics. The recent development of the split sphere press has led to the enhancement of low quality natural diamonds. Synthesized and treated diamonds are sometimes traded deceptively as high quality natural diamonds because it is hard to distinguish among these diamonds with conventional gemological characterization method. Therefore, we need to develop a new identification method that is cheap, fast, and non-destructive. We proposed using a new method of micro-Raman spectroscopy for checking the local HPHT residual stress to distinguish these diamonds from natural ones. We observe unique ~10f compressive and tensile strains at Type I and Type II diamonds after HPHT treatment. Our result implies that our proposed methods may be appropriate fur identification of the treated diamonds with appropriate reference samples.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
• /
• v.51 no.4
• /
• pp.350-356
• /
• 2014

Recently, Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) synthetic diamonds have been introduced to the jewelry gem market, as CVD technology has been making considerable advances. Unfortunately, CVD diamonds are not distinguishable from natural diamonds when using the conventional gemological characterization method. Therefore, we need to develop a new identification method that is non-destructive, fast, and inexpensive. In our study, we employed optical microscopy and spectroscopy techniques, including Fourier transform infra-red (FT-IR), UV-VIS-NIR, photoluminescence (PL), micro Raman, and cathodoluminescent (CL) spectroscopy, to determine the differences between a natural diamond (0.30 cts) and a CVD diamond (0.43 cts). The identification of a CVD diamond was difficult when using standard gemological techniques, UV-VIS-NIR, or micro-Raman spectroscopy. However, a CVD diamond could be identified using a FT-IR by the Type II peaks. In addition, we identified a CVD diamond conclusively with the uneven UV fluorescent local bands, additional satellite PL peaks, longer phosphorescence life time, and uneven streaks in the CL images. Our results suggest that using FT-IR combined with UV fluorescent images, PL, and CL analysis might be an appropriate method for identifying CVD diamonds.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
• /
• v.20 no.2 s.52
• /
• pp.97-102
• /
• 2007

NMR experiments with various pulse repetition delay time were carried out for the $^{15}N\;and\;^{13}C$ of a natural gem diamond and synthetic diamonds. The natural gem diamond had a weak $^{13}C$ peak at 34.1ppm when 30 second pulse repetition delay time was applied. Similar but more prominent $^{13}C$ peaks were observed at 34.2 ppm with 0.5 second pulse repetition delay time and at 34.7 ppm with 50 second pulse repetition delay time for the synthetic diamonds. Any meaningful $^{15}N$ peak was not observed for either natural or synthetic diamonds due to extremely low content of the $^{15}N$. Significant relationship was observed between relative spin-lattice relaxation times we estimated and the content of impurities. however, it was not possible to distinguish natural diamond from synthetic diamonds due to very similar characteristics of their $^{13}C$ NMR signals except relative spin-lattice relaxation times.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.10 no.11
• /
• pp.3054-3059
• /
• 2009

Natural black diamonds of single crystal, polycrystalline, and agglomerated roughs become important for their industrial and gem stone application. We performed the conventional gemological tests of thermal diffusion, apparent density, scratch test, and magnification test as well as the advanced tests of Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction test and Lang topography. We conclude that scratch test with SiC paper was the most efficient method in view point of speed and cost. Raman spectroscopy and XRD were useful for identification of diamond while Lang topography offered a good visualization method of the grain structure of polycrystalline black diamond roughs.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
• /
• v.20 no.2 s.52
• /
• pp.91-96
• /
• 2007

Notable characteristics are found between diamond types and observed optical properties from the analysis of natural diamonds in market as a gem mineral. All of the diamond samples observed are classified into type Ia, which can be subdivided type IaA containing only A aggregates, type IaB containing only B aggregates, and type IaAB containing both A aggregates and B aggregates in detail. As B aggregates more relatively increase than A aggregates. It is possible to find out that an increase of N3 center, an enhancement of blue fluorescence reaction, and an intensification of irregularity in the strain pattern. Because the property change of diamond mentioned above are consistent with optical phenomenon caused by dislocation and with N3 center produced by changes of nitrogen aggregation process from A aggregate to B aggregate. There is a close relation between diamond type and optical properties.