Diamonds are associated with a number of popular phrases, with two of the most adored being “Diamonds are forever” and “Diamonds are a woman’s best friend”. Probably the only thing that is stopping diamonds from being friendly with all women is the fact that not everyone can afford it. But, things have changed now.
Synthetic Diamonds
Recent researches carried out in the United States seem to suggest ways of manufacturing cheap, perfect diamonds on a mass production basis. Also, there are no theoretical limits as far as synthetic diamond sizes are concerned. Washington’s Carnegie institute has come up with ways of making diamonds through chemical vapor deposition (CVD) techniques. In this process, carbon atoms present in a particular gas are made to sit on some surface for producing diamond crystals. This leads to rapid growth of diamonds, with the drawback being that gas impurities are absorbed, responsible for providing a brownish appearance to the diamonds. Annealing, a high temperature, high pressure treatment, is potent in purging these defects.
Microwaved Diamonds
Till recently, not more than 1 centimeter wide, 34-carat diamond had ever been synthesized, but with the usage of microwaves for subjecting diamonds to low pressure and 2200 °C by placing them in hydrogen plasma, the chamber size is the only limiting factor as far as diamond sizes are concerned. It is also less expensive when compared to a conventional high-pressure apparatus. The diamonds synthesized through this new technique contain much lesser impurities as compared to natural diamonds. These diamonds can be used in making windows of ultra-high quality showing optical transparency towards lasers.
The Commercial Threat
The simplicity of the microwave technique as compared to CVD technique makes the production of low price perfect diamonds on a mass-scale basis, very much possible. With the quality of artificial diamonds improving day by day, the market of natural diamonds is up against a big competition for sure. Compared to the 20 tons annual production of naturally occurring diamonds, synthetic diamonds are already produced over and above 600 tons for industrial purposes alone, for being used in high-pressure technologies like high-pressure anvils and lasers.
It’s becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish artificial diamonds from natural diamonds as artificial diamonds are also highly pure and brilliant nowadays. It’s a time when everyone can relish that brilliance, as it is becoming increasingly affordable. It’s a competitive time for natural diamond dealers and they are all braced up for it, but consumers are surely smiling all the way.
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