Sustainable diamond sourcing

Towards a Sustainable Future: The Use of Renewable Energy in Lab-Grown Diamond Production Techniques.

HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature) and CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) techniques have revolutionized the world of diamonds, allowing these exceptional gems to be recreated in the laboratory and offering controlled and more sustainable production. However, what makes these processes even more innovative is the adoption of renewable energy sources.

Reproducing the conditions necessary for the formation of diamonds in the laboratory requires the use of large amounts of energy. To this end, manufacturing industries are embracing a more sustainable approach by becoming completely autonomous and powering their plants with solar, wind or hydroelectric energy. The environmental impact is significantly reduced, obtaining a more eco-friendly production cycle.

Furthermore, the use of renewable energy can help ensure the stability and security of supply, reducing dependence on non-renewable energy resources subject to price and availability fluctuations. This evolution not only reduces the overall environmental impact, but also promotes innovation and social responsibility, providing a significant competitive advantage in addressing global challenges related to climate change and sustainability.

The HPHT technique

The High Pressure High Temperature technique recreates conditions very similar to those that in nature give rise to diamonds.

The process starts with the selection of the "seed" of natural or laboratory-grown diamond that is placed inside a growth chamber. Inside the chamber there are heated resistors and a hydraulic system that generate high temperatures and high pressure respectively.

When gaseous carbon is introduced into the chamber, the heating elements and hydraulic system heat it and pressurize it. The "seed" acts as a catalyst and the carbon deposits on it, layer by layer, creating diamond, just as it does in the Earth's mantle.

The CVD technique

Chemical Vapor Deposition also recreates the same natural conditions for diamond production, but using a different process.

The process begins with the preparation of a "substrate" composed of diamond or other materials such as silicon or tungsten. This preparation is then placed inside a high-temperature vacuum chamber and filled with a gas mixture containing carbon, hydrogen and methane atoms.

Using a microwave beam or laser beam, the gas is activated and the bond between the atoms is broken. The released carbon atoms are deposited on the substrate forming the diamond by layering.