Diamond

The most coveted gem in history. Uncut diamonds were worn into battle by great knights while cut diamonds have adorned the crowns of kings and queens over the centuries. A striking symbol of love, devotion, strength, power and wealth. Diamonds mean forever. They have risen as the most popular gem for engagement rings. Chatham lab grown diamonds are 100% real diamond, indistinguishable from earth-mined diamonds except with sophisticated gemological equipment.

Give Diamond as …

April birthstone

Zodiac gem for Cancer and Libra

A symbol of love and commitment

The 10th and 60th anniversary stone

She is classy and loves fashion!

Chatham Lab Grown Diamond

Like the diamonds themselves, growing these brilliant crystals is extremely hard. Despite the difficulty and effort required to grow diamonds in a carefully controlled laboratory environment, lab grown diamonds sell for less than earth-mined diamonds of the same size and quality. Depending on the size and weight, choosing a lab grown diamond could save you thousands of dollars.

Remember, lab grown diamonds are 100% genuine diamond. The only difference between them and their mined counterparts is where they form: above the ground versus below the ground. Grown above the ground, Chatham lab grown diamonds have less impact on the environment than earth-mined diamonds.

Make sure you don’t confuse lab grown diamonds with diamonds imitations or simulants like cubic zirconia, moissanite, white sapphire or glass. Imitations are made to merely look like diamonds while the physical and chemical properties are completely different.

At Chatham, we carefully recreate the growing environment for diamonds using two processes: High Pressure High Temperature, or HPHT, and Chemical Vapor Deposition, or CVD. In HPHT, we use 50 kilo bars of pressure at 1300°C in a massive three-story-high press. The noble diamond has the simplest structure, crystallized carbon, so it only takes about 10 days to grow. But like earth-mined diamonds, tiny traces of other elements can result in crystals that are not completely colorless or microscopic flaws that reduce clarity. We control the process very carefully to increase quality.

The CVD process uses methane gas and microwave plasma. Methane is CH4: one carbon atom attached to 4 hydrogen atoms. The high heat breaks off the carbon atom which floats down to a diamond seed to slowly form a diamond, atom by atom.

The HPHT process promises large pure colorless crystals but there are still technical issues faced by all crystal growers that have yet to be resolved.

Chatham lab grown diamonds have the same physical, chemical, and optical make-up as earth-mined diamonds. Even a highly trained jeweler cannot tell the difference without advanced gemological equipment.

But lab grown diamonds have a smaller ecological footprint than their earth-mined counterparts. This is due to us growing them above ground in our labs, so they don’t require the removal of tons of earth. Chatham lab grown diamonds are preferred by many looking to reduce their environmental impact.

Chatham lab grown diamonds are featured in our exquisite Eternal Flame Collection of engagement rings.

About Diamonds

A girl’s best friend. The word diamond comes from the Greek word adamas and Roman diamas meaning “the unconquerable.” The name is well-earned since diamond is the hardest material on earth. It’s an international symbol of love, devotion and betrothal. But it started when the first recorded diamond engagement ring was given in 1477 to Mary of Burgundy. Today, most couples promise to marry with this beautiful gem.

A diamond isn’t just durable, it also sparkles like nothing else. Therefore, it’s a popular choice for everything from everyday wear to red-carpet events. It’s the world’s most loved gem. Fashion icons of every generation have worn diamonds to shine in the spotlight—from Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe to today’s Beyonce, Rihanna and Taylor Swift.

This costly gem requires immense effort to mine with the yield of one part diamond to one million parts rock. Like all precious commodities, diamonds have been used to smuggle fortunes and fund wars. These pieces of forever are silent witnesses to the best and worst motivations of the men and women who own them.

Shop Popular Diamond Jewelry

Round Chatham lab grown diamond halo engagement ring set in 14K white gold head with pave diamond set in 14K rose gold shank.
14K white gold engagement ring with  round Chatham lab grown diamond and Chatham lab grown diamond and sapphire accents
Chatham lab grown diamond bow earrings set in 14K white gold
Chatham lab grown diamond fashion pendant set in 14K yellow gold

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