In many ways a diamond is the ultimate romantic gift. But with that significance comes a significant cost to match! For those with open minds though, there are ways to get a great gemstone without spending an arm and a leg – such as choosing an artificial version of this wonderful gem.
Several methods can be used to make synthetic diamonds. The original method was to use a condition with high temperature and high pressure. This technique is still widely used because it is relatively simple and cheap compared to other options. It uses a large press weighing hundreds of tons to create a pressure rate of 5 GPA. The heat caused in this environment is over 1500 degrees Celsius.
A second method is known as chemical vapor deposition or CVD. A carbon plasma element is created over a substrate where carbon atoms are deposited to make up a diamond. Other methods that can be used are treating graphite solutions with ultrasound and using nano-diamonds from detonations.
With the high temperature/high pressure method, 3 basic press designs can be used to create the appropriate temperature and pressure needed to make synthetic diamonds. These are the split sphere pres, cubic press, and belt press. The belt press is the oldest design where two anvils create pressure on a cylindrical cell. The anvils will also provide an electrical current to the cell, turning them into electrodes.
A cubic press uses 6 anvils that simultaneously crate pressure. This machine is smaller than a belt press and is able to achieve high temperatures and pressure more rapidly. However, they cannot be used to manufacture large volumes, because large anvils require an equal amount of force to achieve the proper pressure. Large cubic presses are difficult to manufacture, so they are not used for large production levels of diamonds.
The split sphere design is the most economical, efficient, and compact of all artificial diamond presses. It is easier to buy and maintain compared to the other choices, making it the most popular pressing system. Once it has been mounted, the inner cylinder is filled with oil, transferring oil pressure to the central cell to create heat and pressure.
Techical details aside, what oyu really need to know is that synthetic diamonds and other diamond simulants look great, and will please a jewelry lover every bit as much as a mined gemstone.