Lab Grown Diamonds: These rocks are made in India and care for the environment

Source: The post is based on the article “Lab Grown Diamonds: These rocks are made in India and care for the environment” published in TOI on 23rd June 2023

What is the News?

The Indian Prime Minister has presented to the US First Lady a lab-grown 7.5-carat green diamond – on his state visit to the United States. 

Lab Grown Green diamond creation involved the use of eco-diversified resources, such as solar and wind power, ensuring its eco-friendly nature.

What is Lab Grown Diamond?

Naturally-formed diamonds are pure carbon, crystalised in the isometric cubic form beneath the earth’s crust.

On the other hand, Lab-grown diamonds are diamonds which are grown inside a lab using cutting-edge technology.

How are lab-grown diamonds produced?

Lab-grown diamonds can be created by two processes: 1) High-Pressure High Temperature(HPHT) which is used in China and 2) Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD).

The CVD method is more popular in India. CVD is a chemical process in which the seed is heated up to 800 degrees in a sealed chamber filled with molecules of carbon-rich gas such as methane. 

These gas molecules are broken down into carbon and hydrogen atoms, which get deposited on the seed giving it the shape of a square, tabular diamond crystal. This process also requires heat or irradiation to give the crystal a colour effect. 

About the Lab Grown Diamond Industry in India

In India, the share of lab-grown diamonds in the overall diamond business is presently just 2-3 per cent. 

In India, lab-grown diamonds are mostly used for jewelleries and exports. About 80 per cent of the cut and polished LGDs are exported, while only 20 per cent are consumed locally. 

In the latest Budget, the Union Finance Minister has abolished the Customs duty on imports of seeds used for manufacturing of rough lab-grown diamonds.