It is made by creating an extreme condition of high temperature, 1300–1600°C, and high pressure, 60 tons per 1 cm², which is equivalent to balancing 10 adult elephants on a fingertip.

Replicating the extreme conditions that occur inside Earth is what creates a lab-grown diamond. Lab-grown diamonds originate from tiny carbon seeds and are created using two main techniques

• High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT): Mimics natural diamond formation by placing a seed in a chamber with extreme heat and pressure, allowing carbon atoms to bond and crystallize into a diamond.
• Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD): Involves placing a diamond seed in a vacuum chamber with a carbon-rich gas that is heated, allowing carbon to settle and form a diamond layer by layer.

Both methods produce high-quality diamonds indistinguishable from mined diamonds, differing only in growth patterns and production time.

The term "diamond cut" refers to the accuracy of a diamond's angles, proportions, and alignment of facets, which ultimately influences its light reflection. This aspect is essential, as it determines the stone's brilliance (white light), fire (color), and scintillation (sparkle). Higher grades, such as Excellent, guarantee the most vibrant return of light.

Diamond color refers to the lack of color in white diamonds, graded by a trusted laboratory such as IGI of GIA on a scale from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow/brown). This grading is essential because colorless diamonds are rarer, more valuable, and exhibit greater brilliance by reflecting more light.

• D - F Colorless diamonds are the most desirable.
• G - J Near-colorless diamonds, Light yellow tint
• K - Z Noticeable Yellow

Diamond clarity assesses a diamond's purity by examining the quantity and size of internal inclusions and external blemishes, graded from Flawless (FL) to Included (I) under magnification. This aspect is essential as it directly influences a stone's brilliance, durability, and market value.

• Flawless (FL) / Internally Flawless (IF): No inclusions or blemishes visible under magnification.
• Very, Very Slightly Included (VVS1/VVS2): Inclusions are very difficult to see under magnification.
• Very Slightly Included (VS1/VS2): Inclusions are noticeable with under magnification.
• Slightly Included (SI1/SI2): Inclusions are easily noticeable under magnification.
• Included (I1, I2, I3): Inclusions are visible to the naked eye.

The carat is the standard unit of weight used for measuring diamonds, where 1 carat is equivalent to 0.2 grams. This measurement is essential as it directly affects both the price and perceived size of a diamond. Larger stones are rarer and tend to be considerably more valuable.

Most jewelers stop at the 4Cs. At Sōl et terre, that is where we begin.

The most real and impactful difference between a lab-grown and mined diamond is its impact on our Earth. Find out how we take the responsibility of taking care of our Earth one sparkle at a time...