How a Diamond Grows
A lab-grown diamond begins with a tiny piece of diamond and grows, atom by atom, under carefully controlled conditions.
It starts with a diamond seed
Every lab-grown diamond begins with a small piece of existing diamond known as a seed. Under carefully controlled conditions, carbon builds around that seed until a larger diamond crystal is formed. GRWN diamonds are grown using CVD or HPHT, the two primary methods used to produce gem-quality lab-grown diamonds.
CVD
Chemical Vapor Deposition, or CVD, grows a diamond inside a controlled chamber. A diamond seed is exposed to a carbon-rich gas. As the gas is activated, carbon collects on the seed, gradually forming the diamond layer by layer.
HPHT
High Pressure High Temperature, or HPHT, uses intense heat and pressure to create the conditions needed for diamond growth. The diamond seed is placed with a carbon source inside specialized equipment. Under these conditions, carbon crystallizes around the seed and forms a larger diamond.
What happens after growth
Once the rough diamond is complete, it is removed, evaluated, cut and polished. This stage determines much of what we eventually see in the finished stone. Proportion, symmetry and polish all influence how the diamond interacts with light.
CVD or HPHT: does it matter?
Both methods can produce high-quality diamonds. For the person wearing the jewelry, the growth method is generally less important than the finished stone itself: its cut, color, clarity, proportions and overall appearance. At GRWN, diamonds are selected for the quality of the finished piece rather than for one growth method over another.