CAN YOU GROW DIAMONDS IN THE LAB?

Most natural diamonds are billions of years old, but Chinese researchers have shortened the process to a single week in the laboratory. Their method uses a methane molecule to deposit a carbon atom on a seed diamond. The growth rate is said to be 0.007 millimeters per hour. Thus it takes only seven days to produce a 1-carat gemstone with a purity comparable to a natural diamond. The stones can be sold for jewelry but can also be used in precision instruments such as lasers and radar equipment. The price is only about one-sixth of that of a natural diamond, which can cost up to $25,000 for a 1-carat stone.