How are diamonds grown in the lab?

Diamonds have always stood for beauty and durability. But today, more than ever, their origin matters too. That’s why at Maren Jewellery, we rely on lab-grown diamonds, created under controlled conditions and meeting strict sustainability standards.

Our partners work with climate awareness, enable full traceability, and are audited through independent certifications such as the SCS-007 Jewelry Sustainability Standard. In this way, we combine timeless aesthetics with a more responsible use of resources.

You can learn more about the specific sustainability benefits and certifications of our diamonds in the rest of this journal.

Natural diamonds are born in blazing heat. The same is true for stones grown in the lab based on their example – including lab diamonds produced using the so-called CVD process. This stands for Chemical Vapour Deposition. To do this, a plasma with an unparalleled energy density must be generated. Our partner Fenix Diamonds works with the CVD process.

Diamonds are created in a plasma that is as hot as a small sun on Earth. In this heat, atoms can attach themselves to the diamond’s natural crystal lattice, which serves as the foundation for the lab-grown diamond in this process, and expand it. One by one, the atoms stack onto a thin diamond foundation and extend the unique crystal structure of the seed diamond. Atom by atom, it grows into a pure, jewellery-grade rough diamond in gemstone size.

Every diamond produced in the lab by Fenix can be certified and traced back to its origin. This traceability is still rare in the field of natural and lab-grown diamonds and represents an important step towards greater transparency in the industry. Fenix states that it operates in a climate-neutral way and powers its production facilities in India in part with solar energy. Several certifications (SMETA / SCS-007 Jewelry Sustainability Standard) also confirm labour and production standards.

Sustainability-certified diamonds stand for the highest level of transparency and responsibility throughout the entire value chain. The SCS-007 Jewelry Sustainability Standard is considered one of the strictest and most comprehensive standards in the industry, assessing both natural and lab-grown diamonds according to clearly defined environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria. These include, among other things, verifiable traceability from origin to the finished piece of jewelry, a net-zero CO₂ footprint, sustainable production processes, and investments in social and environmental projects. Independent third-party certification ensures that these requirements are actually met – and gives brands like Maren Jewellery, as well as their customers, the highest level of confidence in the origin and impact of the diamonds.

At Maren Jewellery, we have decided to use lab-grown diamonds from Fenix Diamonds for our jewelry pieces instead of natural ones.

Not only are they just as pure and unique as natural diamonds, but according to our supply chain information, their origin is also fully documented. Our diamonds come from India. According to our suppliers, our gemstones come from conflict-free supply chains.

In addition, synthetic diamonds cause significantly less disruption to landscapes and ecosystems compared to traditional mining.

1 carat of newly mined rough diamond from a mine generates 3100–4350 tonnes of overburden [1] [2], as well as 2675 tonnes of heavy metals in the ground [1].

Overall, newly mined rough diamonds from a mine generate 108.5 CO2e per carat [1] [3]

Lab-grown rough diamonds 11.8 CO2e per carat [3] This shows that lab-grown diamonds consume less CO2 than natural diamonds.

Nevertheless, CO2 is still consumed and energy is required for the growing process. But this is also taken into account at Fenix Diamonds, which, just like Maren Jewellery, according to their own statements operate climate-neutrally and also rely on solar power.

By choosing synthetic diamonds, we can ensure that we design jewelry aligned with our values: sustainable, mindful, and responsible. Best of all, our sustainable jewelry pieces combine design with a more responsible use of materials.

Our synthetic eco diamonds – as pure as a diamond can be.

(1) Dr Gbemi Oluleye – Research Fellow, Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, "Environmental Impacts of Mined Diamonds" 2019

(2) Better Diamond Initiative, "Environmental Cost of Mined Diamonds Is Alarming" [Online] Available: https://betterdiamondinitiative.org/environmental-costof-mined-diamonds-is-alarming/. Accessed on 2021.05.18

(3) Stanford Magazine, Andy Martin, "A Man-Made Diamond Is Forever, Too: Nitty-gritty" [Online] Available: https://stanfordmag.org/contents/a-man-made-diamondis-forever-too-nitty-gritty. Accessed on 2021.05.18