Creating our jewels exclusively with lab-grown diamonds is a conscious choice. Through breakthrough science and technology, we are able to recreate Earth’s process of over a billion years in 600 hours, to create a more sustainable diamond. All Unsaid diamonds grown at our lab, ALTR Tech in Surat, India are powered with renewable energy. For every carat, a mined diamond requires 7300 litres of water and emits 160kg of CO2. This is drastically high in comparison to just 1 litre of water and 12kg of CO2 for each carat grown in a lab. (Trucost Report 2017)

The crystal structure and chemical composition of a lab-grown diamond is identical to one that is extracted from the earth. The difference is that a lab-grown diamond is completely pure. Classified as Type 11a, the most prized and collectible type of diamonds, they have no chemical impurities on the lattice. This means that the entire diamond crystal is made of carbon. Only 5% of mined diamonds can compare.

To create a lab-grown diamond, a diamond seed is placed inside a sealed chamber that is heated to approximately 800 degrees celsius. In a process called chemical vapour deposition, the chamber is filled with carbon gas which ionises into plasma and breaks the molecular bonds of the gases. The pure carbon adheres to the diamond seed and crystallises, forming a diamond with the exact same scintillation, flash, fire and brilliance as a mined diamond.

The process of growing diamonds in a lab allows remarkable flexibility as size, cut and colour can all be predetermined. We are now able to design our pieces first and then grow the diamonds to exact specifications, making truly remarkable and original pieces of jewellery.