Diamonds, like many other gemstones, are actually minerals! Natural diamonds start as atoms of carbon deep inside the Earth under high temperatures and pressures. Under these conditions, the carbon atoms begin to bond and crystallize and eventually form diamonds. Learn more about diamond formation by reading this Smithsonian Magazine article, Diamonds Unearthed.  

In recent decades, increasing demand for diamonds coupled with concerns about the mining and sourcing of diamonds has led to the growth of an artificial (or lab grown, man-made, etc.) diamond market. These so-called “artificial” diamonds are chemically, optically, and structurally similar to Earth-grown diamonds in practically every way. In fact, specialized equipment is usually needed to differentiate between artificial and natural diamonds. 

The trend of creating memorial diamonds to remember loved ones has also become increasingly popular. Like other artificial diamonds, memorial diamonds are grown in laboratory settings that mimic the high temperature, high pressure conditions deep inside Earth. The difference is the that the source of carbon comes from human remains. By extracting carbon from ashes, a memorial diamond can be grown!