How is Post-Growth Treatment Disclosed for Lab-Grown Diamonds
The question of technology
For a long time, one of the main issues for gemologists was the certification of lab-grown diamonds. Now, when it has become a no-brainer, we’re facing the question of distinction between as-grown and treated.
![Post-Growth Treatment Disclosure](/fileadmin/_processed_/0/f/csm_HPHT-GIA-Diamond-Report_dc0a7dc6f2.jpg)
While the post-growth treatment disclosure in mined diamonds is absolutely obligatory, lab-grown diamond reports still don’t mention the color enhancement. Gemological laboratories have the means of detecting treatment not only in mined diamonds, but in the lab-grown ones as well. However, the certificates still don’t reflect whether a diamond was enhanced or not. Why the double-standards?
Most CVD-diamond manufacturers speak against the disclosure of post-growth treatment because their technology doesn’t allow them to produce near-colorless gemstones without it. Absolute majority of CVD-grown diamonds have a strong brownish tint in their ‘as grown’ form. Their main argument is that treatment is just another step of the diamond-growing process.
The question of funds
A treated mined diamond will cost significantly less than a non-treated one with the same 4C’s. Thus, by arguing against the color enhancement disclosure in lab-grown diamonds, most CVD-growers try to maintain the pricing of treated diamonds at the level of the as-grown.
However, to grow a non-treated high quality colorless diamond costs a lot more than to grow a low quality brownish diamond and then enhance it. Creating a perfect crystal structure without dislocations involves more time and energy, which means the higher production cost. Besides, research and development of applied growing technologies can only be done by a limited number of scientists and it requires significant funding for salaries and trial runs.
The question of transparency
Federal Trade Commission, CIBJO and JVC are in agreement that post-growth treatment is not an essential part of the growing process, and therefore should be disclosed in the certificate.
![Post-growth treatment disclosure](/fileadmin/_processed_/a/0/csm___HPHT-Treatment-color-_7758680536.jpg)
While treatment doesn’t change the overall chemical makeup of the diamond, it might negatively affect some of its properties, such as density. Moreover, the self-cost for as-grown and treated diamonds differ drastically.
We at LaBrilliante strongly believe that full transparency is necessary for consumer confidence. And if a diamond is a symbol of confidence, then it should reflect it. Lab-grown and mined are both diamonds, therefore we should apply the same rules to both of them.