What Is a Lab Grown Blue Diamond?

A lab grown blue diamond is a real diamond created in a laboratory with the same chemical composition as natural blue diamonds, but at a fraction of the cost. These diamonds get their stunning blue color from boron atoms integrated during the growth process.

Understanding these key points helps you make informed decisions:

• HPHT and CVD methods create chemically identical blue diamonds in controlled environments
• Boron integration during growth produces consistent, vivid blue coloration naturally
• Lab grown blue diamonds offer accessible luxury previously limited to ultra-wealthy collectors
• IGI and GIA certification ensures authentic quality and protects your investment
• Color intensity ranges from Fancy Light to Fancy Vivid grades

Mikado Diamonds specializes in custom engagement rings featuring certified lab grown blue diamonds, expert consultation, transparent pricing, and personalized design renderings. Their process starts with diamond selection, then creates unique settings that showcase your blue diamond's rare beauty while delivering exceptional value.

Blue diamonds were once exclusive to royalty and billionaires. Keep reading to discover how lab grown technology makes these stunning gems accessible for your dream ring.

The Science Behind Lab Grown Blue Diamond Creation

Creating a lab grown blue diamond requires precise control over both temperature and chemical composition. The stunning blue color comes from boron atoms that replace carbon atoms in the diamond's crystal structure during growth.

HPHT Method for Blue Diamond Creation

The High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) method recreates the conditions deep within Earth's mantle. 

For blue diamonds, boron is introduced during this process. 

The boron atoms integrate into the growing diamond crystal, creating the characteristic blue color. This method typically produces blue diamonds in 2-4 weeks.

CVD Process for Blue Diamonds

Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) grows diamonds in a vacuum chamber using carbon-rich gases. Microwave energy breaks down methane gas, allowing carbon atoms to settle onto a diamond seed and form layers.

Boron-containing gases are added to create the blue color during growth. CVD blue diamonds often show more consistent color distribution and can take 4-6 weeks to complete.

Why Boron Creates Blue Color

Boron atoms are smaller than carbon atoms, so they fit into the diamond's crystal lattice structure. These boron atoms absorb red and yellow light wavelengths while allowing blue light to pass through, creating the blue appearance.

The concentration of boron determines color intensity:

• Light blue: 1-5 parts per million boron
• Fancy blue: 5-10 parts per million boron
• Fancy intense blue: 10+ parts per million boron

Chemical Identity with Natural Blue Diamonds

Lab grown blue diamonds have identical chemical composition (carbon with trace boron), crystal structure, and physical properties as natural blue diamonds. Advanced gemological equipment cannot distinguish between them based on chemical analysis alone.

The complete timeline from carbon source to finished blue diamond ranges from 2-6 weeks, compared to billions of years for natural formation.

Lab Grown Blue Diamond Color Intensity and Grading

Lab grown blue diamonds are graded using the same color intensity scale as natural blue diamonds, ranging from Fancy Light Blue to Fancy Vivid Blue. The key difference is that lab grown blue diamonds offer remarkable color consistency that's nearly impossible to achieve in natural stones.

Understanding Blue Diamond Color Grades

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and International Gemological Institute (IGI) use these standardized color grades for blue diamonds:

• Fancy Light Blue: Subtle blue tint with delicate color saturation
• Fancy Blue: Noticeable blue color with medium intensity
• Fancy Intense Blue: Rich, vibrant blue with strong color presence
• Fancy Vivid Blue: The most saturated and valuable blue grade
• Fancy Deep Blue: Dark blue with exceptional depth

How Color Intensity Affects Pricing and Value

Color intensity dramatically impacts both appearance and pricing in blue diamonds. A Fancy Vivid Blue lab grown diamond can cost 3-5 times more than a Fancy Light Blue of the same size and clarity.

The pricing progression typically follows this pattern:

• Fancy Light Blue: Base pricing tier
• Fancy Blue: 40-60% price increase
• Fancy Intense Blue: 100-150% price increase
• Fancy Vivid Blue: 200-300% price increase

At Mikado Diamonds, we help clients understand these pricing differences during our custom design consultations.

Certification Standards for Lab Grown Blue Diamonds

Both GIA and IGI provide comprehensive certification for lab grown blue diamonds. These certificates include:

• Color grade and intensity level
• Growth method identification (CVD or HPHT)
• Clarity and cut grades
• Carat weight verification
• Confirmation of laboratory origin

IGI has become particularly prominent in lab grown diamond certification, offering detailed reports that clearly identify the growth process and color origin.

Color Consistency Advantages in Lab Grown Diamonds

Lab grown blue diamonds offer superior color consistency compared to natural blue diamonds. The controlled laboratory environment allows for:

• Even color distribution throughout the stone
• Predictable color intensity results
• Elimination of color zoning common in natural blues
• Consistent boron integration during growth

This consistency means you can select a lab grown blue diamond with confidence, knowing the color will be uniform and stable. We've seen this reliability make lab grown blue diamonds increasingly popular for custom engagement rings where color matching and consistency are crucial.

Discover Your Perfect Blue Diamond

Natural blue diamonds rank among the world's rarest gemstones, with prices reaching hundreds of thousands of dollars per carat due to their extreme scarcity. For most couples dreaming of a stunning blue diamond engagement ring, these astronomical costs put this beautiful option completely out of reach.

That's where Mikado Diamonds comes in, specializing in certified lab grown blue diamonds that deliver the same breathtaking color and brilliance at a fraction of the cost. 

Our lab grown blue diamonds undergo the same natural formation process, creating authentic blue hues through controlled boron exposure, with full IGI certification guaranteeing quality and authenticity.

Explore our lab grown blue diamond collection today and discover how you can create a custom engagement ring featuring this rare, captivating gemstone without compromising your budget.