Chatham Diamond is a Diamond, is a Diamond

A diamond is a tetrahedral carbon crystal grown within the earth under the right conditions of chemistry, temperature and pressure. Diamonds are found naturally in igneous rock brought close to the surface in volcanic flues. Very small diamonds are also formed by meteor impacts which create the right heat and pressure conditions for nearly instantaneous crystal growth.

A Chatham diamond is a tetrahedral carbon crystal grown in a controlled environment under the right conditions of chemistry, temperature and pressure. In other words, a Chatham diamond is not merely like a diamond - it is a diamond - with the same hardness, chemical composition and crystal structure as any diamond dug from the earth.

Carroll F. Chatham began growing gemstone quality emerald crystals in his laboratory in 1938 from a "seed" of naturally occurring emerald. After about 65 years of research and experimentation the Chatham Company is now able to grow gemstone quality diamond crystals with the same chemical, physical, and optical properties as mined diamonds. Chatham is not the only producer of synthetic diamonds although it is one of the few companies able to produce gemstone quality diamonds. Most synthetic diamonds are used in industrial and electronics applications.

A Chatham diamond has the same hardness (10), specific gravity (3.5), refractive index (2.4), dispersion (0.044) and melting point (3820 kelvin) as a mined diamond. Chatham diamonds are grown to 1 or 1.5 carats in about 14 months. They are cut and polished the same way as any other diamond gemstone.

The geographic origin of mined diamonds can be determined through the examination of inclusions and trapped crystal imperfections which are peculiar to say Brazilian or African diamonds. Chatham diamonds also have a crystalline signature and are distinguishable in the same way as mined diamonds, and in no other way.

What most distinguishes a Chatham diamond from its mined counterpart is that the Chatham diamond is brought to market without the same social, political and economic burdens. As a result Chatham diamonds can be purchased for less money.