Identification of Synthetic Diamond Grown Using Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD)

Abstract

encountered by the gem trade, but until recently attention has focused almost exclusively on the kind produced by exposing carbon-containing solids to high pressures and temperatures (HPHTgrown synthetic diamond; see, e.g., Shigley et al., 1986, 1987). For many years, however, scientists have known that it is also possible to synthesize diamond at low pressures from carbon-containing gases, using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) techniques. Although the gem trade has been relatively unaware of CVD, over the last two decades this method of diamond synthesis has been the subject of intense worldwide research because of the many potential technological applications of CVD synthetic diamond material. Apollo Diamond Inc. of Boston, Massachusetts, has spent many years developing CVD synthetic diamond material for use in technological applications and jewelry. In August 2003, this company announced plans to begin selling limited quantities of faceted material starting in the fourth quarter of 2003 (Pridy, 2003). Butler et al. (2002) presented analytical results for one faceted sample of single-crystal CVD synthetic diamond produced by Apollo Diamond. Preliminary notes on examination of several Apollo samples appeared in the Gem News International section of the Fall 2003 issue of this journal. Then, in the Winter 2003 issue, Wang et al. gave a thorough description of the results of their study of 13 samples provided by Apollo Diamond, offering useful indicators to aid identification of CVD synthetic diamond of the kind proposed for commercial jewelry production. Since the late-1980s, the Diamond Trading Company, a De Beers Group company, has carried out proactive research to investigate the implications