www.biron.com.au
History of Biron Laboratory Grown Diamonds Biron Emerald research started in 1977, originally in Western Australia under the name Biron Minerals Pty Ltd. By 1985, full scale production was underway of what was considered the World’s finest created emerald. It was grown through a hydrothermal synthetic process which gave the stones a hue from green to slightly bluish green in moderate to vivid saturation. All stones were very well cut and were relatively consistent in colour with vivid saturation. This led to the Australian Grown Biron Emerald becoming the most sort after created stone, with many jewellers around the World continuing to carry Biron Emeralds 35 years later. Today the story continues with Biron Laboratory
Grown Diamonds, created in a laboratory, to the same very high standards as our founders. This new ‘miracle of creation’ is available to everybody. Biron Laboratory Grown Diamonds not only sparkle and shine exactly the same as a quality mined diamond, but they are also ethically grown, cut to our very high standards and less than half the price of an equivalent mined diamond. Our beautiful diamonds allow you to create your dream ring or item of jewellery at an affordable price whilst showing you care for the environment. Today Biron is still proudly Australian Owned and Operated.
diamonds
BIRON LOGO HOW IT WAS ORIGINALLY KNOWN
Beautiful diamonds without harming the environment
THE FUTURE OF
• ECO-FRIENDLY – Lab grown diamonds are ethically grown with minimal impact on the environment.
THE BIRON LOGO WE KNOW AND RECOGNISE TODAY
• BEAUTY – Lab diamonds have the same physical, chemical and optical properties of natural diamonds. • VALUE – Lab diamonds are less than half the price of a natural diamond making it the smarter choice. • Available in white, (D/I VVS1-I1) from 1mm to 3ct. • Boxed with a security seal and certification for peace of mind. • We still stock Biron Emerald, Ruby and Sapphire.
“The only truly Australian emerald that has gained world wide recognition and international demand is the Biron Synthetic Emerald... the Biron emerald is what many people in the industry still consider the world’s best quality synthetic emerald.”
VISUALLY: Indistinguishable just by looking at it with the naked eye.
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LASER INSCRIBED EMERALD
PRINCESS
PEAR
TRILLIANT
OVAL
www.jewelleryworld.net.au RADIANT
GEMS & GEMOLOGY – Fall 1985
HEART
ASSCHER
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DIAMONDS CUTS
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CUSHION
MARQUISE
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Chemically: CREATED IN ROUGH crystal form by scientists.
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BIR
Our laboratory grown diamonds are laser inscribed which is visible under a Jewellers loupe.
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PHYSICALLY AND OPTICALLY: Special equipment is needed to establish with certainty whether a stone is lab-grown.
How laboratory diamonds are made: STEP 1 Our lab experts select the finest quality diamond seeds and the best seeds are carefully positioned on a metal disk to be placed inside the diamond-growing reactor. It is most important to select seeds without any imperfections.
Biron laboratory diamond journey STEP 2 Our labs use both processes – Highpressure High-temperature (HPHT) and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD). The seed is placed inside a low-pressure microwave chamber.
STEP 3 Diamond seeds go through various stages over the next 10 to 12 weeks. A combination of gases, pressure and temperature create an environment that transforms seeds into rough diamonds. Hydrogen and methane gases are introduced. Carbon atoms rain on the seed, layering on top of it and fast-tracking the natural crystallisation process.
STEP 4 Through the ongoing process rough diamonds acquire the same chemical, physical and optical properties of mined diamonds.
STEP 5 The rough diamonds are then cut and polished to exacting standards of high tech labs creating a beautiful bright Biron Laboratory Grown Diamond and is then laser inscribed by ADGL, IGI or GIA, for added disclosure and identification.
STEP 6 The Biron Laboratory Grown Diamond is then ready to be set into a stunning piece of jewellery for you to love and enjoy.
Our Biron Laboratory Grown Diamond will dazzle and shine with the same chemical, physical and optical properties as a mined diamond. Before we talk about how laboratory grown diamonds are made, it’s important to understand how mined diamonds are formed as the processes are extremely similar – only one happens naturally while the other occurs in a laboratory. Geologist believe mined diamonds were formed deep within the Earth, between 1 billion to 3 billion years ago. While they don’t know exactly how those diamonds came to be, they believe the process started with carbon dioxide that is buried roughly 100 miles beneath the Earth’s surface. The carbon dioxide is exposed to heat and put under extreme pressure. The diamonds are then transported from deep within the Earth’s core to the surface by way of volcanic explosions. Diamonds can be classified into 4 types: 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b. Diamonds are classified according to the level of their chemical impurities. Type IIA mined diamonds make up 3% of mine diamonds. Type IIA diamonds are considered the purest form of diamonds. They contain no or very little impurities and are considered the most rare and valuable type of diamonds. They
contain a very little amount of nitrogen, so they don’t easily absorb short wave light. They are colourless and are almost transparent. Lab grown diamonds are classed as type IIA diamonds. There are two processes for producing lab grown diamonds – High Pressure, High Temperature (HPHT) and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD).
HPHT DIAMONDS High pressure, high temperature (HPHT) diamonds are made in an environment that is similar to the environment favourable for the production of mined diamonds. There are three main press designs that are used to supply the pressure and the temperature required to produce lab grown diamonds. They are: the cubic press, the split-sphere press and the belt press. Diamond seeds are placed at the bottom of the press. A HPHT diamond begins as a small diamond seed that is placed into carbon. Using one of the manufacturing processes above, the seed is exposed to temperatures of around 1500 degrees Celsius and pressurised to approximately 1.5 million pounds per square inch. The pure carbon melts and starts to form a diamond around the starter seed. It is then carefully cooled to form a pure carbon diamond.
CVD DIAMONDS CVD diamonds are grown from a hydrocarbon gas mixture in the chemical vapour deposition method. CVD diamonds begin as a thin slice of diamond seed, which is often a HPHT produced diamond. The diamond seed is placed in a sealed chamber and heated to around 800 degrees Celsius. Over the next 10 to 12 weeks seeds go through various processes. The chamber is filled with a carbon rich gas, pressure and temperature create an environment that allows carbon atoms to break down and rain upon the seeds. As weeks go by, atom by atom, layer by layer, the seeds transform into Biron rough diamonds. Biron Laboratory Grown Diamonds acquire the same chemical, physical and optical properties as mined diamonds. The rough diamonds are then cut and polished to exacting standards of high tech labs creating a beautiful bright Biron Laboratory Grown Diamond and is then laser inscribed by ADGL for added disclosure and identification. The Biron Laboratory Grown Diamond is then ready to be set into a stunning piece of jewellery for you to love and enjoy.
Biron Laboratory Grown Diamonds VS Diamond Simulants
“The perfect diamond for any special occasion.”
Diamond simulants such as Cubic Zirconia and Moissanites may look similar to diamonds, but that’s where it ends. They do not have the same chemical and physical properties, meaning that the refractive index is different and the hardness is different. These stones, known as diamond simulants, are designed to give the consumer a cheaper alternative to a diamond, however, both are relatively easy to distinguish from diamonds. A Biron Lab Grown Diamond is simply a diamond that has been grown in a laboratory; it will test as a diamond on a traditional diamond probe. They have all the properties of mined diamonds, including flaws and certificates, because they are in every way, diamonds. Even an experienced jeweller with a loupe cannot tell them apart and rely on machines for testing.
Chemical Composition
Crystalline Structure
Refractive Index
Dispersion
Hardness
Density
Lab Grown
C
Cubic
2.42
0.044
10
3.52
Mined
C
Cubic
2.42
0.044
10
3.52
Diamonds
Simulants CZ
Zr02
Cubic
2.2
0.066
8.25
5.7
Moissanite
SIC
Hexagonal
2.65
0.104
9.25
3.21
White Sapphire
Al203
Hexagonal
1.77
0.018
9
3.97
Your questions answered... Are Biron Laboratory Grown Diamonds real diamonds? Biron Laboratory Grown Diamonds are in every way the same as a mined diamond, making them a real diamond. Laboratory grown diamonds and mined diamonds have the same physical and chemical properties. The only difference being a mined diamond comes from the ground and a laboratory grown diamond comes from a lab.
What is the difference between a moissanite and a Laboratory Grown Diamond? There are many differences between a moissanite and a laboratory grown diamond. Chemically they are made of different elements meaning their refractive index, density and hardness all differ to laboratory grown diamonds and natural diamonds. Moissanites also physically look different to Diamonds.
Will they change colour over time? All of our Biron Lab Grown Diamonds are stable and permanent Just like a minded diamond. They will not fade or change colour with everyday wear.
Why are blue and white more expensive than yellow? The length of time in the growth units impacts the price. Adding nitrogen makes a diamond yellow and helps it grow the quickest. Boron makes a diamond blue, though it grows much slower than a yellow. The absence of these elements greatly slows the growth of the colourless diamonds, making them grow the slowest and most expensive of the three to produce.
Will they change colour or damage with heat? Biron Laboratory Grown Diamonds will not change colour or damage with everyday heat. Is special care required when working with jewellery set with Lab Grown Diamonds? No, with the exception of pink diamonds. Special care should always be taken when working with pink diamonds. All other laboratory grown diamonds can be treated as though it was natural. Will they scratch? Laboratory grown diamonds are the same as mined diamonds. Only a diamond can scratch a diamond. How do I value them? Insuring a Biron laboratory grown diamond Item if jewellery is exactly the same as valuing a mined, Please contact the NCJV for your local jewellery valuer.
How do I tell the difference between a Biron Laboratory Grown Diamond and a mined diamond? All Biron Laboratory Grown Diamonds have “BIRON LABORATORY GROWN” inscribed on the girdle of the diamond as well as a certification number starting with “L.” This certificate can be checked on the ADGL certificate check section of www.adgl.com.au Can I request a particular colour, size or clarity? Yes, we are producing Birons all the time. Predominately Biron Laboratory Grown Diamonds are Si2 clarity and above and H to D colour. This ensures you a buying a quality looking diamond.
What is the size range of Biron Laboratory Grown Diamonds? Biron Laboratory Grown are available from 1mm up to 4cts in size in a variety of different shapes.
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