Welcome to ALTR

No, diamonds were first created in a lab at General Electric in the 1950’s. However they weren’t gems of a quality that could be used in jewelry. Different variations of that process have been used ever since to produce industrial diamonds to be used for abrasives and manufacturing. Over the past few decades, the methods have been perfected, but only in the last few years has it been possible to produce large white gem quality diamonds that meet or surpass natural diamonds in terms of desirability and beauty. So while lab-grown diamonds have existed for many years, they have only recently become viable for fine jewelry

ALTR created diamonds are man made, and are produced by simulating natural conditions of extreme heat and pressure or chemical vapor deposition. So the process by  which the diamonds are grown is different but the resulting lab created diamond is exactly the same as a diamond mined from the earth. Both mined and created diamonds are identical in chemical, optical and physical composition.

We use two proprietary methods. In the first, the diamonds are created by replicating certain favorable conditions that naturally exist between 87 and 118 miles below the earth’s surface, in the mantle of the earth. A sliver of an existing high quality diamond, otherwise known as a seed, is placed in an environment that contains a specific recipe of carbon compounds at great pressures and temperatures. This process is called High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT). We also use a second method, called Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD), wherein the crystals are formed in layers like semiconductors. Each process results in a different kind of diamond and we employ both methods based on the specific gem required for a piece of jewelry. Both methods result in the creation of a real rough diamond with all the natural properties of a mined diamond.

ALTR Created Diamonds and gem quality earth-mined diamonds are both composed of incredibly pure crystal carbon as a single crystal. Simulants may look somewhat similar to the untrained eye, but the material is completely different, with different physical properties. Unlike a simulant, a created diamond’s refraction and hardness is identical to that of a natural diamond.  ALTR created diamonds are 100% authentic real diamonds; in contrast, diamond-like materials such as Cubic Zirconium, Moissanite and other diamond-coated materials, are not real diamonds.

While there is no difference between a mined and a created diamond, we are committed to complete transparency and believe in protecting our consumer’s ability to make an informed choice. Full disclosure is always in the best interests of both the consumer and the industry. In order to make sure our customer is well-informed about their choices, our industry is bound by law and ethics to clearly disclose whether a diamond is lab-grown or Earth-mined.

Depending on the color and size, it can take between 30-60 days to create a diamond in the laboratory.

ALTR created diamonds are graded with the same standards as mined diamonds and carry certifications from Gem Certification and Assurance Lab (GCAL) .

With over 48 exclusive patented cuts, ALTR radically increases a customer’s options to personalize or customize jewelry. Our diamonds can be created in a variety of colors, cuts and sizes to fit a specific design as well.

Yes, each ALTR created diamond over 0.70 ct has a unique ID inscribed on the diamond itself.  This information is detailed in your certificate so you can always identify your diamond with the help of a jeweler.