A
synthetic diamond (also known as an
artificial diamond,
cultured diamond, or
cultivated diamond) is
diamond produced in an artificial process, as opposed to natural diamonds, which are created by
geological processes. Synthetic diamond is also widely known as
HPHT diamond or
CVD diamond after the two common production methods (referring to the high-pressure high-temperature and
chemical vapor deposition crystal formation methods, respectively). While the term
synthetic is associated by consumers with imitation products, artificial diamonds are made of the same material (pure carbon, crystallized in isotropic 3D form). In the U.S., the
Federal Trade Commission has indicated that the alternative terms
laboratory-grown,
laboratory-created, and
[manufacturer-name]-created "would more clearly communicate the nature of the stone".