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Inside the De Beers Lab: How Synthetic Diamonds Are Driving Global Innovation - Thomas Brooks - 04-02-2026
When people hear De Beers, the first thing that usually comes to mind is luxury diamonds and jewellery.
What’s less well known is that the De Beers Lab, operating through its industrial arm Element Six, is doing something very different — and arguably far more transformative.
Instead of producing gemstones for retail, the De Beers Lab focuses on synthetic diamonds engineered for science, industry, and advanced technology.
These are not imitation stones. They are real diamonds, grown under controlled laboratory conditions to deliver properties that natural materials simply can’t match.
What Makes Synthetic Diamonds Unique?
In nature, diamonds form deep underground over millions of years.
Inside the De Beers Lab, that process is replicated and controlled using advanced techniques such as:
• HPHT (High Pressure, High Temperature)
• CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition)
This allows scientists to tailor diamonds for specific uses — something that’s impossible with naturally mined stones. The result is a material with exceptional hardness, thermal conductivity, and optical precision.
Key Areas of Innovation at the De Beers Lab
1. Ultra-Hard Industrial Materials
Synthetic diamonds produced at the De Beers Lab are widely used in:
• Mining and drilling equipment
• Precision cutting and machining tools
• Electronics manufacturing
These tools last longer, reduce material waste, and improve efficiency — making them valuable for more sustainable industrial processes.
2. Electronics and Thermal Management
Diamond is one of the best thermal conductors known, outperforming copper and silicon.
Because of this, De Beers Lab diamonds are used in:
• Power electronics
• Semiconductor heat spreaders
• High-performance computing and data centres
As AI and high-density computing grow, effective heat management is becoming critical — and diamond is emerging as a serious solution.
3. Optics, Lasers, and Sensors
Synthetic diamond optics can operate in extreme environments where traditional materials fail.
Applications include:
• Medical and surgical lasers
• Radiation and particle detectors
• Aerospace and defence systems
Their durability and optical stability make them ideal for high-stress conditions.
Diamonds and Quantum Technology
One of the most advanced research areas at the De Beers Lab involves quantum applications.
By introducing controlled atomic defects known as nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centres, diamonds can function as stable quantum systems. These NV diamonds are used for:
• Quantum sensing
• Magnetometry
• Secure communications
• Early-stage quantum computing research
Because of their stability and resistance to interference, synthetic diamonds are often described as quantum materials of the future.
Not to Be Confused with Lab-Grown Jewellery
There’s often confusion between lab-grown jewellery diamonds and industrial synthetic diamonds.
• Jewellery lab diamonds are produced for retail and aesthetics
• De Beers Lab (Element Six) diamonds are produced for engineering, science, and technology
They serve entirely different purposes.
Why This Matters
From medical equipment to clean energy, aerospace to advanced computing, synthetic diamonds developed at the De Beers Lab are quietly reshaping multiple industries.
They don’t sparkle in shop windows — but they enable technologies that modern life increasingly depends on.