Washington Diamonds Corporation

Washington Diamonds Corporation is a company in the Washington D.C. area producing lab-grown diamonds for both jewelry and hi-tech applications.

Diamond production

Two diamonds grown by Washington Diamonds Corporation.

Washington Diamonds Corporation uses chemical vapor deposition (CVD) to grow diamonds. More specifically, they use a single crystal technique licensed from the Geophysical Laboratory of the Carnegie Institution of Washington.[1]

Washington Diamonds Corporation announced its first commercially available diamonds on September 18, 2012.[1] The company is producing diamonds with sizes ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 carats, colors ranging from D to I, and clarities ranging from SI to VVSI. Shapes produced include round, cushion, princess, oval, pear, Asscher, radiant, heart and emerald. The diamonds were originally certified by the American Gemological Society (AGS),[2] until the AGS stopped grading lab-grown diamonds.[3] The diamonds are now certified by the International Gemological Institute (IGI). Robbins Brothers and Brilliant Earth are the primary customers.[4] Washington Diamonds Corporation is also the supplier for the Carnegie Institution.[5]

Although Washington Diamonds Corporation is currently focused primarily on the gem market, it plans to move further into the technology sector in the future.[4][6]

History and personnel

Washington Diamonds Corporation was founded in 2008 by Clive Hill, a successful jeweler from the United Kingdom.[7] Hill managed Fraser Hart (the UK's largest chain of retail jewelry stores, which was founded by Hill's grandfather) for 21 years, where he eventually became the CEO.[8] Chief Technology Officer Yarden Tsach, previously a project manager for Siemens' solar energy division and manager at Tower Semiconductor, Jordan Valley Semiconductor and Trace-guard Technologies, heads the production facility in the suburbs of Washington D.C.[8][7]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Paulina Wozniak (September 18, 2012). "Washington Diamonds Announces World’s First Commercially Available US Made Lab-Grown Diamonds" (PDF). Washington Diamonds. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
  2. ↑ "AGS CERTIFIED". Washington Diamonds. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
  3. ↑ Rob Bates (June 21, 2013). "AGS Lab to Stop Grading Synthetics". JCK Magazine. Retrieved October 6, 2013.
  4. 1 2 Rob Bates (August 29, 2013). "Lab-Grown Diamond Company “Making Progress”". JCK Magazine. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
  5. ↑ "CVD Diamonds: Advancing Scientific Research With the Carnegie Institution". Washington Diamonds. September 1, 2013. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
  6. ↑ Rob Bates (September 18, 2012). "New Company Producing Colorless Synthetic Diamonds". JCK Magazine. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
  7. 1 2 "ABOUT US". Washington Diamonds. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
  8. 1 2 Michelle Graff (September 18, 2012). "New lab-grown diamond co. launches in US". National Jeweler. Retrieved October 24, 2012.

External links

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