The matrix is then cooled in stages in a carefully controlled fashion. During this cooling process the crystals form and must be precisely monitored. Cooling too slowly will not produce crystal growth, while cooling too quickly will cause the crystals to shatter and fragment into tiny pieces.

After the matrix is cooled, the product is called a "boule", which is a solid object containing crystallized and non-crystallized material. The boule is broken up (actually with a big hammer) and the crystals are extracted. The crystals are a heavy, hard and molecularly dense material that to the eye closely resemble an uncut diamond crystal. The un-crystallized material is not wasted and is used again as a charge phase for the next run.

The crystals are then inspected for quality in a similar fashion to which rough diamonds are inspected and graded. A laser beam is passed through the crystal which highlights internal flaws and gives a guide for rough cutting.

Once rough cutting is complete, the stones are again sorted and moved on to the final cutting stage which is done in our Austrian fine-cutting facility. Because, after rough cutting, our crystals are basically flawless, the cutting process can be much more precise than for a natural diamond. (the cutters are not trying to work around and hide flaws) This enables all gemstones to be cut to Ideal Cut Standards, which only about 15% of stones achieve in the diamond world. (This yields the desirable "Hearts & Arrows" pattern found in the finest cut mined diamonds).

Learn More About DNL Gemstone Cutting