Yichang’s new local specialty: lab-grown diamonds

By Li Caiyun, Yichang International Communication Studio

Yichang might be known as the home of sweet oranges, world-class yeast, and delicious street snacks, but the city has a new local specialty: lab-grown diamonds.

On January 15, more than 200 sets of precision production equipment were running in full swing at the Zhongjing Diamond Co., Ltd. factory workshop.

State-owned Zhongjing Diamond Co., Ltd. was founded in January 2018 in Yiling District. It specializes in research and development, production, sales and service of superhard materials such as lab-grown and industrial diamonds. It is one of a handful of manufacturers in China that can stably mass-produce 0.5-6.0 carat colorless lab-grown diamonds. Zhongjing Diamond is also the only lab-grown diamond maker using HPHT (high pressure and high temperature) in Hubei province. The company produced 400,000 carats of diamonds in 2023, the most in the province. In July last year, it also completed its first export order by delivering to a client in India.

The view of Zhongjing Diamond’s factory workshop

Zhongjing Diamond displayed more than 20 types of jewelry using lab-grown diamonds at an exhibition stand in the workshop. Mei Chunzhi, head of the company's enterprise management department, said that the lab-grown diamonds are synthesized with advanced equipment and technology and have essentially the same physical, chemical and optical characteristics as natural diamonds.

Lab-grown diamonds are used primarily for making jewelry. Its styling effect is better than natural diamonds due to their color, size and shape being able to be customized according to the customer’s personality and preferences.

Currently, the retail price of lab-grown diamonds is only about 40% that of its natural counterpart. Lab-grown diamonds are gradually increasing in market recognition and demand has been growing in recent years largely due to the huge price advantage.

Workers operate machines in the Zhongjing Diamond factory workshop.

With the Spring Festival and Valentine's Day approaching, many domestic and foreign customers have come to inquire and place orders. Fan Zuhua, the deputy general manager at Zhongjing Diamond Co., Ltd., said: “We estimate the sales volume in January 2024 will reach more than 50,000 carats. The overall production volume in 2024 could reach more than 500,000 carats through technological innovation and quality improvement.”