February 14, 2007 3:51 PM PST
In nature, a diamond develops over millions of years in one of two places: underground or in space. Synthetic diamond cultivation mimics these conditions. The more common high-pressure, high-temperature process used by Gemesis Diamonds attempts to replicate the underground environment and creates diamonds in less than a week. Gemesis adds new diamond-making machines weekly to its plant in Sarasota, Fla. Plans are in the works to expand the 10,000-square-foot operation by the end of 2007.
Photo by Gemesis Diamond
