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MPCVD vs HPHT: Which Lab-Grown Diamond Method to Choose?
A comparison of the two mainstream lab-grown diamond methods — principle, clarity, cost and use cases — to help you choose.
01How They Differ
HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature) mimics natural formation, crystallizing carbon with a metal catalyst at 1300-1600°C and 5-6 GPa. CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) instead activates a carbon-bearing gas (e.g. CH4+H2) with microwaves in a low-pressure chamber, depositing carbon atoms layer by layer onto a seed. MPCVD is the dominant microwave-plasma CVD route.
02Clarity & Quality
HPHT often carries residual metal catalyst, giving weak magnetism and lower clarity. MPCVD grows in a clean plasma environment with no metallic inclusions, making high clarity (VVS/VS) and large carat weights easier to achieve. The industry consensus is that CVD holds a technical edge for gem-grade clarity and large sizes.
03Cost & Capacity
HPHT has shorter cycles and a cost edge for small stones; MPCVD demands higher equipment investment and longer growth cycles (weeks to months), but reliably produces large rough with better unit economics at large carat weights. Choose HPHT for small volume stones, MPCVD for large, high-grade output.
04ENTASK's Choice
ENTASK focuses on the MPCVD route, with in-house Gen-4/4.5/5 systems and the E-MG010K microwave source, reliably supplying D/E color, VVS/VS clarity rough — the world's largest at equal quality.
REFERENCES
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