Final answer:
Diamonds can be treated through irradiation and fracture filling to enhance their color and clarity. Synthetic diamonds are created using High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) methods, designed to replicate the conditions of natural diamond formation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Common diamond treatments intended to enhance their appearance include irradiation, which is used to alter and enhance the color of diamonds. This process is often followed by heating to stabilize the new color. Other treatments can involve filling fractures within the diamond with substances like oils, epoxy, or other agents to improve its clarity.
Methods of creating synthetic diamonds typically involve simulating the high-pressure, high-temperature conditions found deep within the Earth where natural diamonds form. The most common methods are High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD). HPHT mimics the natural conditions through the use of heavy presses to generate high temperatures and pressures, while CVD grows diamonds by layering carbon atoms on a substrate material within a high-temperature plasma chamber.
Despite their use in industrial applications, synthetic diamonds made by these methods are of high quality and are increasingly used in jewelry. However, due to the specialized process and technology involved, creating large gem-quality synthetic diamonds remains a challenge.