Since 2006, the synthetic diamond gem industry has made considerable progress, and is now banging out real diamonds at a good clip. Gemesis was the first to mass-market synthetic diamond gemstones. (DeBeers tried intimidating the CEO, a retired U.S. Army general. Intimidation didn't work.) Now other companies are doing it.
Silicon carbide gemstones are available in bulk on Alibaba.[1] So are diamonds.The page for Changsa Chenguang Machinery and Electric Company makes it clear how far down diamonds have come.[2] They have a list of diamond products - diamond plate for cutting tools and wear parts, monocrystalline diamond for wire drawing dies, diamond inserts for well drilling cutters, and diamonds for gemstones. The gems are a sideline from the cutting tool business. Minimum gem order 10 grams, capacity six metric tons of diamonds a year. That's just one small manufacturer.
All I can say is "Wow!" Synthetic diamonds have sure come a long way. At the rate the technology seems to be progressing, even golfball-sized diamonds at ridiculously low prices might not be unrealistic, and I'm sure others will find applications for it.
Due to its thermal properties, I think handling a huge diamond might also be an interesting experience.
Diamonds in machinging is nothing new. Diamond grinding wheels, etc, have been around forever. Real diamonds are cheap in those sizes (we're talking grain of sand or smaller).
Silicon carbide gemstones are available in bulk on Alibaba.[1] So are diamonds.The page for Changsa Chenguang Machinery and Electric Company makes it clear how far down diamonds have come.[2] They have a list of diamond products - diamond plate for cutting tools and wear parts, monocrystalline diamond for wire drawing dies, diamond inserts for well drilling cutters, and diamonds for gemstones. The gems are a sideline from the cutting tool business. Minimum gem order 10 grams, capacity six metric tons of diamonds a year. That's just one small manufacturer.
[1] https://www.alibaba.com/trade/search?IndexArea=product_en&Ca... [2] https://china-chenguang.en.alibaba.com/