From Gems to Tech: How Lab-Grown Diamonds Are Powering AI Cooling, Quantum Sensing & Defense

Srinivas: I’ve seen your profile—the diamond background, all the way from gems to industry-grade and tech-grade diamonds. I’ve also learned a bit about your previous company and the present one, Lattispec. Welcome to the talk.

You spent two decades studying lab-grown gem diamonds for the jewelry trade before Lattispec. What was the moment you realized that the same underlying technology had applications in electronics and defense? What was the shock of going from diamonds for rings to diamonds for technology?

Marty: Thank you for having us on today. We appreciate it.

Literally in 2004 was when we first started working with lab-grown diamonds for the gem sector. The technology itself goes back to the 1950s, believe it or not. But 2004 was the first year they could grow a one-carat white diamond suitable for gem quality—suitable to be sold in a jewelry store.

Within just a few years, the growing technology spread throughout the world. Nobody realized how quickly it would happen, but it did, with growers particularly in India becoming the leaders in gem diamond production. Consumer acceptance grew at the same time. Demand was huge and very organic—nobody was marketing it to consumers. It happened organically.