County more than diamond in the rough

From a modest workshop to a technological powerhouse, Huifeng Diamond exemplifies how digitalization and technological innovation have contributed to Zhecheng's rise as a global leader in the superhard materials industry.

In fact, dating back to 2006, Zhecheng county established an industrial park with support infrastructure to focus on the diamond industry and attracted diamond-related enterprises into the park. In 2009, the county upgraded the industrial park into an industrial cluster zone and established Zhecheng's superhard materials production base.

Sun, from the management committee of Zhecheng High-Tech Zone, said that these initiatives further integrated diamond industry chain enterprises into the cluster, promoting industrial centralization and cluster-based development, gradually transforming the previously fragmented and disorganized workshop-style production model.

"Now, Zhecheng aims to increase the number of six-sided top presses to 5,000 within one to two years, striving to become the national leader. At the same time, more efforts will be made to support companies in innovating technologies, developing new products, and pushing Zhecheng's superhard materials industry into the higher end," she said.

To achieve this goal, companies like Henan LiLiang Diamond Co Ltd, which was successfully listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in 2021 and ranked as a national little giant company, is pushing boundaries.

At this year's Las Vegas Jewelry Exhibition, LiLiang Diamond showcased a stunning 50-carat lab-grown gem that turned heads and underscored the county's innovative prowess.

Behind it is the company's 100 percent independent technology, said Chen Yanan, project manager at LiLiang Diamond. He said LiLiang Diamond has already achieved mass production of 1 to 30-carat diamonds and has exported them to the US, India and elsewhere.

"What's even more exciting is that lab-grown diamonds, with their properties like high thermal conductivity and high energy storage, are expected to drive the next major revolution in the semiconductor industry. We are also working on such technologies," he said.

To make it simple, Chen envisions a future where diamonds are no longer confined to sparkling necklaces, but are also integrated into space stations, cutting-edge semiconductors and lifesaving medical devices — transforming industries and paving the way for a new technological era.

As Zhecheng's superhard materials made sparkling progress, their influence now extends far beyond the county.

Henan, as a whole, now produces more than 80 percent of the world's synthetic diamonds, and hosts the only national-level superhard materials base in China, with its ecosystem spanning research institutes, universities and leading enterprises.

According to Cognitive Market Research, China's superhard materials industry has experienced significant growth, solidifying its position as a global leader in this sector. The market size is estimated to be $539.77 million this year.

Wang Qinsheng, honorary chairman of the cultured diamonds branch of the Gems and Jewelry Trade Association of China, said: "It's not just about quantity, as Henan has achieved a dominant position in quality and innovation in terms of superhard materials. Henan has contributed the most complete industrial chain of superhard materials to the world."