Lab Grown vs. Natural Diamonds

Lab diamonds are real diamonds. They're chemically, physically, and optically identical to natural diamonds. Here's how they compare and what to know when choosing between them.

What Is a Lab Grown Diamond?

A lab grown diamond is produced in a controlled laboratory setting rather than mined from the earth. Like a natural diamond, it is made of pure carbon arranged in a crystal lattice structure. This structure is what gives diamonds their exceptional hardness, brilliance, and fire.

Lab grown diamonds begin as tiny carbon seeds from pre-existing diamonds. There are two primary methods used to create them: High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD). Both methods recreate conditions that allow carbon atoms to form into diamond crystal. After several days or weeks, a rough diamond is created, then cut, polished, graded, and set in jewelry just like a natural diamond.

In Summary: Lab grown diamonds have the same composition, structure, and properties as natural diamonds. The only meaningful distinction is how and where they are made.

Are Lab Grown Diamonds Real?

yes, lab grown diamonds are real diamonds. They are chemically, physically, and optically identical to natural diamonds.

Both lab grown and natural diamonds are made of pure carbon arranged in the same crystal lattice structure. This structure gives diamonds their defining properties, including exceptional hardness, brilliance, and fire. Because of this, lab grown diamonds look the same, perform the same, and are graded by the same standards as natural diamonds.

The only difference is how they are formed. Natural diamonds develop deep within the earth over billions of years, while lab grown diamonds are created in controlled laboratory environments using advanced technology that replicates these natural conditions.

In Summary: Lab grown diamonds are not imitations or substitutes. They are real diamonds with the same composition and properties as natural diamonds. The only distinction is their origin.

Can You Tell the Difference Between Lab Grown and Natural Diamonds?

To the naked eye, lab grown and natural diamonds are indistinguishable. A lab grown diamond has the same brilliance, fire, and visual characteristics as a natural diamond of the same grade.

Even trained jewelers and gemologists cannot reliably tell the difference without specialized equipment. Identification typically requires advanced testing that can detect subtle growth characteristics or origin markers.

A few indicators may include:

  • Internal Growth Patterns: lab diamonds may exhibit growth patterns that slightly differ from the octahedral growth pattern in natural diamonds.
  • Inclusions: Natural diamonds often contain inclusions from natural minerals, while lab diamonds may contain metallic inclusions or other markers related to the HPHT or CVD growth process.
  • Laser Inscription: Most lab diamonds are inscribed on the girdle with a microscopic mark indicating their lab origin. 

Lab grown diamonds also pass standard diamond testers because they share the same thermal conductivity characteristics as natural diamonds.

How Are Lab Diamonds Graded & Certified?

 

Lab grown diamonds go through the same grading and certification process as natural diamonds. Reputable gemological laboratories like the GIA and IGI evaluate them on the same 4 Cs, using the same scales, the same criteria, and the same level of scrutiny.

During the grading process, gemologists assess the diamond’s quality, confirm its identity, and document its characteristics in a grading report. A lab grown diamond report will also clearly state that the diamond is laboratory grown, giving buyers transparency about origin.

Types of Diamonds

Natural Diamonds

Natural diamonds form deep within the Earth under extreme conditions of heat and pressure over billions of years. They are comprised of nearly 99.95% carbon — making diamonds the only gemstone constructed of a single element. They are the hardest naturally occurring materials found on Earth and gem-quality diamonds are one of the most sought-after. Because of their limited quantity, natural diamonds have been cherished for their enduring value and passed from generation to generation.     

Lab Diamonds

Lab diamonds are optically, chemically, and physically the same as natural diamonds. Their difference lies only in their origins — natural diamonds form within the Earth, and lab diamonds are grown by professionals with specialized equipment. Another difference is cost; as lab grown diamonds are less rare than natural diamonds, they often come at a much more accessible price.

 

4 Cs of Diamonds Charts

Created by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in the 1940s, the 4 Cs — cut, color, clarity, and carat — serve as the universal standard for assessing diamond quality. Each C represents a distinct quality attribute, measured on its own scale: 

  • Cut: Graded from Excellent to Poor on the GIA , GCAL, IGI scale and Ideal to Poor on the International Gemological Institute (IGI) scale 
  • Color: Graded from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow or brown) 
  • Clarity: Graded from Flawless (FL) to Included (I3) 
  • Carat: Measured in metric carats, where one carat equals 200 milligrams

Diamond Cut

Cut determines how effectively a diamond's facets interact with light, creating the gem’s signature brilliance and sparkle. Unlike other diamond characteristics that form during the growth process, cut quality results from the diamond cutter's skill and precision. A masterfully cut diamond reflects optimal brilliance, disperses vivid fire-like colors, and creates dynamic sparkle patterns when moved (this is called scintillation). 

The GIA, GCAL,IGI grades diamond cut from Excellent to Poor based on proportions that maximize light performance. An Excellent cut diamond returns nearly all light that enters the gem, resulting in exceptional sparkle and visual impact. In contrast, a Poor cut allows light to escape through the pavilion (bottom), resulting in a dull appearance regardless of the diamond's other qualities.

Diamond Color

Diamond color refers to the absence of color, with completely colorless diamonds being the most valuable and rare. The GIA color grading scale ranges from D (colorless) to Z, with each letter grade representing a subtle increase in color saturation. Diamonds that fall outside this range — such as vivid pinks or blues — are classified as "fancy colored" and are evaluated differently. 

Color becomes increasingly noticeable as carat weight increases, making color grade particularly important when selecting larger diamonds. Strategic color selection should balance budget considerations with:

  • Your chosen mounting style (yellow gold can make near-colorless diamonds appear whiter) 
  • Diamond size (larger diamonds reveal color more readily) 
  • Diamond shape (step-cut emerald and asscher shapes tend to display more color than brilliant cuts, which mask color with their superior light-dispersing properties)

Diamond Clarity 

Clarity measures how free a diamond is from inclusions (internal characteristics) and blemishes (surface flaws). The GIA clarity scale ranges from Flawless to Included. Most diamonds fall somewhere in between, with inclusions that are microscopic and don't impact their beauty. The impact of inclusions varies dramatically depending on their size, number, and position. The location of an inclusion matters as much as its size — an inclusion directly under the table (top facet) affects appearance more than one hidden near the girdle (edge). This makes each diamond's clarity assessment nuanced and highlights the value of viewing diamonds individually rather than relying solely on certification.

Diamond Carat

Carat is a measurement unit that describes a diamond's weight, with one carat equaling 200 milligrams (roughly the weight of a paperclip). It's important to understand that two diamonds of identical carat weight can appear noticeably different in size depending on their shape and cut. A well-cut diamond maximizes surface area and light performance, often appearing larger than a poorly cut gem of equal weight. 

For maximum value, consider diamonds just below popular weight thresholds (0.9 instead of 1.0 carat, 1.9 instead of 2.0 carats), where prices often drop significantly without a perceptible difference in visual size.

Diamond Shape

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