Are Lab Grown Diamonds Real Diamonds?
Lab grown diamonds are 100% real diamonds. They are chemically, structurally and physically the same. The only difference between them is that lab grown diamonds are created by humans rather than mined from the earth. As well as being ethically made and sustainably produced, they’re also far more affordable than mined diamonds. A lab diamond is a meaningful choice for the modern engagement ring – proof that you can have the ring of your dreams and still save for the wedding or your first home together.
What is the difference between a lab grown diamond vs a natural diamond?
While natural diamonds and lab grown diamonds are physically indistinguishable once they are cut, their origins and cost are different. Natural diamonds require billions of years to form within the Earth’s mantle as carbon crystallises under intense heat and pressure. In contrast, this exact geological process is mimicked in a laboratory using advanced methods like CVD and HPHT, which create diamonds in a matter of weeks. The efficiency of this high-tech production is why lab diamonds cost significantly less than their earth-mined counterparts.
How can you tell the difference between lab grown diamonds and earth-mined diamonds?
Lab grown diamonds are identical to those found in nature. They have the exact same chemical makeup, and specialist laboratory equipment is needed to tell lab diamonds from natural diamonds. When looking to discern earth-mined from lab grown diamonds, specialists look for nitrogen within the stone. Lab diamonds contain no nitrogen, whereas natural diamonds pick up tiny amounts of trace elements as they form.
How are lab grown diamonds created?
It only takes a few weeks to create lab grown diamonds using one of two primary methods.
CVD (Chemical Vapour Deposition) involves breaking down carbon-rich gas in a chamber to crystallise the diamond.
HPHT (High-Pressure/High-Temperature) uses intense heat and pressure to dissolve carbon and form the diamond around a tiny seed.
Both methods yield chemically, physically and optically identical gems.
Sometimes, lab grown diamonds require post-growth treatment, and we have written a helpful guide on what you need to know about lab diamonds that use post-growth treatment.
Are lab grown diamonds more ethical than natural diamonds?
Lab grown diamonds are often marketed as more ethical alternatives to mined diamonds, but the ethical nature of lab grown diamonds can actually vary quite a bit. They eliminate the risk of choosing conflict diamonds, but you still need to consider the specific production methods used and the transparency of supply chains. For instance, some lab grown diamonds may still involve significant environmental impacts or questionable labour practices if the lab's operations aren't fully sustainable.
Our commitment to ethically grown lab diamonds
Lab grown diamonds are often marketed as more ethical alternatives to mined diamonds, but the ethical nature of lab grown diamonds can actually vary quite a bit. They eliminate the risk of choosing conflict diamonds, but you still need to consider the specific production methods used and the transparency of supply chains. For instance, some lab grown diamonds may still involve significant environmental impacts or questionable labour practices if the lab's operations aren't fully sustainable.
Why do lab diamonds cost less than natural diamonds?
Lab diamonds cost a lot less than natural diamonds with a lab diamond costing between 60% and 85% less than a natural diamond with identical carat weight and grades. Take a look at the typical cost of a lab diamond vs a natural diamond below.
To see the price difference yourself, select a ring from our collection of engagement rings and compare diamonds with our live diamond feed. You’ll be able to differentiate between ‘natural’ and ‘lab grown’.
| Diamond | Cut | Colour | Clarity | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1ct Natural | Excellent | D | VVS2 | £5,500 to £7,000 |
| 1ct Lab | Excellent | D | VVS2 | £1,100 to £1,500 |
Why do natural diamonds cost more than lab diamonds?
Lab diamonds cost so much less than earth-mined diamonds because they take less time to produce. They can be produced to order, which means they don’t have the same scarcity value compared to the finite number of natural diamonds that can be mined. Natural diamonds take billions of years to form, and require extensive land mass to mine, as well as all the required infrastructure and workforce. In contrast, it takes one laboratory with a small (but highly expert) workforce just a couple of weeks to create a lab diamond. After an initial, hefty investment in all the technology needed, this laboratory can go on producing lab diamonds, whereas the natural diamond mine will eventually run out of diamonds, and the miner will need to acquire more land to explore.
Essentially, diamond mining is nowhere near as cost-efficient as lab diamond creation. That said, it is important to remember just how many livelihoods ethically-established diamond mines can support in mining-dependent communities. The cost of a natural diamond is absolutely worth it when you consider it to be a rarity of nature that has taken a great deal of investment, time and effort to find. Therefore, lab diamonds do not devalue natural diamonds, which are effectively priced as an entirely different entity.
How much will my lab diamond be worth in the future?
We don’t know what the future value of lab diamonds will be as they are such a new, technical development to the jewellery industry. There is no real precedence to make market predictions as no one knows whether lab diamonds will retain their value, increase in value, or decrease in value. The reality is, the resale value of a diamond (lab or natural) will never be as much as you paid in the first place. Some predict that the value of lab diamonds could increase to catch up with natural diamonds in the coming years.
Will I find certified lab-created diamonds?
Absolutely – in fact, our gemmologists strongly recommend you only look at lab diamonds certified by the IGI or GIA. At Queensmith, we only source IGI and GIA certified lab diamonds for our clients, due to their global reputation as the best, most thorough and accurate graders.
GIA lab diamonds undergo a rigorous process to be graded, similar to that of natural GIA diamonds. Since 2007, GIA has graded lab diamonds with reference to GIA colour, clarity and cut grade standards, with additional information as to whether the diamond is made via CVD or HPHT. However, instead of using terms like ‘VS2’ to accurately grade clarity, or ‘D’ to define colour, GIA choose to identify colour and clarity with descriptive terms. Because of this, some people prefer to look at IGI-certified lab diamonds, which use the global standard grading terms for colour and clarity.
Both GIA and IGI laser inscribe a unique number on the girdle of the diamond (viewable under 50x magnification), which corroborates the unique number of its certification, where you’ll find the stone’s grading details. IGI adds the words ‘lab grown’ alongside this laser inscription.
To browse IGI and GIA certified lab diamonds, first select your preferred design from our engagement rings collection to find your diamond. Alternatively, book an appointment to discuss a bespoke design and have our specialists source a selection of lab diamonds, just for you.
Are lab diamonds better than diamond simulants?
Lab diamonds are not diamond simulant. Diamond simulants are essentially gems engineered to mimic diamonds, without actually being diamonds. A lab diamond is an authentic diamond. Diamond simulants include stones like moissanites and cubic zirconia.
Diamond simulants have entirely different chemical makeup to diamonds, whereas lab diamonds and natural diamonds share the exact same chemical makeup, because they are both authentic diamonds. Diamond simulants can actually look very different to diamonds – the biggest telltale sign will be the stone’s sparkle, which won’t be as bright, crisp, colourless and lustrous as a diamond.
Are lab grown diamonds better than cubic zirconia?
Cubic zirconia, or ‘CZ’, is created in a lab, but it is not the same as a lab diamond. CZ is a gem in its own right, and contains many different properties to diamonds. CZ is a very inexpensive stone, often colourless and flawless, but it scratches much more easily and produces a somewhat lacklustre sparkle. The sparkle of a CZ vs lab diamond is far less intense, and emits flashes of rainbow-like colour that look particularly artificial. Even if colourless when created, a CZ can yellow over time.
Are lab grown diamonds better than moissanite?
Moissanite is a gem that was once found in nature, but has since been artificially produced. Although grown in a lab, moissanite is distinctly different from a lab grown diamond. Moissanite is a particularly hard gemstone and can be created with high clarity, however, the colour tends to look grey, brown, yellow or green-ish. The sparkle of a moissanite is very different to a lab diamond – it is a fiery sparkle that emits lots of rainbow-like colours, which can be a giveaway that the stone is artificial. The biggest negative of a moissanite is its tendency to look fuzzy or hazy – this is because it is doubly refractive. The bigger the moissanite, the bigger the impact of this.
Learn more with our Moissanite vs Diamond Buying Guide.
Are lab-created diamonds sustainable?
Lab diamond creation requires a lot of energy, but this is something lab diamond creators are constantly working on, shortening the length of time and amount of resources needed to create each diamond. It has been suggested that a lab diamond requires 250 kWh to be created, but already some producers are claiming to use as little as 20 kWh to create a diamond.
In terms of land use, a lab diamond is far more sustainable than a mined diamond. Diamond mining requires vast expanses of land to be explored, whereas a diamond laboratory can be relatively compact, nor does it require any form of excavation or mining.
More and more lab diamonds on the market are being produced with renewable energy. Lab diamond producers are increasingly creating lab diamonds with solar power, or investing in ways to offset their carbon emissions. It is predicted that the demand for carbon neutral diamonds will drive many diamond laboratories to reassess the ways they create their diamonds and strive for more eco-friendly production.
Overall, lab diamonds are regarded as more sustainable than mined diamonds. The extent of their sustainability is predicted to increase as technologies are perfected, to become more efficient and less consumptive.
Should I choose a lab grown or natural diamond ring?
Whether you opt for a lab or natural diamond is a deeply personal choice, and we’re not here to sway you either way. So, here are the facts to help you make a decision, and if that's not enough, why not meet with one of our experts to view natural vs lab diamonds in person?
Lab diamonds and natural diamonds can be found with the exact same, top quality cut, colour and clarity grades.
Lab diamonds are 100% authentic diamonds – identical to those found in nature.
Lab diamonds retail between 60% and 85% less than natural diamonds.
You’ll achieve a considerably higher carat weight with a lab diamond vs natural diamond, for the same budget.
The future value of lab diamonds is uncertain, whereas natural diamonds more or less retain value over time.
Lab diamonds require far less land use than natural diamonds.
It takes a lot of energy to create a lab diamond, but technology is developing to reduce this, and many lab diamonds are created sustainably with solar power.
Lab diamonds are created in a matter of weeks vs the billions of years natural diamonds take to form.
It’s impossible to tell and lab and mined diamond apart, without specialist equipment.
A lab diamond is not a fake diamond, or a diamond simulant – it is an authentic diamond.
Natural diamonds are not unethical unless you buy a blood diamond, which thanks to the UN’s Kimberley Process, is near impossible.
Most natural diamond mines are ethically-run and can be a vital source of income for developing, mining-dependent communities. Meanwhile, most diamond labs are based in already-developed countries.
We get it, you’ve never done this before.
That’s why we have diamond and design experts on hand, who are here to guide you through every step – from understanding what carat, colour, cut and clarity mean, to designing the perfect ring.
Related Guides
FAQ: What you need to know about lab diamonds
Do you have additional questions? No problem, let us help you through the process
Yes, a lab diamond will last just as long as a natural diamond. The makeup of a lab diamond is exactly the same as a natural diamond – both measure 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness, making them the hardest natural substance on Earth. This makes them resistant to scratches, abrasion or breaking.
No, you’d need a great deal of specialist equipment to create a lab diamond, and it could be an incredibly dangerous process in the wrong hands. It takes a wealth of knowledge for trained scientists and engineering specialists to create a lab diamond, and it’s a very exact science in which the creator must work out the precise, perfect conditions for diamond growth. The intense heat and intense pressure that takes place during lab diamond creation isn’t something you can replicate at home.
Yes, lab diamonds can be created in a number of fancy colours, including yellow, blue, pink, orange, green, red and black. In nature, trace elements enter the otherwise pure carbon diamond to cause colouration – like boron in blue diamonds, and nitrogen in yellow diamonds. The same idea can be applied to lab diamonds, where the scientist will work out the perfect amount of trace elements to add during the diamond creation.
Queensmith is one of the first jewellers to offer lab diamond rings in the UK.
The world of lab created diamonds is still relatively untouched by the UK engagement ring market, meaning there are few retailers where you can buy lab grown diamond engagement rings and jewellery. Queensmith is at the forefront of understanding and retailing lab grown diamonds alongside our bespoke engagement ring and jewellery services.
After learning your rough budget and an idea of what you’re after, our gemmologists will work on putting together a select range of the finest lab grown diamonds for your unique budget, before meeting with you to discuss your engagement ring or jewellery design.
Book an appointment online or in-store to meet with our diamond & design experts.
This one is up to you. Some adore the romantic history behind naturally grown diamonds, formed over billions of years, rare, precious and perhaps nature’s most beautiful and enchanting creation. Others prioritise the ethical value of lab grown diamonds, and praise the wonder of science in creating something it took the earth billions of years to do so. It’s the power of nature versus the wonder of science – which camp are you in?
Choosing the best lab grown diamonds for your engagement ring is no different to choosing a natural diamond. If you’ve decided a lab grown diamond engagement ring is right for you, follow these steps:
- Define your rough budget.
- Choose the ring style you like, and minus the cost of this to see how much you can dedicate to the diamond.
- Choose the shape of lab diamond you’re after.
- Consider diamonds graded Excellent cut (for round diamonds, or Excellent polish & symmetry for other shapes), D to F colour, VS2 to SI1 clarity.
You can read more about choosing the best diamond for your engagement ring here, but the characteristics to prioritise are an excellent cut, followed by a high colour grade. This will ensure that a diamond appears bright, white and extremely sparkly. When narrowing down the options for your lab grown diamond engagement ring, it’s important to seek advice from qualified gemmological experts, to help you understand the intricacies and characteristics of each diamond, point out any flaws, and help you find the best value diamonds for your unique budget. For more advice or to receive a tailored quote, get in touch with our experts.
Absolutely. Just like any high-value purchase you make, it is important to insure your lab grown diamond ring. The cost of insuring your lab grown diamond is likely to be less than that of a mined diamond, and your insurer of choice will most likely need to see a copy of your order invoice to verify the value of your insurance.
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