Lab-Grown Diamonds: What to Know
Short answer: they are real diamonds. The longer answer is about when they suit you, which is what this page is for.
The same material, not an imitation
A lab-grown diamond is chemically identical to a mined one: pure carbon, same crystal structure, same hardness (Mohs 10), same refractive index, same brilliance.
Cubic zirconia and moissanite are different materials — those are simulants. A lab-grown diamond is not in that category. The only difference from a mined stone is where it formed: underground over millions of years, or in a reactor over weeks.
How they are made
Two methods. HPHT reproduces the high pressure and temperature found deep in the earth. CVD builds the crystal layer by layer, depositing carbon atoms from a gas onto a small diamond seed.
Most stones on the market today are CVD. Either way the result is a diamond that no jeweller can distinguish by eye.
Can anyone tell the difference?
Not by eye, and not with a jeweller's loupe. Separation requires spectroscopic equipment in a laboratory.
That is exactly why lab-grown stones are certified too, and the report states "Laboratory-Grown" explicitly. IGI is the most common reference in this segment; GIA also issues lab-grown reports.
Most lab-grown stones carry an "LG" inscription and the report number laser-written on the girdle.
Price
This is what actually drives the decision. At the same carat, cut, colour and clarity, a lab-grown stone sells substantially below a mined one, and the gap has kept widening as production capacity grows.
In practice that means the same budget buys either a noticeably larger stone, or the same size at higher grades.
We do not publish a figure here because this market moves quickly. Tell us your criteria and we will send both options priced side by side.
Resale value — the honest part
Lab-grown stones hold their value far less well than mined ones, and as production costs fall, new stones keep getting cheaper.
Mined diamonds are not an investment either — that is a persistent myth, and no jeweller buys back at retail. But their supply is limited, so they hold value considerably better.
The practical rule: if the piece is to be worn, both do the job. If it is meant to be kept, passed on or inherited, stay with mined.
When each makes sense
Lab-grown suits you if: the budget is fixed and visible size is the priority; it is a first ring you may upgrade later; it is a second piece such as earrings or a pendant; or it will be worn daily where loss is a real risk.
Mined suits you if: it is an engagement or wedding stone carrying long-term meaning; it is intended to pass down; or the rarity of the stone is itself part of what you are buying.
How we handle it
We carry both and we do not steer you without asking first. If you want, we put the two side by side on the table at the same budget and you decide having seen them.
Which one you bought is stated plainly on the invoice and on the certificate. Selling a lab-grown stone as mined is the worst thing anyone in this trade can do — and the reverse happens too, with mined stones talked down as lab to buy them cheaply.
Send your criteria through the short brief and both options come back priced.
Anything you are unsure about? Write to us — we reply the same day — or come by the shop in the Grand Bazaar.
Ask on WhatsAppFrequently asked
Are lab-grown diamonds real diamonds?
Yes. They are chemically identical to mined diamonds: pure carbon, the same crystal structure, the same hardness and the same brilliance. Cubic zirconia and moissanite are different materials and are simulants, not diamonds.
Can a jeweller tell a lab-grown diamond by eye?
No, and not with a loupe either. Separation requires spectroscopic laboratory equipment, which is why lab-grown stones are certified and the report states Laboratory-Grown explicitly.
How are lab-grown diamonds made?
By two methods: HPHT reproduces the high pressure and temperature found deep underground, while CVD deposits carbon atoms from a gas onto a diamond seed, building the crystal layer by layer. Most stones sold today are CVD.
How much cheaper are lab-grown diamonds?
Substantially, at the same carat, cut, colour and clarity — and the gap keeps widening as production grows. The same budget buys either a noticeably larger stone or the same size at higher grades.
Do lab-grown diamonds hold their value?
Far less well than mined stones, because falling production costs keep pushing new stone prices down. If the piece is to be worn, that may not matter; if it is meant to be kept or passed on, a mined stone holds value considerably better.
Do lab-grown diamonds come with a certificate?
Yes. IGI is the most common reference in this segment and GIA also issues lab-grown reports. Most stones carry an LG inscription and the report number laser-written on the girdle.