Lab Grown Diamonds Explained
What Are Lab Grown Diamonds? Everything You Need to Know
Lab grown diamonds have been one of the biggest shifts in the jewelry industry in decades, and buyers are paying attention. If you've heard the term but aren't quite sure what it means — or whether a lab grown diamond is right for you — this guide breaks it all down in plain language.
They're Real Diamonds. Full Stop.
The most important thing to understand about lab grown diamonds is that they are not simulants, fakes, or lookalikes. They are real diamonds in every meaningful sense of the word.
A lab grown diamond has the exact same chemical composition as a mined diamond — pure carbon arranged in a crystal structure — and the same physical and optical properties. They're just as hard, just as brilliant, and just as durable. Even a trained gemologist can't tell the difference with the naked eye. The only distinction is origin: one formed deep in the earth over billions of years, and the other was created in a controlled laboratory environment in a matter of weeks.
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) grades lab grown diamonds using the same 4Cs — cut, color, clarity, and carat — that they use for mined stones. They're a legitimate, certifiable product.
How Are Lab Grown Diamonds Made?
There are two primary methods used to create lab grown diamonds:
High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) replicates the natural conditions under which diamonds form in the earth. A diamond seed is placed in a chamber and exposed to extreme heat and pressure, causing carbon to crystallize around it.
Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) uses a different process: a diamond seed is placed in a chamber filled with carbon-rich gas, which is ionized into plasma. Carbon atoms then layer onto the seed and slowly build a diamond crystal.
Both methods produce genuine diamonds. The method used can sometimes influence certain characteristics, but either way the result is a stone that is physically and chemically identical to one pulled from the ground.
Why Are More Buyers Choosing Lab Grown Diamonds?
The shift toward lab grown diamonds isn't just a trend — there are some compelling practical reasons buyers are making the switch.
Significantly lower price. Lab grown diamonds typically cost 50 to 70 percent less than comparable mined stones. That means a buyer can get a larger, higher-quality diamond for the same budget, or simply save money without compromising on what the stone looks or performs like.
Greater transparency. The origin of a lab grown diamond is known and traceable. For buyers who have concerns about the ethical and environmental complexities of diamond mining, lab grown offers a clear alternative.
No compromise on beauty. Because lab grown diamonds are graded on the same scale as mined diamonds, you can find lab grown stones with exceptional cut, color, and clarity grades. A well-cut lab grown diamond is just as visually stunning as its mined counterpart.
More options at every budget. The lower price point opens up stone sizes and quality tiers that might otherwise be out of reach. Buyers who had their hearts set on a two-carat stone but were working within a tighter budget often find that lab grown makes it possible.
Are There Any Downsides?
It's worth being straightforward here: lab grown diamonds have resale values that are generally lower than mined diamonds at this point in time. If long-term resale or investment value is a priority for you, that's a factor worth weighing.
But for buyers whose priority is a beautiful, high-quality diamond to wear and enjoy — an engagement ring, a pendant, a pair of earrings — the resale consideration is often secondary to the value and quality they're getting at purchase.
Lab Grown vs. Diamond Simulants — Know the Difference
Lab grown diamonds are sometimes confused with diamond simulants like moissanite or cubic zirconia. These are not the same thing. Simulants may look similar to diamonds at a glance but have different chemical compositions, different hardness levels, and different optical properties. A moissanite, for example, has a different refractive index than a diamond and produces a different kind of sparkle.
Lab grown diamonds are diamonds. Simulants are alternatives to diamonds. Both have their place, but they're not interchangeable terms.
Ready to Explore Lab Grown Diamonds?
Virtue Diamonds offers access to an extensive wholesale inventory of lab grown diamonds, available in a wide range of cuts, sizes, and grades. Whether you're shopping for an engagement ring, a custom piece, or a loose stone, we can help you find exactly what you're looking for — at wholesale pricing you won't find at a traditional retail jeweler.
Browse our lab grown diamond inventory or reach out to schedule a consultation. We're happy to walk you through your options with zero pressure and complete transparency.