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.
Understanding the 4Cs in Lab Grown Diamonds
Lab grown diamonds are graded on the exact same scale as mined diamonds, using the four criteria that determine a stone's quality and value. Here's what each one means and what to prioritize depending on what you're looking for.
Cut
Cut is the most important of the four Cs, and it's the one that most directly affects how a diamond looks. A well-cut diamond reflects light in a way that creates brilliance, fire, and sparkle. A poorly cut stone, even one with excellent color and clarity, can look dull. When in doubt, prioritize cut above everything else. For round brilliant diamonds, look for Excellent or Very Good cut grades. For fancy shapes like ovals, pears, and cushions, cut grading is less standardized, which is one reason working with someone who can evaluate stones individually matters so much.
Color
Diamond color is graded on a scale from D (completely colorless) to Z (visibly yellow or brown). For most buyers, the sweet spot is somewhere between D and H. D, E, and F are considered colorless and are the most sought-after. G and H are near-colorless and, in most settings, are visually indistinguishable from the grades above them at a significantly lower price. For lab grown diamonds specifically, color grades tend to be more consistent than in mined stones, which makes it easier to find excellent color at accessible price points.
Clarity
Clarity refers to the presence of inclusions, which are natural characteristics that form during a diamond's creation. The scale runs from Flawless (FL) to Included (I1, I2, I3). For most buyers, eye-clean stones in the VS1 to SI1 range offer the best value. These stones have inclusions that are not visible to the naked eye, but are priced well below the flawless and internally flawless grades. Lab grown diamonds frequently appear in higher clarity grades than their mined equivalents at the same price point, which is one of the reasons buyers get so much more stone for their money.
Carat
Carat refers to the weight of the diamond, not its physical size, though the two are closely related. One carat equals 0.2 grams. Because lab grown diamonds are significantly less expensive per carat than mined stones, buyers working with a specific budget can often achieve a larger carat weight than they expected. A lab grown diamond buyer who might have been looking at a one-carat mined stone can frequently find themselves with a two-carat or larger lab grown stone for the same investment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are lab grown diamonds real diamonds?
Yes. Lab grown diamonds are chemically, physically, and optically identical to mined diamonds. They are graded by the same gemological laboratories using the same criteria. The only difference is how and where they were formed.
Will anyone be able to tell the difference?
Not with the naked eye, and not without specialized equipment. Even trained gemologists cannot distinguish a lab grown diamond from a mined diamond without tools specifically designed to detect subtle differences in growth patterns. To anyone looking at your ring, it is a diamond.
Do lab grown diamonds hold their value?
Lab grown diamonds currently have lower resale values than mined diamonds. If investment value is your primary concern, that's worth knowing upfront. For most buyers, the priority is the beauty, quality, and meaning of the piece rather than resale potential, and on those measures lab grown diamonds deliver fully.
What is the difference between IGI and GIA certified lab grown diamonds?
Both the International Gemological Institute (IGI) and the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) are reputable, internationally recognized grading laboratories. IGI has become the more common certification for lab grown diamonds and tends to grade them at a slightly higher volume. GIA is considered the industry gold standard for mined diamonds and has expanded its lab grown grading program significantly in recent years. Either certification provides a reliable, independent assessment of your stone's quality. At Virtue Diamonds, many of our lab grown stones carry IGI certification, which you'll see noted on individual product listings.
Can I get a lab grown diamond in a fancy color?
Yes. Lab grown diamonds are available in a range of fancy colors including blue, pink, yellow, and green. These are created by introducing specific trace elements or altering the growth process. Fancy color lab grown diamonds are significantly more accessible in price than their mined equivalents, which are among the rarest and most expensive diamonds in the world. Kim has sourced fancy color lab grown stones for clients looking for something truly unique.
What's the best lab grown diamond for an engagement ring?
That depends on your priorities, your partner's style, and your budget. Generally speaking, prioritizing cut quality and choosing an eye-clean clarity grade in the VS1 to SI1 range gives you the most beautiful stone for your money. Color grades of G or H are excellent choices in most settings. Beyond the technical grades, the shape and setting style matter just as much. Kim works with every client individually to find the right combination for their specific vision, and a free consultation is always a great place to start.
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.