Lab-created diamonds (also called "lab-grown diamonds" or synthetic diamonds) have the same optical, physical, and chemical properties as their mined counterparts. The only significant difference between a lab-created and mined (or "natural") diamond is that one forms in a controlled environment in a laboratory, and the other forms over time in the uncontrolled environment of the Earth. Both lab-created and natural diamonds are real diamonds.
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Note that diamond simulants, such as cubic zirconia and moissanite, differ from both lab-created and mined diamonds. These gem materials have different properties than diamonds. Though they may resemble or "simulate" the appearance of diamonds, they are not diamonds.
To understand what's the same and what's different between a lab-grown gem and a natural gem, think of ice. You can create ice in your freezer or scrape some off your driveway (in the winter). Both pieces would constitute real ice. Both consist of frozen water. However, cutting a chunk of ice off your driveway takes some time and physical effort. Ice is ice, but you may still want to take some extra time to find a piece you'd like to put in your drink. Not to mention you'd have to wait until winter. In contrast, your freezer generates excellent, uniform pieces of ice all year round (probably), although it costs money to run your freezer. Freezer ice is also (hopefully) a lot cleaner than driveway ice, and you'll spend less time and effort getting it.
The same holds true for lab-created diamonds. Creating a gem-quality diamond in a laboratory is very expensive. However, that process still costs far less than mining diamonds. Did you know that the vast majority of mined diamonds don't meet gem-quality standards? While they still have the properties of diamonds, they don't meet the subjective standards for use in jewelry. (The same way most driveway ice won't meet the subjective standards for going in your drink). Thus, lab-created diamonds are less expensive than mined diamonds.
Now, let's debunk some myths.
Actually, neither mined nor lab-created diamonds are rare. Diamond rarity is one of the most pervasive myths about gemstones in general. If you want to buy a rare gem, don't buy a diamond at all. However, if you insist, look for extremely rare (and expensive) mined diamonds over 5 carats or very large natural fancy colored diamonds, such as blues or pinks.
It's true that the market for lab-created diamonds is newer, smaller, and, therefore, less "liquid" than the secondary market for mined diamonds. As a result, selling a lab-grown diamond may prove harder than selling a mined diamond. However, mined diamonds aren't a good store of value either! Ask anyone who has ever tried to sell a diamond if they were happy with the price they got. Diamonds don't make good investment purchases, since their markup is usually very low.
If you're buying a diamond, mined or lab-grown, with the intention of reselling it, you may want to rethink what you're doing for a whole host of reasons. ????
Every mined diamond literally requires moving X tons of earth, fossil fuel use, etc. Diamond mining is about as destructive an activity as you could possibly imagine from an environmental perspective.
The price advantages of buying a lab grown diamond are highly compelling. Lab created diamonds typically cost significantly less than their naturally mined counterparts. On average, lab grown diamonds are about 20-40% cheaper, allowing consumers to access larger or higher-quality stones within their budget.
When it comes to diamonds, the cut is a critical — if not the most critical — driver of beauty and value. Lab-created diamonds tend to receive better cuts than mined diamonds.
Mined, natural rough may occur in irregular shapes or contain mineral inclusions and flaws. This may dictate what a faceter can profitably cut. Whatever leftover rough can't be cut into a gem is wasted. Since lab-created diamond rough forms in a controlled environment, it tends to be both cleaner and cheaper to produce. Thus, faceters face fewer constraints and compromises to the cut when optimizing the yield or size of the finished gem. Less material is wasted and better quality diamonds can be cut from lab-grown rough. The finished gems usually perform better optically compared to cut mined diamonds of the same size, due to superior cutting.
At any given price point, you can get a better and bigger diamond if you buy lab-created instead of mined. For example, take a mined diamond of 1.45 carats, color G, and clarity VS1. For the same money, you could a lab-grown diamond of the same color and clarity but at 2 carats! That's a big difference in size.
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When it comes to evaluating, selecting, and buying diamonds, the same rules apply to mined and lab-created stones. The 4 Cs of color, clarity, cut, and carat will form the basis of your decision. (And don't forget the fifth C, cost).
For detailed information on determining diamond value and evaluating each property, you can consult the following articles:
You can purchase lab-created diamonds from many places, online as well as brick-and-mortar. In either case, rather than purchasing a loose diamond and having it set later, you should secure the assistance of the jeweler who'll actually make the finished jewelry piece when buying the stone. The jeweler can help you consider numerous other factors beyond the 4 Cs. For example:
Some popular online retailers have made the decision to stick to earth-mined diamonds. However, online retailers such as With Clarity and James Allen have thousands of lab-diamonds for sale. For a more bespoke shopping experience CustomMade.com has a great depth of experience specifically with lab-created diamonds. It also has excellent sources and exceptional pricing.
These buying guides should also prove helpful:
“Lab-grown diamonds are the great equalizer,” says Jean Dousset, the great-grandson of Louis Cartier who pivoted his namesake label to exclusively lab-grown stones in . “People don’t have to compromise anymore to own something exceptional.” Once considered the understudy to mined diamonds, these stones (and therefor, the best lab-grown diamond brands), have officially taken center stage—and they’re not just performing, they’re dazzling. Lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds. Not simulants, not stand-ins. We’re talking pure carbon, identical in chemical, physical, and optical makeup to what’s been pulled from the earth for centuries—just made in a lab, not dug up from a mine.
So why the lingering hesitation? Stigma, mostly. The kind passed down like an heirloom from an era when “real” luxury was defined by scarcity and secrecy. But times—and tastes—have changed. “I started working with lab-grown diamonds because it was a smarter, more conscious choice,” says Jennifer Fisher, who now incorporates them across her fine jewelry designs. “They offer the same brilliance and clarity—but they align with how I want to shop and design today.” In an article that ran earlier this year, Jessica Sailer, former Vogue editor and founder of the new lab-grown line Pietro offered this: “Imagine if Hermès introduced an AI technology that could produce a perfect Birkin bag using the same materials in the same atelier, but in a fraction of the time. The craftsmanship would be identical. Would you want one?” Why, yes; yes, of course!
That sentiment is echoed by a growing number of designers (and their clients) who love that you can go bigger, bolder, and cleaner—ethically and aesthetically—without inflating the price tag. As Kym Canter of The Invisible Jewels puts it: “They’re a modern solution to an outdated luxury problem.”
Of course, the Four Cs still matter—color, cut, clarity, and carat—but so do the other Cs: conscience, customization, and carbon footprint. Whether you're buying for a fiancée, a friend, or yourself (because yes, self-gifting is a love language), lab-grown diamonds offer a compelling—and undeniably glamorous—case for the future of fine jewelry. Ahead, discover the 16 best places to shop for lab-grown diamond jewelry, from dainty necklaces to show-stopping statement pieces.
With a devoted celebrity following that includes Taylor Swift, Gigi Hadid, and Selena Gomez, Mejuri has firmly established itself as a go-to jewelry label for crafting irresistible, everyday pieces. Vogue’s Jewelry Director, Daisy Shaw-Ellis, encapsulates its appeal: “Its pieces are egalitarian and versatile—two things we value greatly.”
Building on its commitment to accessible luxury, Mejuri expanded into lab-grown diamonds in , aiming to make high-quality diamonds more attainable without compromising sustainability. Co-founder Nour Sakkijha explains, “Our expansion into lab-grown diamonds is a way to make high-quality diamonds (especially the larger sized stones) more accessible to our customers, without compromising our sustainability efforts.”
The collection features timeless classics reimagined with lab-grown diamonds, including tennis bracelets, pavé rings, and simple pendant necklaces—ideal gifts for a loved one or oneself. Each piece is meticulously crafted in 14k solid gold, ensuring both elegance and durability. Mejuri's lab-grown diamonds are SCS Global certified, recognized as the top benchmark for sustainability, reflecting the brand's dedication to ethical sourcing and environmental responsibility.
Mejuri
emerald cut bezel eternity band
Mejuri
bezel huggies
Dorsey, the cult-favorite jewelry label founded by Meg Strachan in , has redefined heirloom jewelry for the modern era. Inspired by her grandmother’s trove of vintage gems, Strachan launched the direct-to-consumer brand with a mission to craft archival-inspired designs using lab-grown stones—no markups, no mining, no compromises. The result? A thoroughly modern jewelry line beloved by A-listers and It girls alike. “I wanted to create jewelry that felt storied and meaningful but didn’t require an inheritance to acquire,” Strachan told Vogue in a recent interview. “There’s something incredibly empowering about being able to buy your own diamonds.”
Taylor Swift famously wore Dorsey earrings during her All Too Well short film, giving the brand a front-row seat to pop culture history. Hailey Bieber, Bella Hadid, and Emily Ratajkowski are also regulars, layering Dorsey’s bezel-set white sapphires and lab-grown diamonds with enviable ease. In March , Dorsey launched its Paracord Capsule, blending the rugged texture of parachute cord with its signature lab-grown sparkle. These are the kinds of pieces that look equally at home at a gala or on a coffee run—chunky, polished, and intentionally nostalgic.
Dorsey
Theordora ring
Dorsey
James bezel rivière necklace
Brilliant Earth has long been at the forefront of ethical fine jewelry, and in the world of lab-grown diamonds, it’s a pioneer. The brand first introduced lab-created stones in —well before most retailers caught on—and has continued to push the category forward with collections that prioritize both innovation and sustainability. “We started Brilliant Earth to raise the ethical standards of the diamond industry and to create a new way to buy beautiful fine jewelry,” said co-founder and CEO Beth Gerstein in . And they’ve made good on that promise.
In recent years, the brand has introduced collections like the Capture Collection, which features diamonds grown using CO₂ captured before it can be released into the atmosphere, and the Renewable Collection, made using wind and solar energy at every stage of the process. In a meaningful partnership with Dr. Jane Goodall, Brilliant Earth also launched a limited-edition line benefiting conservation efforts—with proceeds supporting her namesake institute.
All of this complements the brand’s original mission: to offer beautiful, traceable stones with transparency built into every step. Brilliant Earth was one of the first retailers to offer Sustainably Rated lab-grown diamonds, independently certified for climate neutrality and clean technology investment. And by , Brilliant Earth aims to have 100% of its gold and silver repurposed or Fairmined, with a longer-term goal of reaching net-zero emissions across its operations and supply chain by . It’s proof that lab-grown luxury doesn’t just sparkle—it leads.
Brilliant Earth
Taylor marquise huggie earrings
Brilliant Earth
Kendall chain bracelet
Vrai is one of the few fine jewelry brands that can claim a zero-emission sparkle. Every one of its lab-grown diamonds is cultivated in the Pacific Northwest using hydropower from the Columbia River, making it one of the only carbon-neutral producers of diamonds in the world. The brand’s partner in this feat of science-meets-sustainability? The Diamond Foundry, a tech-forward company backed by none other than Leonardo DiCaprio, who has long championed alternatives to traditional mining.
Exclusively working with lab-grown stones, Vrai has carved out a niche for itself at the intersection of innovation and luxury. Their direct-to-consumer model means you’re not paying the usual markup for quality; what you see is what you get—and what you get is excellent. Each diamond is cut and polished by master artisans (some trained in Belgium’s famed cutting houses) and comes with a certificate of authenticity that guarantees both quality and sustainability credentials.
The aesthetic? Minimal, sculptural, and quietly impactful—perfect for those who want their jewelry to say something without shouting. In addition to ready-to-wear earrings, rings, and necklaces, Vrai offers a robust custom engagement ring program, complete with concierge-style support and endlessly chic settings.
Vrai
Floating station bracelet
Vrai
Bypass wrap ring
For the diamond maximalist looking to dabble in lab-grown, Grown Brilliance is for you. The brand works exclusively with lab-grown diamonds—no mined options, no compromises—and it shows in the scale, sparkle, and scope of its offering. Whether you’re designing your dream engagement ring from scratch or shopping one of the label’s ready-to-ship bestsellers (hello, bezel-set pendant necklaces and brilliant-cut studs), the emphasis here is on choice—and certified quality.
All loose stones from Grown Brilliance’s Design Your Ring program come with grading reports from top-tier labs like IGI and GIA, and pieces with center stones over half a carat also arrive with full certification. The ethics are in check, too: every gem is created in a controlled environment with strict labor standards and sustainability commitments—and the brand backs its craftsmanship with a lifetime warranty.
It’s a modern approach to fine jewelry: design-forward, accessible, and free from the baggage of traditional sourcing. If you believe diamonds should shine without casting a shadow, Grown Brilliance makes an undeniably strong case.
In the realm of fine jewelry, Kinn stands out as a purveyor of modern heirlooms designed to transcend fleeting trends. Founded in by Jennie Yoon, Kinn was born from a deeply personal mission: to recreate and reimagine her family’s stolen antique jewelry. This intimate origin story infuses each piece with a sense of continuity and timelessness, aiming to be cherished across generations.
Kinn's collection seamlessly blends classic elegance with contemporary minimalism. From meticulously crafted engagement rings and wedding bands to everyday essentials like the Solis ring—a bestseller featuring an elegant ribbed design inspired by Yoon’s mother’s vintage pleated ring—each piece embodies a narrative of heritage and modernity. Crafted in Los Angeles, Kinn is committed to responsible manufacturing, utilizing recycled 14k gold and ethically sourced gemstones. The brand offers both lab-grown and natural diamonds, ensuring adherence to the Kimberley Process for conflict-free sourcing.
Kinn
five stone chain earrings
Kinn
Mira sculptural cigar band
Kinn
Le Chat marquise cushion necklace
Kinn
Mira pavé bangle bracelet
Jean Dousset may be the great-grandson of Louis Cartier, but his career has never been about resting on pedigree. With early training at Chaumet in Paris and an apprenticeship under Alain Boucheron, he quickly established himself as a force in high jewelry, culminating in a role overseeing international exhibitions at Van Cleef & Arpels. But it was in —when he opened his own showroom in Los Angeles—that Dousset began rewriting the rules on his own terms.
In April , he made perhaps his boldest move yet: transitioning his entire brand to lab-grown diamonds. The pivot wasn’t just about ethics—it was about creative freedom. “Lab-grown diamonds have freed us from the constraints of rarity and price,” he told Vogue. “They allow designers to be more creative than ever before.” That creative license is on full display in Dousset’s recent work, including the bespoke engagement ring he designed for Paris Jackson: a five-carat vintage-inspired piece with distinctive metalwork and sculptural accents. “Jean brought a truly innovative approach,” Jackson told Vogue. “He collaborated with me to design a piece that beautifully integrated unique metalwork, silhouettes, and accents.”
Today, every Dousset diamond is lab-grown, GIA-certified, and set in designs that reflect both his Place Vendôme roots and a thoroughly modern sensibility. It’s jewelry that honors tradition—while giving it a long-overdue update.
Jean Dousset
Olivia tennis bracelet
Jean Dousset
marquise cut detachable lariat necklace
Blue Nile practically invented the modern online diamond-buying experience. Founded in with a then-radical idea—that transparency and education could actually elevate jewelry shopping—it quickly became the go-to destination for diamonds you could click to buy without stepping foot into a velvet-draped showroom. And in , Blue Nile made another major move: it introduced lab-grown diamonds into its mix, proving that the future of fine jewelry is not just digital, but decidedly sustainable.
The brand’s lab-grown offerings are expansive, running the gamut from just-under-a-carat solitaires to over-four-carat showstoppers, all available at the click of a very well-manicured finger. And while many retailers have embraced lab-created stones, Blue Nile stands apart by offering GIA grading reports with every purchase—a move that brings mined-diamond-level rigor to the lab-grown space.
Custom engagement rings are still a major focus here, but the brand has also expanded into everyday wear: think classic tennis bracelets, diamond studs, and sleek stacking bands that feel elevated without tipping into OTT.
Blue Nile
two-toned flower pendant necklace
Blue Nile
pavé diamond pear snake earrings
Contact us to discuss your requirements of S925 Wedding Ring. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
Blue Nile
East West emerald cut bezel pendant
Blue Nile
bezel set stud earrings
Founded in by designer Yuvi Alpert, Noémie is a New York-based fine jewelry brand that's redefining luxury with a direct-to-consumer model. Noémie's collection features solid 18-karat gold and diamonds of VS clarity and F-G color, ensuring each piece meets high standards of quality and brilliance. The brand offers a range of designs, from timeless classics to modern styles, catering to diverse tastes. For those seeking personalized creations, Noémie provides custom design services, collaborating with clients to bring unique visions to life without additional design fees.
By overseeing the entire production process—from design to sourcing and manufacturing—Noémie delivers exceptional craftsmanship directly to consumers. This approach not only ensures quality but also offers fine jewelry at more accessible prices, making luxury attainable without compromise.
Noémie
Bohemian Dancer ring
Noémie
multi shape diamond stud
Not your mother’s Pandora. Once known primarily for its charm bracelets and giftable price points, the Danish jewelry giant has undergone a chic reinvention. In , it entered the lab-grown diamond space with a clear message: sustainability is the new status symbol. The stones are cut and polished using 100% renewable energy, set in recycled gold and silver, and IGI-certified at 0.50 carats and above.
To mark the shift, the brand launched its “Diamonds for All” campaign featuring Pamela Anderson, Grace Coddington, Precious Lee, and Amita Suman—an eclectic, intergenerational cast that reflects Pandora’s new direction: inclusive, ethical, and refreshingly stylish. The lab-grown collection includes sleek asymmetric rings, polished bangles, and minimalist studs—all with the sort of effortless cool that feels right on time (and right for Gen Z).
Pandora
Era single stone ring
Pandora
Era bezel stud earrings
Pandora
Era pavé bar necklace
Pandora
Era tennis bracelet
Founded by Nadine McCarthy Kahane in , Stone and Strand has always set out to make fine jewelry feel cooler, more conscious, and far less intimidating. Based in New York City, the brand strikes a balance between downtown edge and Fifth Avenue craftsmanship—producing its pieces in the same workshops as some of the industry’s biggest names.
That philosophy is especially clear in its Rathe collection, a line of lab-grown diamond pieces crafted with recycled gold and serious style. The designs range from playful (heart-cut studs, asymmetric silhouettes) to timeless (eternity bands, delicate pendants), all with a distinct minimalist-glam sensibility. It's fine jewelry that’s ethically made, editorially polished, and designed to mix, match, and wear on repeat.
With a SoHo storefront offering in-person styling and services, Stone and Strand invites you to shop sustainably—without sacrificing sparkle.
Stone & Strand
La Scala ring
Stone & Strand
Side pavé clicker
Idyl, founded in Antwerp in , is turning the fine jewelry model on its head—with lab-grown diamonds and a modular design approach that’s equal parts elegant and ingenious. The concept? Minimalist base pieces (think dainty studs and delicate chains) that transform with interchangeable add-ons, taking you from desk to dinner with ease.
Every piece is crafted in Antwerp using traceable, conflict-free gold and rigorously vetted lab-grown diamonds—because sustainability doesn’t mean sacrificing style. With fans like Eva Longoria, Mila Kunis, and Kaia Gerber, Idyl’s vibe is quiet luxury meets low-effort versatility. These are the jewels you reach for daily—and layer forever.
Fiametta—Italian for “little fiery one”—is a New York-based brand proving that lab-grown diamonds can be just as red-carpet-ready as their mined counterparts. Case in point: Olivia Rodrigo’s appearance at the Venice Film Festival, where she paired Fiametta’s Martini Diamond Stud Earrings with a vampy black slip dress and dark lipstick.
Founded by Merill Hollander, Fiametta merges traditional craftsmanship with modern values, using 14k recycled gold and conflict-free, lab-grown diamonds. The line includes engraved medallions, sculptural silhouettes, and customizable designs—each one created with the kind of thoughtfulness that makes a piece feel personal.
It’s luxury with a lighter footprint and a sharper point of view—designed not just to last, but to resonate.
Diamonds, but make them subversive. That’s the ethos behind The Invisible Jewels, founded by former fashion executive Kym Canter. Her signature “naked” diamonds—lab-grown stones that appear to float mid-air on a near-invisible chain—reimagine what luxury looks like in the modern age. No prongs, no heavy metalwork—just the stone, suspended, whispering rather than shouting.
Canter’s goal? “Let’s just be special all the time,” she tells Vogue. And she means it. From barely-there necklaces to stick-on diamond face gems and bobby pins dangling with half-carat stones, her pieces aren’t just adornments—they’re a mindset. “They’re not rave-y,” she explains of the face gems. “It’s punctuation. It’s face jewelry.”
Each lab-grown diamond is made using renewable energy and is fully traceable, but Canter isn’t interested in sustainability as a buzzword. She’s in it for the reinvention. “The opportunity with lab-grown wasn’t just to swap it in for mined,” she says. “It was to create something that hadn’t existed before.”
Think you know Kendra Scott? Think again. The designer best known for her kaleidoscopic gemstones and bold silhouettes has recently taken a chic detour into the world of lab-grown diamonds—and the result is gorgeously minimalist. Her debut fine jewelry line, launched in , is a noticeable shift: refined bands, delicate drop earrings, and whisper-thin pendants crafted with ethically made diamonds and pared-back elegance.
Each diamond is graded at or above H color and VS clarity, with stones 0.5 carat and above certified by the International Gemological Institute.
It’s a collection that still speaks to the Kendra Scott customer—approachable, warm, and sparkle-loving—but with a sleeker edge. For those used to her signature drusy stones and vibrant hues, the diamond edit offers something subtler: a timeless, everyday kind of luxury that doesn’t need to shout.
Styles offered: Necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings, and watches
Price range: Pieces start at $25, with fine jewelry options reaching up to $8,995
Special services: Customizable jewelry through the Color Bar experience; lab-grown diamonds graded at or above H color and VS clarity, with stones 0.5 carat or higher certified by the International Gemological Institute.
Kendra Scott
Marisa oval band ring
Kendra Scott
floating diamond strand necklace
Jennifer Fisher has always approached jewelry as deeply personal—and deeply powerful. The designer, known for redefining modern essentials with her signature hoops and dog tags, entered the lab-grown diamond space not to jump on a trend, but to offer something meaningful. “I have a mine-cut stone that is of significant size,” she told Vogue, “and I don’t know who, if anyone, was harmed mining it. That doesn’t feel great.”
Her lab-grown collection, launched in early , is a sharp departure from the micro pavé-drenched engagement offerings flooding the market. Think pinky rings with major emerald cuts, simplified martini-set studs, and substantial tennis necklaces made to sit perfectly whether your hair is up or down. "I stopped wearing my engagement ring on my wedding finger three years ago,” Fisher explains. “Now I wear it on my pinky—and people literally stop me on the street."
Designed in 18k gold, her pieces favor substantial, single-stone silhouettes over sparkle overload. “The market is already saturated with pavé,” she says. “People want one visually extraordinary stone—not a bunch of tiny ones shoved into a setting.”
Though she doesn't plan to expand into traditional engagement rings, Fisher has found that women—particularly those buying for themselves—are gravitating toward her lab-grown pieces as milestone markers: for anniversaries, divorces, or just the joy of wearing a serious rock on any finger they please. “They’re not buying them to be subtle,” she says. “They’re buying them because they want a stone that feels bold, modern, and truly theirs.”
Styles offered: Rings, tennis necklaces, diamond studs
Price range: Pieces start around $3,000
Special services: Simple, signature settings; lab diamonds set in 18k gold; direct-to-consumer model with personal consultation
Jennifer Fisher
radiant cut anniversary ring
Jennifer Fisher
floating diamond block letter pendant
To help guide your shopping journey, we tapped four jewelry experts to answer the most frequently asked questions about lab-grown diamonds. From the science behind the sparkle to their ethical implications, consider this your lab-grown cheat sheet.
A Brief History of Lab-Grown Diamonds
Lab-grown diamonds aren’t new, per se. The technology has been around for decades—General Electric produced the first batch in —but early versions were largely industrial-grade, used for cutting tools, not rings. Only in the last decade has quality and accessibility caught up with demand. “The technology around lab-grown diamonds had been going on for a long time,” says Jean Dousset, “but had not reached the quality that it did a few years back.”
By the time the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) began grading lab-grown diamonds using the same scale as natural diamonds, Dousset knew the tide was turning: “That was a big breakthrough. The foremost authority in diamond grading acknowledging that these are two diamonds that are the same—with a different origin—meant the product was viable.”
What is a lab-grown diamond? Are lab-grown diamonds real diamonds?
“Lab-grown diamonds are molecularly exactly the same as mined diamonds. In , the FTC updated their definition of what a diamond is, reflecting that lab-grown diamonds are indeed ‘real’ diamonds,” says Strachan. “The only difference between a lab-grown diamond and a mined diamond is the setting in which it’s created—under heat and pressure in a controlled lab setting versus under heat and pressure in the earth.”
How are lab-grown diamonds made?
Lab-grown diamonds undergo the same formation process, just at warp speed in a lab. There are two primary methods:
High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT): Mimics Earth's natural diamond formation process using a small diamond seed, subjected to over 1.5 million pounds per square inch of pressure and temperatures above 2,000°F.
Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD): Places a diamond seed into a vacuum chamber filled with carbon-rich gas. The gas is heated until the carbon atoms crystallize on the seed, layer by layer.
"The ability to create diamonds in the lab means growers can control for the desired color, cut, clarity, and size,” says Strachan.
However, it’s worth noting that the process requires significant energy input. According to the Natural Diamond Council, CVD methods can consume 250–750 kWh of electricity per carat—comparable to running an average U.S. household for a month. The energy footprint varies widely depending on the lab’s source (renewable vs. fossil fuel).
How can you tell the difference between lab-grown diamonds and natural diamonds?
With the naked eye, “it’s nearly impossible to tell the difference between mined and lab-grown diamonds,” says Strachan. “Only a gemologist with the most trained eye is able to tell the difference, and even this is currently under scrutiny,” she adds. “I hear from many Dorsey customers that they layer a Dorsey lab-grown necklace next to a mined diamond necklace, and no one can tell the difference.”
What is the highest grade of lab-grown diamonds?
Lab-grown diamonds can reach the highest grades of Flawless (FL) or Internally Flawless (IF) clarity, D color, and Super Ideal Cut. However, achieving these top grades remains rare.
“Although lab diamond technology has advanced tremendously, the highest color and clarity grades, such as D/FL and D/IF, are still difficult to achieve,” says Annie Chen, Brilliant Earth’s senior vice president of merchandising.
Do the 4 Cs apply to lab-grown diamonds?
The 4 C’s—color, clarity, cut, and carat weight—apply to lab-grown diamonds like to mined diamonds. Lab-grown diamonds are evaluated by independent grading labs such as GIA, IGI, and GCal using identical standards. “Lab-grown diamonds are made of the same material as natural diamonds and have the same optical and chemical properties,” says Chen. “The higher the color and clarity, the rarer the diamond.”
Do lab-grown diamonds hold their value?
There’s no simple answer here. “Value,” as Fisher puts it, “isn’t always about resale.” The jewelry market still treats mined diamonds as rarer, and thus more valuable, but as Dousset points out, “Just because something costs less doesn’t mean it’s cheap. It’s about access—being able to buy the ring you actually want.”
Are lab-grown diamonds more ethical?
“Symbolically, the fact that we’re not digging into the ground to unearth diamonds resonates,” says Dousset. While lab diamonds still require significant energy, some labs—like Vrai’s—operate entirely on renewable power and produce zero emissions.
The better question may be: what’s the overall impact of a company’s operations? “It comes down to traceability,” says Chen. “That’s where the ethics lie.”
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