This is one of the most-debated topics in the diamond business right now.

Lab-grown diamonds are chemically, physically, and optically identical to natural diamonds. They have the same crystal structure, hardness, and sparkle. The difference is in the origin: one formed over billions of years underground, the other was created in a lab over a few weeks. A certified gemologist would need specialized equipment to tell them apart.

So why the price gap? Jewelry quality natural diamonds are rarer and have supply chain constraints built in to keep prices artificially high. Lab-grown diamonds have scale and efficiency on their side. Neither is “fake” - they’re both real diamonds. It comes down to what you value.

Because lab-grown diamonds do not have the same supply chain constraints and mining costs as natural diamonds, they are significantly more affordable.

On average, a lab-grown diamond can cost 50% to 80% less than a natural diamond of the exact same size and quality.

This means if you choose a lab-grown diamond, you can typically afford a much larger stone or a higher quality grade (better cut, color, and clarity) while staying within the same budget.

In most cases, it is extremely difficult to visually tell the difference between lab-grown diamonds and natural diamonds. Lab-grown diamonds possess the same physical, chemical, and optical properties as natural diamonds, making them nearly indistinguishable to the naked eye.

If you compare one earth mined and one lab created diamond of the same color and clarity, there is no difference. In fact, lab created diamonds have reached such fantastic qualities that even professional diamond graders without sophisticated equipment will have no chance of telling them apart.

Lab grown diamonds pass standard diamond testers since their thermal conductivity is identical to that of natural diamonds.

While it is impossible by looking at the diamonds alone, gemological laboratories such as GIA and IGI have figured out reliable ways to test for them. With sophisticated pieces of equipment such as fluorescence patterns and infrared absorption spectroscopy, gemological labs can reliably separate LGD diamonds from naturally mined ones.

Yes, lab-grown diamonds can be certified by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) or other reputable gemological laboratories. GIA offers grading reports for both natural and lab-grown diamonds.

The GIA grading report for lab-grown diamonds includes information about the diamond's color, clarity, cut, carat weight, and other relevant characteristics. This certification provides assurance and transparency regarding the quality and specifications of the lab-grown diamond. If you are ever in doubt about a diamond's origin, send it to a gemological laboratory and let the professionals handle it.