Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Real? The Truth About Lab vs. Natural Diamonds

Few diamond questions generate as much confusion as, “Are lab-grown diamonds actually real diamonds?” The simple answer is yes.

A lab-grown diamond is not cubic zirconia, moissanite, glass or another diamond imitation. It is a diamond. Lab-grown diamonds are created using technology designed to reproduce the conditions under which diamonds develop, resulting in crystalline carbon with diamond's characteristic hardness, brilliance and optical properties.

For couples shopping for an engagement ring, however, knowing that a lab-grown diamond is real is only the beginning. The more important question is whether a lab-grown or natural diamond is the right choice for you.

At Christopher Fine Diamonds in Chandler, Arizona, we help clients compare both choices in person. You can also explore our lab-grown diamond options or browse our engagement ring experience before visiting the showroom.

What Exactly Is a Lab-Grown Diamond?

A lab-grown diamond is a diamond produced in a controlled technological environment instead of being extracted from a natural diamond deposit.

The result is a gemstone composed of carbon arranged in the characteristic crystal structure associated with diamond.

This distinction is important because the jewelry industry also includes materials called diamond simulants. Simulants may resemble a diamond visually but are fundamentally different materials.

Lab-Grown Diamond vs. Diamond Simulant

Lab-grown diamonds are sometimes mistakenly grouped with cubic zirconia or moissanite. They should not be.

Cubic zirconia and moissanite can both be beautiful gemstones, but neither is a diamond. They possess different chemical compositions and physical characteristics.

A laboratory-grown diamond, by comparison, has the defining crystal structure and material properties of diamond.

Can You Tell a Lab-Grown Diamond From a Natural Diamond by Looking at It?

Usually, no.

A properly cut lab-grown diamond can display the brilliance, fire and scintillation people associate with a beautiful natural diamond. Simply examining a finished engagement ring with the naked eye generally does not reveal whether the diamond formed underground or in a laboratory.

Even jewelers typically rely on specialized equipment, laboratory identification methods and grading documentation when determining origin.

Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Graded Like Natural Diamonds?

Lab-grown diamonds can be evaluated using the familiar characteristics diamond shoppers know as the 4Cs:

• Carat weight
• Color
• Clarity
• Cut

Independent gemological laboratories can issue reports documenting characteristics of laboratory-grown diamonds, just as laboratory documentation is commonly used for natural diamonds.

A grading report is extremely useful, but it should not replace actually examining a diamond. Two stones with similar specifications on paper can still create different visual impressions.

Lab-Grown vs. Natural Diamonds: What's the Difference?

Why Do Lab-Grown Diamonds Cost Less?

One of the primary reasons couples consider lab-grown diamonds is the amount of visible diamond they can purchase within a particular budget.

Because laboratory production does not depend on locating, extracting and distributing naturally occurring diamond rough, the economics of the two markets are fundamentally different.

That often allows a client to choose a larger diamond, a different shape, or devote more of the budget to the engagement-ring setting itself.

If lab-grown diamonds are part of your search, our Lab-Grown Diamonds page explains more about the options available at Christopher Fine Diamonds.

Do Lab-Grown Diamonds Sparkle Like Natural Diamonds?

They can.

Sparkle depends heavily on proportions, facet arrangement, craftsmanship, cleanliness and how light travels through the diamond—not simply whether the crystal formed naturally or in a laboratory.

This is why we encourage clients to look beyond a grading-report headline and evaluate how a particular diamond actually performs visually.

Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Good for Engagement Rings?

Absolutely. For many couples, a lab-grown diamond can be an excellent engagement-ring choice.

They are especially appealing to someone who prioritizes:

• A larger visual diamond size within a particular budget
• High color and clarity specifications
• A specific elongated or specialty diamond shape
• More budget for a detailed custom setting
• The appearance and durability associated with diamond

Lab-grown diamonds work beautifully in solitaire, halo, hidden-halo, bezel, three-stone and vintage-inspired designs.

If you're considering current styles, see our guides to elongated oval engagement rings , elongated radiant-cut engagement rings and elongated cushion-cut engagement rings .

Lab-Grown Diamonds and Custom Engagement Rings

One of the advantages of custom design is that your diamond and setting can be selected together rather than treating them as unrelated purchases.

The width of the band, height of the head, prong configuration, gallery, side stones and overall proportions can all be considered around the center stone you select.

Christopher Fine Diamonds offers custom engagement ring design from our Chandler showroom, allowing couples to build a ring around the diamond, lifestyle and aesthetic they actually want.

What About Lab-Grown Diamond Resale Value?

This is an important distinction and one buyers should understand before purchasing.

Lab-grown diamond pricing has changed significantly as manufacturing technology and global production capacity have expanded. Because of this, consumers should not assume that a lab-grown diamond will retain a purchase price or secondary-market value similar to a comparable natural diamond.

We generally recommend choosing an engagement ring because you love the diamond and the jewelry—not because you expect the center stone to function as a financial investment.

Should I Buy a Lab-Grown or Natural Diamond?

There isn't one correct answer.

A client who values natural rarity and geological origin may strongly prefer a natural diamond. Another client may prefer the size, appearance and pricing possibilities available through lab-grown diamonds.

Neither preference makes the engagement ring more meaningful than the other.

See Lab-Grown and Natural Diamonds Side by Side in Chandler

Online diamond research can teach you specifications, but seeing diamonds in person often makes the decision substantially easier.

At Christopher Fine Diamonds, clients can compare options, discuss budgets, evaluate diamond shapes and explore engagement-ring designs with an experienced jewelry professional.

If you are searching for a jeweler in Chandler, you may also want to read our guide to choosing a custom jeweler in Chandler, Arizona .