It is one of the questions we hear most often. The honest answer is that a lab-grown diamond and a mined diamond are the same material. The differences are in origin, price and story.
What is the same
- Chemical composition: pure crystallised carbon
- Hardness: both are 10 on the Mohs scale
- Brilliance and fire: identical optical properties
- Grading: both are graded on the same 4Cs by independent laboratories
A trained gemmologist cannot tell them apart by eye. Specialised laboratory equipment is needed to identify a diamond's origin, and grading reports clearly state whether a diamond is laboratory-grown.
What is different
Origin. Mined diamonds formed deep underground over billions of years. Lab-grown diamonds are grown in weeks using CVD or HPHT technology.
Price. Lab-grown diamonds typically cost significantly less than mined diamonds of the same size and quality, which lets buyers choose a larger or higher-grade stone for the same budget.
Traceability. A lab-grown diamond's origin is known from the moment it is grown.
Which should you choose?
If you want the beauty and durability of a diamond with more size and quality for your budget, lab-grown is an excellent choice. Our team is always happy to show you stones side by side so you can decide with your own eyes.
