Natural vs Lab Grown Diamonds
Natural and lab-grown diamonds are both real diamonds, with the same sparkle, hardness, and chemistry. The difference is where they come from. There is no "best" option, only the best option for you.
How each diamond is made
Natural Diamonds
Formed deep beneath the earth's surface over billions of years under intense heat and pressure. They are carried closer to the surface by volcanic activity, then mined, cut, and polished. Every natural diamond is a one-of-a-kind piece of the earth's history.
Lab-Grown Diamonds
Created in weeks using advanced technology that recreates the conditions in which diamonds form. There are two methods:
CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition): a diamond seed is placed in a chamber of heated, carbon-rich gas, and layers of carbon crystallize around it to grow a larger diamond.
HPHT (High Pressure, High Temperature): a carbon source is exposed to more than 870,000 pounds per square inch of pressure and temperatures of 1,300–1,600°C, just like deep inside the earth.
Not a simulant. Lab-grown diamonds are not imitations like cubic zirconia or moissanite. They share the same physical, chemical, and optical properties as natural diamonds, and you cannot tell them apart with the naked eye. Specialized equipment is needed to identify a diamond's origin.
Side by side
| Natural | Lab-Grown | |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Formed in the earth over billions of years | Grown in a laboratory in a matter of weeks |
| Composition | Pure crystallized carbon | Pure crystallized carbon |
| Appearance | Same brilliance and fire | Same brilliance and fire |
| Hardness | 10 on the Mohs scale | 10 on the Mohs scale |
| Rarity | Rare and finite | Can be produced on demand |
| Price | Higher for the same size and quality | Typically much lower for the same size and quality |
| Long-term value | Generally holds its value better | Limited resale value |
| Grading | Graded by labs such as GIA and IGI | Graded by labs such as GIA and IGI |
Which is right for you?
Choose natural if…
- You love the rarity of a stone formed by nature
- Tradition and heritage matter to you
- Long-term value is a priority
- You want a piece to pass down for generations
Choose lab-grown if…
- You want a larger diamond for your budget
- You'd like higher color and clarity for the price
- You're drawn to modern technology
- You want a statement piece, like a tennis bracelet, at a lower cost
See the difference in person
Visit our showroom at 44 West 47th Street in NYC's Diamond District. Our gemologists will show you natural and lab-grown diamonds side by side and help you find the right one for you.
Shop lab-grown: Tennis Bracelets · Tennis Necklaces · Diamond Studs · Wedding Bands
Learn more about diamond quality in our guide to the 4 C's.
