Are Lab Grown Diamonds Real?

Are lab grown diamonds real? Yes. A lab grown diamond is a real diamond, not a look alike. It is made of carbon atoms locked in the same crystal pattern as a diamond from the earth, and it has the same hardness, sparkle and durability. The only difference is where it grew. This page explains what that means, how you can check it for yourself, and what to watch out for when someone uses the word “diamond” loosely.

What makes a diamond a diamond

A diamond is defined by what it is made of and how its atoms are arranged. It is pure carbon in a tight cubic crystal. That structure is what makes a diamond the hardest natural material, a 10 on the Mohs scale, and what gives it the high refraction that throws light back as brilliance and fire.

A lab grown diamond has that same carbon crystal. It is not coated, not glass, and not a blend. Cut it, test its hardness, or measure how it bends light, and you get diamond results. That is why gem labs grade lab grown diamonds with the same cut, color, clarity and carat language used for mined stones. See our guide to the 4Cs for how each grade works.

How a diamond grows in a lab

Every lab grown diamond starts with a thin slice of diamond called a seed. Growers then recreate the conditions that let carbon build onto that seed, layer by layer or under great heat and pressure. There are two methods:

• CVD (chemical vapor deposition): carbon from a gas settles onto the seed in a vacuum chamber, building the crystal up in layers.
• HPHT (high pressure, high temperature): the seed sits in molten metal with carbon under heat and pressure close to what happens deep underground.

Both make real diamonds. Our page on CVD vs HPHT lab diamonds covers the differences, and why the method matters less than the finished grades.

Lab grown diamonds vs simulants

A lot of confusion comes from simulants. A simulant is a different material made to look like a diamond. It is not a diamond at all. The common ones are:

Moissanite and cubic zirconia can look bright in a photo, but they behave differently. Moissanite throws strong rainbow flashes, and cubic zirconia is softer and scratches and clouds over time. A lab grown diamond, by contrast, wears like any diamond. If a price seems far too low for the size, ask which of these you are looking at.

How to check that a lab diamond is real

You should never have to take anyone’s word for it. Here is how to check, at our showroom or anywhere else:

1. Ask for the grading report. Every lab grown center stone we offer comes with an IGI or GIA report. It states that the stone is laboratory grown and lists its grades and measurements.
2. Read the inscription. Most lab diamonds carry a laser inscription on the girdle with the report number. Under the loupe, you can read it and match it to the paper.
3. Look the report up. Both IGI and GIA let you check a report number on their own websites. The details online should match the paper and the stone.
4. Use a diamond tester. A standard thermal tester reads a lab diamond as diamond. Some newer testers can also flag it as lab grown.

For a deeper look at reports, read our guide to IGI certified lab grown diamonds.

Do lab diamonds change over time?

A lab grown diamond does not cloud, yellow or lose its sparkle with age. That is a common worry, usually because people have seen an old cubic zirconia turn dull. A diamond is far harder and more stable than that. What dims any diamond is everyday film: lotion, soap and skin oils sitting on the back of the stone. Clean it with warm water, a little dish soap and a soft brush, and it looks as bright as the day you got it.

Why the word “lab grown” always comes first

In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission’s jewelry guides say a diamond grown in a lab should be clearly described as lab grown, laboratory created or similar. That is a good rule, and it protects you. On our site and at our showroom, every lab stone is described as a lab grown diamond, and the report says the same.

Be wary of vague words. “Diamond look,” “diamond alternative” or a brand name with no qualifier often means a simulant. A real lab grown diamond will be called exactly that, and it will have the paperwork.

Is a lab grown diamond right for you?

It comes down to what you want from the stone. A lab grown diamond gives you a real diamond, often bigger or whiter for the same budget. It does not hold resale value the way a mined diamond can, so it is a stone to wear, not to invest in. We explain that honestly in our resale value guide and compare both side by side in lab grown vs natural diamonds.

The best way to decide is to see one. Tell us the shape and size you have in mind on our loose lab grown diamonds page, and we will pull 3 to 5 matching stones for your visit. Then book a viewing at 30 West 47th Street, Suite 806, between 5th and 6th Avenue, or call (212) 642-4345.