Is a Lab-Grown Diamond Real or Fake? The Reality Explained

Everyone wants to buy the best diamonds. But gone are the days when consumers desired mined diamonds. Today, an increasing number of consumers are preferring to buy lab grown diamonds.

Whether it’s for an engagement ring or for a necklace, cultivated diamonds are taking over mined diamonds. And there are many reasons for this – affordability, a reduction in environmental impact, sustainability, social and humanitarian safety, etc.

Lab grown diamonds are growing in popularity and consumers are increasingly seeing value in lab made diamonds. People are now specifically choosing lab grown diamonds for engagement rings as opposed to natural diamonds.

When it comes to sustainability, lab diamonds present a much better opportunity and customers are recognizing it. Lab diamonds do not cause harm to the environment, are far from being blood diamonds, and do not cause social or political issues.

Lab diamonds are easily accessible to everyone, no matter their budget. Compared to mined diamonds, lab diamonds are 30 to 50% cheaper and hence, affordable by many customer segments.

However, in spite of all these positives and benefits, lab grown diamonds have garnered many myths surrounding them. In this blog, we debunk some of the myths and also understand what their reality and facts are.

Let’s get started!

1. Lab Grown Diamonds are not Real

One of the first doubts or questions asked about lab created diamonds is – are lab grown diamonds real? And the answer is – yes,  lab diamonds are as real as mined diamonds.

Lab diamonds are created through the same process that leads to the formation of diamonds under the crust of the earth. Lab-grown diamonds have the same chemical, physical, and visual properties.

The reality

Lab grown diamonds are considered real in every sense. They have the same chemical, physical, and optical properties as mined or natural diamonds. The only difference lies in the origin. Even the process which forms lab diamonds is the same as natural diamonds. Reputed diamond grading institutions consider man made diamonds as real diamonds.

2. Lab Grown Diamonds are Graded Differently

Mined diamonds are graded for their quality. And so are lab diamonds. Lab grown diamonds are graded by the same institutions that grade mined diamonds. The best lab created diamonds will would always have a certificate of grading from reputed institutions.

Lab created diamonds are graded with the same globally accepted standards for assessing the quality of diamonds. Moreover, they’re graded in the same manner for the 4 Cs of diamond – cut, clarity, carat, and color.

The reality

Lab made diamonds are graded for the same parameters that mined diamonds are graded for. Organizations like the International Gemological Institute (IGI) apply the same grading criteria to both lab grown diamonds and mined diamonds. The grading certificates for lab diamonds follow the same format and assess the same characteristics. The only difference is the mention of the origin of the diamond.

3. Lab Grown Diamonds Cannot be used in Engagement Rings

The demand for engagement rings studded with lab diamonds is increasing day-by-day. An increasing number of Gen Z and millennials prefer to buy lab grown diamonds as they are sustainable, environment-friendly, ethical, and cheaper than mined diamonds.

According to reports, 66% of young consumers are actively looking for engagement rings made with lab diamonds. And 23% of diamond shoppers say they’d definitely buy a lab grown diamond engagement ring.

The reality

Lab grown diamonds are suitable for engagement rings. In fact, an increasing number of consumers who prefer to make conscious choices are choosing lab diamond engagement rings over mined diamond rings. Lab diamonds are 30 to 50% cheaper than mined diamonds, hence, one can get a large carat engagement ring for the same price for a less carat ring. Jewelers and brands now offer special lab grown diamond engagement and wedding ring collections.

4. Lab-Grown Diamonds Are Inferior in Quality

Lab grown diamonds are of the same quality as mined diamonds. In fact, because lab diamonds are man-made, there’s a high level of quality control, from the selection of the seed to controlled processes to precision cutting and polishing. Lab diamonds are created using advanced technologies.

The reality

Lab grown diamonds exhibit fewer impurities than mined diamonds. Lab diamonds are created under a controlled environment and hence offer consistent high-quality, low-impurity diamonds. Lab diamonds achieve higher clarity grades (VS1, VS2, or VVS). This makes high-quality diamonds accessible at a cheaper price to more consumers.

5. Lab Grown Diamonds Change Color Over Time

No, it’s a lie and a myth that lab-created diamonds change color over time. Lab diamonds are real diamonds. They are made of the same properties as mined diamonds. Their physical, chemical, thermal, optical, and visual properties are the same as mined diamonds. They are strong and resilient and do not change color.

The reality

Lab grown diamonds get their colors from their atomic structure and trace elements present during their formation. These characteristics remain permanently stable. Lab diamonds have the same chemical properties as natural diamonds and are resistant to discoloration or scratching. Their color does not change over time.

6. Lab Grown Diamonds Harm the Environment in the Same Way as Mined Diamonds

Man made diamonds are created in safe environments in laboratories using machines and technology. It’s a myth that lab diamonds have an adverse impact on the environment. Most lab grown diamond manufacturers ensure sustainability and responsible practices of waste management, reducing carbon footprint, etc. These diamonds are created in greenhouse labs and do not cause harm to the environment, the way mined diamonds do.

The reality

The production process of lab diamonds requires a lot of energy, but it does not have the harmful effects that mining diamonds have. For instance, creating diamonds in laboratories does not cause habitat destruction, soil erosion, water pollution, or land displacement. Lab diamonds are made in controlled environments, following environmental safety regulations.

7. Lab Grown Diamonds Look Fake, and You Can Tell the Difference

Lab diamonds don’t look fake because they are not artificial diamonds. They offer the same brilliance and performance that mined diamonds offer. In fact, one cannot tell the difference between a lab diamond and a mined diamond by looking at it with the naked eye. The only thing that tells a lab diamond apart is the lab grown diamond price and the inscription or the certificate.

The reality

Lab grown diamonds look similar to mined diamonds and even experienced jewelers cannot distinguish between the two. Experts too, require special equipment to tell the difference between the two types of diamonds. One way to identify lab grown diamonds is the laser inscription on its girdle.

So, now that you know the truth, nothing should stop you from buying lab grown diamonds. Besides the truth, lab created diamonds offer so many benefits. They are at least 40% to 50% cheaper than mined diamonds, they do not cause harm to the environment, are a sustainable option, and shine as bright as you’d want them to!