If you think lab-grown diamonds aren’t real, look fake, or have no place in fine jewelry—think again! Truth is, lab-grown diamonds are 100% real diamonds, just with a different origin story. And we’ve assembled a “top ten” list of myth-busting facts and features that will have you thinking about lab diamonds in a whole new way.
1. There are two methods for “crystallizing carbon” in the lab--a process that takes weeks, as opposed to millions of years below ground:
- HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature), which mimics the natural conditions of high pressure and high temperature found deep within the Earth.
- CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) which deposits carbon atoms from a gas onto a substrate in a controlled environment to produce a diamond crystal.
2. It is impossible to tell lab-grown and mined diamonds apart with the naked eye. Even professional jewelers need specialized equipment to do so.
3. The notion that the color of lab-grown diamonds can fade over time is 100% false! Like natural, mined diamonds, their composition AND color never changes.
4. It’s also not true that lab-grown diamonds can’t be certified. They’re graded by the same reputable institutions (GIA and IGI) that report on mined diamonds.
5. While fancy-colored mined diamonds remain the rarest and most expensive (with pink the most prized), labs ARE producing a whole spectrum of hues (and taking customization to a whole new level).
6. Lab-grown diamonds’ controlled environment often results in fewer flaws and higher clarity grades, making them more consistently flawless than many mined diamonds.
7. Contrary to misconceptions, lab grown diamonds ARE often more eco-friendly than traditional mined diamonds--with many manufacturers prioritizing efficient waste management and a reduced carbon footprint.
8. An Israeli-based company is exploring the use of solar power in the creation of lab-grown diamonds (AND the idea of marketing them as “Sun Grown Diamonds”).
9. Famous fans of lab-grown diamonds include Emma Watson, Lady Gaga, Zendaya and Rihanna--with Cara Delevingne sporting over 500 carats at the 2024 Met Gala!
10. Top designers and jewelers are increasingly turning to lab-grown diamonds for their beauty, sustainability, and versatility--and expanding the world of luxury jewelry in the process.
If any confusion remains about the veracity and inherent beauty of lab-grown diamonds, this metaphor (found on Reddit) says it best:
“I ask people where they would go get me an ice cube. They always respond, ‘from the freezer.’ I ask, ‘how come you didn’t fly to the South Pole, dig a mile into a glacier, cut some ice and fly it back here?’ They often look confused. Then I explain, ‘that is how lab diamonds and mined diamonds work, made of the same stuff, just one doesn’t require all the cost associated with the complicated acquisition.’”
‘Nuff said.