Are lab grown diamonds real diamonds?

Yes. Lab grown diamonds are chemically, physically, and optically identical to mined diamonds. They are not simulants like cubic zirconia or moissanite. They have the same carbon crystal structure, the same hardness (10 on the Mohs scale), the same refractive index, and are graded on the same 4Cs scale by the same laboratories (GIA, IGI). A lab grown and mined diamond of equivalent grades are visually indistinguishable without specialist equipment.

How much cheaper are lab grown diamonds compared to natural diamonds?

Lab grown diamonds typically cost 70 to 85 percent less than mined diamonds of equivalent cut, colour, clarity, and carat weight. This price gap has widened in recent years as production capacity has increased. In Singapore in 2026, a 1.0ct E VS2 lab grown round brilliant costs approximately SGD 900–1,400, compared to SGD 8,000–12,000 or more for an equivalent natural stone.

Can you tell the difference between a lab grown and natural diamond?

No — not without specialist equipment. A lab grown diamond and a mined diamond of equivalent grades are visually indistinguishable to the naked eye and even under standard jeweller's magnification. Identifying the origin of a diamond requires specialist testing equipment such as a DiamondView or similar device used by gemological laboratories.

Lab-Grown vs Natural Diamonds: Price, Value, Ethics Compared

Q: Do lab grown diamonds hold their value?

Lab grown diamond resale values have declined substantially as production has expanded. A stone purchased several years ago has in many cases declined further in value since purchase. Mined diamonds also do not hold value reliably as investments, but the decline in lab grown resale values has been sharper and faster. If you plan to hold the ring for decades and not resell, the resale question matters less — the stone's beauty is not affected by its market value.

What Lab-Grown Diamonds Actually Are

Lab-grown diamonds are diamonds. They are not simulants like cubic zirconia or moissanite — they are chemically, physically, and optically identical to mined diamonds. The carbon atoms are arranged in the same crystal structure, they have the same hardness, the same refractive index, and they are graded on the same 4Cs scale by the same laboratories. A lab-grown diamond and a mined diamond of equivalent grades are visually indistinguishable without specialist equipment.

The difference is origin. Mined diamonds form over billions of years under extreme heat and pressure in the earth's mantle. Lab-grown diamonds are produced in weeks using HPHT or CVD processes that replicate those conditions in a controlled environment.

Price

Lab-grown diamonds are significantly cheaper than mined diamonds of equivalent grades. A lab-grown round brilliant of equivalent cut, colour, and clarity to a mined stone now typically costs 70 to 85 percent less. The lower price means access to grades that would be out of reach in a mined stone for the same budget — a larger carat weight, a higher colour grade, better clarity.

Resale Value

The resale value of lab-grown diamonds has declined substantially as production has expanded. Mined diamonds also do not hold value reliably as investments, but the decline in lab-grown resale values has been sharper and faster. For buyers who do not intend to resell, this is less relevant — the stone's beauty and meaning are not affected by its market value.

The Ethics Argument

Lab-grown diamonds are often marketed on ethical grounds. The reality is more nuanced on both sides. The mined diamond industry has improved significantly since the Kimberley Process was introduced in 2003. Lab-grown production is energy-intensive and the environmental profile depends substantially on the energy source used by the specific producer.

Which to Choose

If the origin of the stone matters — if a natural diamond carries meaning precisely because it formed in the earth over geological time — then a mined stone is the right choice. If visible quality matters most and budget is a constraint, lab-grown offers access to grades that mined diamonds cannot match at the same price. Both are real diamonds. Both are valid choices.

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Lab-Grown vs Natural Diamonds: An Honest Comparison