What they are
A natural diamond formed deep in the earth over millions of years. A lab-grown diamond is grown in weeks with high pressure and heat (HPHT) or chemical vapour deposition (CVD).
Both are crystallised carbon with the same hardness, sparkle and chemistry. A lab-grown diamond is not a simulant like cubic zirconia or moissanite.
How they compare
| Natural | Lab-grown | |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Carbon crystal | Carbon crystal |
| Hardness | 10 on the Mohs scale | 10 on the Mohs scale |
| Grading | 4Cs (GIA, IGI and others) | 4Cs (IGI, GIA and others) |
| Price for the same size and quality | Higher | Usually much lower |
| Resale value | Holds more value | Limited resale market |
| Telling them apart | Needs lab equipment | Needs lab equipment |
Which one is right for you
- Choose lab-grown to get a larger or higher-grade stone for the same budget.
- Choose natural if rarity and long-term value matter most to you.
- Either way, ask for the grading report and check that it names the stone as natural or laboratory-grown.
The 4Cs in one minute
- Cut: how well the stone is shaped and polished. It drives sparkle more than anything else.
- Colour: graded D (colourless) to Z. G to J looks white to most eyes, especially in yellow gold.
- Clarity: tiny inclusions, from Flawless to Included. VS and many SI stones look clean without magnification.
- Carat: weight. 1 carat is 0.2 grams; the same carat can look larger or smaller depending on cut and shape.