Lab Diamond Vs Natural Diamond | What’s the Difference?
It's hard to believe that there was once a time when many in the jewellery industry thought creating a gem-quality diamond was impossible. I was one of those people, it seems like yesterday I was having conversations about if it were possible, would you be one of the buyers of these illusive man-made diamonds.
Synthetic, man-made AKA lab-grown gemstones have been around for over a hundred years. However, not all gemstones can be created in a lab. Some are easier to synthesize than others due to their chemical composition. For example, sapphires, rubies, and emeralds have been successfully synthesized for many years. In contrast, the garnet family has never been replicated in a lab—when scientists attempt to create a garnet crystal, its chemical structure causes it to form glass rather than crystallizing.
Diamonds, in particular, were far more difficult to create. Early lab-grown diamonds were extremely expensive, had a brown or yellow hue, and were typically very small, rarely exceeding 1 carat in size.
Fast forward to 2025, and lab-grown diamonds seem to be here to stay! But what exactly is a lab-grown diamond? Do they look different from natural diamonds? And does it really matter? I'm here to answer common questions you might have about lab-grown diamonds versus their natural counterparts.
The Main Difference Between Lab Diamonds and Natural Diamonds
The main difference between lab-grown and natural diamonds is the price. Currently, lab diamonds cost about a third of the price of an equally graded natural diamond, and their price continues to decrease as production becomes more efficient. When lab-grown diamonds first entered the market around 13 years ago, they were expensive to produce, making the price difference negligible.
Below is a price comparison chart for loose lab-diamonds vs loose natural diamonds (prices are in AUD)
| Carat Weight | Lab-Grown Diamond Price ($) | Natural Diamond Price ($) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 ct FVS1 | 1500 | 8000 |
| 1.5 ct FVS1 | 2000 | 20000 |
| 2 ct FVS1 | 2600 | 37000 |
| 2.5 ct FVS1 | 3500 | 60000 |
Can You See the Difference Between a Lab Diamond and a Natural Diamond?
No, to the naked eye, lab and natural diamonds look identical. The only way to distinguish them is with specialized testing equipment. However, all lab-grown diamonds are laser-inscribed with a laboratory number, which can be observed through a standard jeweler's 10x magnification loupe.
How Are Lab Diamonds Made?
Lab diamonds are created using high pressure and heat inside a chamber containing a 'seed' crystal of diamond (a carbon structure as a 3D network). The chamber is infused with carbon-rich molecules and other chemicals that help the carbon atoms bond to the seed crystal, allowing it to grow into a larger diamond. This process takes just a few days to produce one carat (0.5g) of diamond.
How Are Natural Diamonds Formed?
Natural diamonds form deep within the Earth's crust over billions of years. They are brought to the surface through volcanic pipes, where they become embedded in rock formations. Diamonds are then either mined directly from these rocks or found in riverbeds, where erosion has broken down the surrounding minerals over time, leaving the loose diamond crystals behind.
Are Lab Diamonds More Ethical Than Natural Diamonds?
This is a complex question with no definitive right or wrong answer. From an environmental perspective, lab diamonds have a smaller impact since mining natural diamonds requires significant energy and resources. However, the natural diamond industry supports millions of workers in developing nations. If the industry were to decline drastically, many of these workers would face even more economic hardship.
Are Lab and Natural Diamonds Graded the Same Way?
Yes, both lab and natural diamonds are graded using the same criteria, known as the "Four Cs":
Carat: The weight of the diamond.
Cut: How well the diamond is shaped and faceted.
Color: The presence (or absence) of color in the diamond.
Clarity: The number and type of internal imperfections/inclusions.
Should You Buy a Natural Diamond or a Lab Diamond?
When synthetic sapphires, rubies and emeralds first became available, the market at the time didn’t take kindly them and they quickly became known as ‘fake’ gemstones even though they are essentially identical to the natural. Jewellery set with synthetic gemstones were looked at as cheap, because the synthetics are cheaper than the naturals.
Will the sparkle die out of lab-grown diamonds? - The market has changed significantly to how it was 50 years ago, we are more conscious of sustainable products and are more aware of mining practices. Because diamonds were so difficult to synthesize in the first place, there seems to be an added layer of value compared to the coloured gems listed above.
Answering whether you should buy a natural or lab-grown diamond is entirely personal and depends on your preferences and values. Some buyers appreciate natural diamonds for their rarity and billion-year-old history. Others prioritise sustainability, size and value, opting for a lab-grown diamond.
Whichever you choose, both natural and lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds, both are beautiful in jewellery.
If you are looking to get an engagement ring made using a lab-diamond or a natural diamond, get in touch.
