Are Lab Grown Diamonds Real Diamonds
One of the most common questions people ask when shopping for diamond jewelry is whether lab grown diamonds are real diamonds. The short answer is yes—lab grown diamonds are 100% real diamonds. They have the same chemical composition, crystal structure, and physical properties as diamonds mined from the earth.
Understanding what makes a diamond "real" requires looking at the science behind diamond formation, how lab grown diamonds are created, and why gemological institutes classify them as genuine diamonds.
What Makes a Diamond Real
A real diamond is defined by its chemical composition and crystal structure. Diamonds are made of pure carbon atoms arranged in a specific cubic crystal lattice. This atomic structure gives diamonds their exceptional hardness, brilliance, and optical properties.
Whether a diamond forms naturally deep within the Earth or in a controlled laboratory environment, if it has this carbon crystal structure, it is a real diamond. The origin of the diamond does not change its fundamental nature as a gemstone.
Diamond simulants like cubic zirconia or moissanite are not real diamonds because they have different chemical compositions. Lab grown diamonds, however, are chemically identical to natural diamonds.
How Lab Grown Diamonds Are Created
Lab grown diamonds are created using advanced technology that replicates the natural conditions under which diamonds form in the Earth's mantle. There are two primary methods used to grow diamonds in laboratories.
The High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) method mimics the extreme pressure and heat found deep underground. A small diamond seed is placed in carbon and subjected to pressures exceeding 1.5 million pounds per square inch and temperatures around 1,500 degrees Celsius.
The Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) method uses a different approach. A diamond seed is placed in a chamber filled with carbon-rich gas. The gas is ionized, causing carbon atoms to deposit onto the seed and crystallize into diamond layers.
Both methods produce genuine diamonds that are indistinguishable from natural diamonds without specialized equipment.
Lab Grown Diamonds Have Identical Physical Properties
Lab grown diamonds score 10 on the Mohs hardness scale, making them the hardest naturally occurring substance, just like mined diamonds. They have the same refractive index, which means they reflect and refract light in exactly the same way.
The thermal conductivity, density, and dispersion of lab grown diamonds are identical to natural diamonds. This is why traditional diamond testers cannot distinguish between lab grown and natural diamonds—they respond identically to testing.
Lab grown diamonds can have the same range of clarity grades, color grades, and cut quality as natural diamonds. They can be colorless or fancy colored, flawless or included, well-cut or poorly cut.
How Gemological Institutes Classify Lab Grown Diamonds
Major gemological laboratories including the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the International Gemological Institute (IGI) certify lab grown diamonds using the same grading standards applied to natural diamonds.
These institutes grade lab grown diamonds on the same 4Cs: cut, color, clarity, and carat weight. The grading reports clearly indicate that the diamond is laboratory grown, but they confirm that it is a real diamond.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the United States has stated that lab grown diamonds are diamonds. In 2018, the FTC removed the word "natural" from the definition of diamond, recognizing that diamonds can be created in laboratories.
The Difference Between Lab Grown Diamonds and Diamond Simulants
It's important to distinguish between lab grown diamonds and diamond simulants. Diamond simulants are materials that look like diamonds but have completely different chemical and physical properties.
Cubic zirconia is made of zirconium dioxide. Moissanite is made of silicon carbide. White sapphire is aluminum oxide. These are all diamond simulants—they may resemble diamonds visually, but they are not diamonds.
Lab grown diamonds are not simulants. They are real diamonds made of crystallized carbon, identical in every measurable way to diamonds that formed naturally underground over billions of years.
Why Lab Grown Diamonds Are Becoming Popular
Lab grown diamonds have gained significant popularity because they offer the same beauty and durability as natural diamonds at a more accessible price point. Consumers can purchase larger or higher quality diamonds for their budget.
The controlled laboratory environment also allows for greater availability of rare diamond colors and characteristics. Fancy colored lab grown diamonds, which would be extremely expensive if natural, are more accessible to consumers.
Many buyers also appreciate the transparency of the production process and the reduced environmental impact compared to traditional diamond mining operations.
Final Thoughts
Lab grown diamonds are real diamonds in every scientific and gemological sense. They have the same chemical composition, crystal structure, hardness, and optical properties as natural diamonds. The only difference is their origin—one forms in the Earth over billions of years, while the other forms in a laboratory over several weeks.
When shopping for diamond jewelry, whether you choose a lab grown or natural diamond comes down to personal preference and values. Both are genuine diamonds that will last a lifetime.