A geologist once told me, “everything not grown on Earth is mined.” The raw materials for nearly everything we use are excavated from the Earth. Whether it is your cell phone, computer, the sheetrock in your house, or the pipes in your walls, these items and countless others are made from materials extracted from the ground. Historically, diamonds are the rarest and most beautiful material that comes from the ground. What makes a diamond so special? For starters, they are the hardest material on Earth and the product of precise scientific processes. Treasured for thousands of years, diamonds are symbols of love and dedication at the forefront of life’s most special moments. Their quality is meticulously graded based on cut, color, clarity, and carat weight—attributes that ensure the "WOW" factor that has mesmerized humans for centuries. We know that a diamond is a diamond, whether lab-grown or natural, so, what’s the difference? Let’s dive into the origins, characteristics, and price points of the world’s most beautiful marvels, and uncover what sets them apart. 

How are Lab Grown and Natural Diamonds Made?

Did you know that the oldest natural diamonds are more than three billion years old!? Diamonds are made of carbon, which, when under intense heat and pressure in the earth’s mantle, crystallizes to form diamonds that are brought to the surface through volcanic eruptions. This is a gradual process, with the youngest natural diamonds being at least nine hundred million years old. So it goes without saying that these precious gems are a rare feat of nature.

In order to create lab diamonds, you must replicate this natural process. There are two methods used to do this, the High Pressure High Temperature method (HPHT) and the Chemical Vapor Deposition method (CVD). HPHT replicates the conditions of the Earth’s mantle by creating a high-pressure, high-temperature environment. By placing a small diamond in carbon and exposing it to temperatures over 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit and 1.5 million PSI, the diamond “grows”, creating rough that is then cooled, cut and polished to create a beautiful stone. Through this method, a process that takes hundreds of millions of years in the earth takes only a few days. CVD is a more modern method that differs from HPHT by replicating how diamonds are made in nebulas in outer space. A small micro-diamond is placed in a vacuum chamber filled with carbon gas and heated to 1500 degrees Fahrenheit, causing the gas to become plasma and releasing carbon pieces that surround the seed diamond, forming lab rough. This method takes a few weeks to several months, but allows the most control over color and clarity. To put it simply, lab and natural diamonds can be compared to a piece of art. Just like an original Van Gogh painting and a replicated print are both technically art, their difference lies in the artist and the process of their creation. 

Natural vs Lab Grown Diamond Price

Today, lab-grown diamonds cost 80%-95% less than a natural mined diamond and continue to decrease in value. This price discrepancy has everything to do with the stone’s origin. With a natural diamond, you’re paying for rarity. Desirable characteristics such as size, F color and VVS1 clarity cost more because they are natural phenomena. To help paint the picture of just how rare these characteristics are in natural diamonds, let’s break down what causes a diamond’s color. Color in diamonds is caused by the presence of nitrogen or boron, appearing as a slight tint in the stone. Since natural diamonds are created without human intervention (prior to cutting), the chances of a diamond having undetectable amounts of these elements is extremely rare. In fact, it’s estimated that only 1-2% of natural diamonds are considered colorless.

With lab-grown diamonds, desirable characteristics don’t impact the price as significantly, because manufacturers can control the characteristics of the stone. Since the creation of the first lab-grown diamond in 1954, this process has been perfected, allowing production to be very cost-effective, but certainly not more sustainable, compared to mining. A study in 2017 estimated that the carbon emissions of a one carat natural diamond from mine to finger has a similar carbon impact as manufacturing three iPhones. 

How to Tell the Difference Between Natural and Lab Grown Diamonds

Lab-grown and natural diamonds are chemically and visually identical, differing only in origin. They are both made of carbon atoms, both score 10 on the Mohs hardness scale, and both can display the same fire and scintillation. Distinguishing between lab-grown and natural diamonds requires sophisticated equipment, so be sure to visit your trusted jeweler for expert analysis and guidance.

Whether natural or lab-grown, the sentiment remains the same. A diamond is a promise. A symbol of love and dedication. What matters is finding the stone that perfectly fits your unique love story, and is something your partner will be proud to wear. Ultimately, selecting a diamond comes down to the unique characteristics you value most. You may value the rarity and awe of a natural diamond and fall in love with a stunning antique cut K-colored natural diamond, or perhaps an F-color lab-grown diamond catches your eye. Every diamond is unique, and our AJP and GIA certified diamond specialists are here to guide you on your journey to finding the perfect ring for your story. Book your diamond appointment today, your story starts here.