So you're shopping for diamonds and are torn between the nature-made magic of natural diamonds and the size queen savings of a lab diamond. Don't worry, we got you. Keep reading for a completely transparent and comprehensive comparison between lab diamonds and natural diamonds where we dispel all the myths and tell the unfiltered truth on all facets including:
What Are Lab Grown Diamonds?
Lab grown diamonds are man-made twins of natural diamonds. Instead of forming deep in the Earth’s crust over billions of years, they’re grown in a lab in just weeks. To the naked eye, they look identical to natural diamonds and only a trained gemologist (with specialized equipment) can spot the difference.
Quick Take: Lab grown diamonds = real diamonds, just fast-tracked in a lab instead of slow-cooked by the Earth. Same sparkle, different origin.
Round brilliant lab grown diamond ring
Are Lab Grown Diamonds Real Diamonds?
Yes. Lab grown diamonds share the same chemical, optical, and physical properties as natural diamonds. They’re just man-made instead of Earth-made.
The confusion comes from comparing them to synthetics like cubic zirconia or moissanite — those are lookalikes, not diamonds. Lab diamonds are the real deal.
Quick Take: Real? Yes. Natural? No. Don’t confuse them with CZ or moissanite — lab diamonds are 100% diamond.
How Lab Created Diamonds vs Natural Diamonds are Formed
Here’s the real origin story difference:
Natural diamonds were formed 90 million to 3 billion years ago. Carbon atoms were crushed under extreme heat and pressure deep in the Earth until they bonded into diamonds. Volcanic eruptions eventually pushed them to the surface, where each diamond carries a totally unique fingerprint of its journey.
Lab grown diamonds are created in weeks or months using one of two methods:
- CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition): Carbon gas crystallizes around a diamond seed.
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HPHT (High Pressure, High Temperature): Carbon is subjected to insane heat + pressure, mimicking the Earth’s natural recipe.
Quick Take: Natural = billion-year slow-bake. Lab = pressure-cooker shortcut. Same result, different timelines.
Lab Grown Diamond Benefits
The #1 benefit of lab diamonds? Price. Lab grown diamonds are way more affordable than natural diamonds, and prices have dropped dramatically in the past decade.
Translation: if you’re craving a big rock on a smaller tab, lab is the way.
Quick Take: Lab grown diamonds = more size for your spend.
How Are Lab Grown Diamonds Certified and Graded?
Lab diamonds are certified and graded by the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) and the IGI (International Gemological Institute) — same as natural diamonds. Traditionally, they’ve been assessed using the full 4 Cs: cut, color, clarity, and carat.
But in 2025, the GIA shook things up. They've announced they’ll no longer grade lab-grown diamonds using the traditional 4 Cs. Instead, lab diamonds will receive a simplified quality rating: either Standard or Premium. Natural diamonds will still get the full report.
Why the change?
According to the GIA, over 95% of lab-grown diamonds fall into a narrow band of color and clarity, so the traditional 4Cs don’t say much from stone to stone. Their new grading system is designed to reflect how lab diamonds are actually made — and to give shoppers clearer, more useful info when comparing lab and natural diamonds.
Natural diamonds vs lab diamonds: value
Here’s where the real divide shows:
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Lab grown diamonds cost about 80–90% less than natural diamonds in 2025. Prices have dropped over 70% in the last 8 years and are still falling. Why? Supply is basically unlimited—labs can make more anytime. When supply goes up, value goes down.
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Natural diamonds are finite, rare, and tend to hold or even increase in value over time. There’s a limited supply (the earth isn’t making more!), which helps keep their value steady.
Example: In 2016, a high-quality 1.5 ct lab diamond cost just ~10% less than its natural twin. Today, that same lab diamond is over 80% cheaper than the natural.
Quick Take: Lab = budget-friendly now, little resale value later. Natural = pricier upfront, stronger long-term value story.
Lab diamond cluster ring
How pricing changes with rising carats
Because it's rare to find natural diamonds in larger carat sizes, pricing is not linear. That means a two carat diamond isn't simply double the cost of a one carat diamond since 2 carat diamonds are significantly rarer than 1 carat stones.
With lab diamonds on the other hand, there's no dependence on geology, so pricing is much more straightforward. A larger stone takes proportionately more energy and time to produce, so generally a 2 carat lab diamond costs about twice as much as a 1 carat stone.
Which one is more ethical? Lab Grown Diamonds or Natural Diamonds?
Ethics aren’t as black and white as some ads make it seem. Both lab grown and natural diamonds can be responsibly made—or not—depending on origin.
To start, look at the two main sides to ethical sourcing:
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The environment: protecting ecology and natural life.
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The working conditions:fair pay, safe working conditions, and ethical labor standards
To find out if a diamond (either lab created or natural) is ethical, you have to look at the environmental practices, labor standards, and worker treatment at each particular mine or lab.
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Lab diamonds: Some are grown with clean, renewable energy → low impact. Others rely on coal power, which means massive emissions. Same story for labor: some labs pay fairly and treat workers well, others barely pay a liveble wage and are rife with labor violations.
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Natural diamonds: Some mines are heavily regulated, reclaim land, recycle water, and invest in local communities. Others? Poor wages, unsafe conditions, and ecological damage.
The truth:It’s not “lab = good, natural = bad" or vice versa. The real ethical answer lies in traceability—knowing the exact mine or lab your diamond came from. Without origin info, any blanket claim of “all ethical” is just marketing.
Emerald cut natural diamond ring with kite diamond sides
Pink oval cut lab diamond ring
The bottom line: Ethics aren’t about the category (lab vs natural), they’re about the source. If an ethical stone is important to you, do your research, and find a retailer who knows the exact origin, environmental practices, and labor standards of the mine that stone came from - whether natural or lab.
For more about ethically sourced diamonds, read our comprehensive guide.
Questions to ask to determine if a diamond is ethically sourced or made
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Is this stone (if natural) certified through the Kimberley Process?
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Is this stone traceable back to the original mine or lab?
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Where was this gemstone mined or made?
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Does this mine or lab use environmentally responsible mining techniques or energy sources? Are they required to reclaim the land once mining is completed?
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Are the miners or lab worker paid fairly, is their workplace safe, and are they treated ethically?
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Who cut this stone? Are the workers paid fairly and treated ethically?
Is Boycotting Natural Diamonds the Most Ethical Move?
It’s a fair question—and the answer isn’t as black and white as it may seem.
The natural diamond industry supports over 10 million jobs globally. Many of those workers depend on mining to provide for their families. So if we stopped mining completely, millions of people—especially in regions like sub-Saharan Africa—would lose their livelihoods.
How the Diamond Industry has evolved
The truth? The industry has evolved. Today, most natural diamonds are certified conflict-free through the Kimberley Process, and environmental standards are getting stricter by the year. While not every mine is there yet, many are now highly regulated and reinvesting in their communities. Think:
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Recycled water systems & renewable energy initiatives
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Wildlife preserves and land reclamation post-mining
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Fair wages,strict labor standards, and workplace safety mandates
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Infrastructure, schools, and health care funded by mine partnerships
natural diamond mines making a positive impact
In Canada’s Northwest Territories, the natural diamond industry contributed:
- $24 billion to the economy
- $17 billion to local businesses
- $7.5 billion to Indigenous-owned businesses
In Botswana:
- Natural diamonds = 88% of exports and 33% of GDP
- Major funding source for health care, education, and jobs
The bottom line
It all comes down to origin. Choosing a natural diamond from a responsible mine means supporting higher wages, safer working conditions, and environmentally sound practices—not abandoning the workers who depend on this industry.
The goal isn’t to shut it down. It’s to push the whole industry forward—so every diamond, from every mine, meets ethical standards.
So What’s the Ethical Answer?
Transparency over assumptions.
Not all natural diamonds are harmful. Not all lab diamonds are low-impact. The most ethical choice is the one that’s traceable—whether lab or natural—and backed by real data on labor practices, environmental responsibility, and energy sources.
Ask These Questions Before You Buy:
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Where was the diamond mined or grown?
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What kind of energy powers the lab or mine?
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What are the working conditions for the people involved?
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Is the land being protected or restored?
And above all, don’t fall for blanket marketing claims like “100% ethical” or "sustainable" with no sourcing info. That’s just greenwashing.
The Environmental Impact of Lab vs Natural Diamonds
Both lab grown and natural diamonds can have significant environmental impact, depending on how and where they’re made. It’s less about category, and more about conditions.
Lab Grown Diamonds: Are They Really More Sustainable?
Short answer: sometimes, but not always.
Producing lab diamonds requires extreme heat and energy—with temperatures reaching up to 20% of the sun’s surface. And more than 70% of lab diamonds are made in China and India, where coal (the least clean energy source) still dominates the grid.
So while lab diamonds avoid digging into the Earth, many are created using electricity with a massive carbon footprint.
But not all labs are the same:
- Some labs run on wind and solar, dramatically reducing their environmental impact.
- Others use coal-fired energy, leading to a carbon footprint up to 16x higher than renewably powered labs
Also worth noting:
“Mining-free” isn’t entirely accurate. Labs still require machinery made from graphite, nickel, cobalt, iron, and methane—materials that must be mined to build and power the tech.
Moval lab diamond ring in platinum bezel setting
Asscher cut natural diamond ring with kite diamond sides
Natural Diamonds: More Regulated, But Still Impactful
The environmental impact of a natural diamond depends on the mine it came from—just like with labs.
Some mines are leading the charge on sustainability with
- Renewable energy
- Recycled water systems
- Land restoration that goes beyond what was disrupted
- Stringent regulations at the local, national, and global level
But not all mines meet that standard. Energy and water usage can be extremely high, and environmental damage is still a concern in under-regulated areas.
There are two key types of mining:
Large-scale mining (85–90% of all mining)
- More disruptive but better regulated
- Often required to reclaim land, manage waste, and report emissions
Artisanal small-scale mining (10–15%)
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Usually lower impact
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Less regulation = more variability
Quick Take: One Word—Traceability
The greenest diamond is the one you can trace.
Whether lab or natural, it all comes down to the practices of a specific lab or mine. Ask your jeweler for sourcing details, energy info, and environmental practices. If they don’t have answers? That’s your answer.
Your lab diamond vs natural diamonds questions answered
Are lab created diamonds as good as real diamonds?
Short answer: Yes, chemically and visually—they’re identical.
Lab diamonds share the same sparkle, strength, and structure as natural diamonds. The difference is origin (lab vs Earth) and long-term value.
If you're after a bigger look for your budget, lab is a great option. If you're into nature-made rarity and holding value, go natural.
What are the disadvantages of lab grown diamonds?
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Value drops fast: Prices have fallen ~80% over the past 8 years
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Not nature-made: Some people miss the one-in-a-billion-year origin story
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Energy concerns: Many labs still use coal-powered energy
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Job impact: Shifting away from mined diamonds can affect millions of workers globally
Can a jeweler tell if a diamond is lab grown?
Yes—but not just by looking.
It takes specialized instruments to detect lab vs natural diamonds. Experts analyze:
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Nitrogen content (natural diamonds almost always have it; lab diamonds don’t)
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Growth patterns and fluorescence
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Spectral signature and trace elements
And every certified diamond report (like GIA or IGI) will state clearly if it’s lab grown.
Are lab diamonds worth anything?
Lab diamonds are real diamonds, but their resale value is low.
Lab diamonds cost about 80% less than natural diamonds as of 2024, and their value has dropped significantly since their introduction. While they offer great upfront savings, they generally don’t retain value over time.
Why do some people avoid lab diamonds?
A few reasons:
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Resale value is low and dropping
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They prefer nature-made rarity—billions of years in the making
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They’re after vintage or antique cuts that labs don’t typically replicate
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Concerns about energy use in lab production
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Emotional value—some people just want the Earth-made magic
Do lab diamonds get cloudy?
Nope.
If your lab diamond looks cloudy, it’s probably just dirty. Give it a spa day with warm water, dish soap, and a soft-bristle toothbrush. Don’t forget to scrub under the setting—grime hides there.
Need tips? Read our ring cleaning guide.
How long will a lab diamond last?
Forever—just like a natural diamond.
Lab diamonds are just as durable. But no diamond is indestructible—they can chip or break with enough impact. Read our jewelry care tips guide for more.
Antique old mine cut diamond
Why does my lab diamond look fake?
It shouldn't—unless:
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It's cut or graded to a super-high color grade, which can look too perfect (and resemble CZ)
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It’s not a lab diamond at all (watch out for moissanite or CZ being mislabeled)
Choose a slightly lower color grade for a more natural look, and always buy from a trusted, transparent retailer.
What’s the difference between lab diamonds, moissanite, and cubic zirconia?
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Lab Diamonds: Real diamonds made from carbon—same as natural diamonds
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Moissanite: A different mineral (natural moissanite is super rare; most are synthetic). Super sparkly with rainbow flashes
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Cubic Zirconia: A man-made crystal—not carbon-based, softer, and much lower in price and durability
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