A few years ago "diamond" meant one thing: a stone mined from the earth. Today more and more couples choose lab grown diamonds, and the reason is simple. They are real diamonds, they look exactly the same, and they cost far less. This guide explains the differences that matter when you buy.
A lab grown diamond is a diamond made above ground instead of under it. A tiny diamond seed is placed in a chamber that recreates the heat and pressure (HPHT) or the carbon-rich gas (CVD) in which diamonds form naturally. Carbon atoms build up layer by layer into a diamond crystal. The result is then cut and polished in exactly the same way as a mined diamond.
It is not a simulant. Cubic zirconia, moissanite and glass only look like diamond. A lab grown diamond is diamond: pure carbon, hardness 10, the same fire and brilliance.
| Lab grown diamond | Natural diamond | |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Pure carbon crystal | Pure carbon crystal |
| Hardness | 10 (Mohs) | 10 (Mohs) |
| Look and sparkle | Identical | Identical |
| Grading | Graded on the 4Cs (IGI and other labs) | Graded on the 4Cs |
| Origin | Grown in a controlled lab, traceable | Mined, origin often hard to trace |
| Price | Often 60-80% lower for the same size and quality | Higher |
| Resale value | Lower | Higher, but well below the price you paid |
A natural diamond passes through mines, rough traders, cutters and wholesalers before it reaches a shop. A lab grown diamond skips most of that chain. That is why the same budget buys a larger, cleaner stone. For many buyers it means choosing a 1.5 ct ring instead of a 0.5 ct one, or adding matching solitaire earrings to the order.
Be honest with yourself about why you are buying. Jewellery is almost never a good investment, mined or lab grown: shops sell at retail and buy back far lower. If you are buying a ring to wear and love for life, lab grown gives you more diamond for your money. If you want a stone to hold as an asset, gold bars make more sense than any diamond.
If you want the look, hardness and sparkle of a diamond at a fair price, with a clear origin, the answer is yes. Every ORNIVAJEWELS design is set with lab grown diamonds and made to order in 925 sterling silver, 14Kt or 18Kt gold, in white, yellow or rose.
Not sure which stone size suits your budget? Message us on WhatsApp and we will compare options for you.
Shop lab grown diamond jewellery · Ask for a price or a custom design
Yes. A lab grown diamond is made of the same carbon crystal as a mined diamond, with the same hardness (10 on the Mohs scale), sparkle and durability. Only the origin is different.
Not by eye or with a normal loupe. Gem labs use specialised equipment to tell them apart, and the grading report states that the diamond is lab grown.
No. A diamond does not fade, cloud or change colour over time. Clean it now and then to remove oil and dust, which is what dulls any diamond.
Yes. ORNIVAJEWELS diamond pieces come with an IGI grading report that confirms the carat, colour, clarity and cut.
