Lab-Grown vs. Natural Diamonds

Laboratory-grown diamonds are diamonds produced in controlled conditions rather than formed geologically. They share the same fundamental crystal structure and chemical composition as mined diamonds, and they are graded using the same criteria.

What is the same

Hardness, refractive index, dispersion, density and durability are the same. A laboratory-grown diamond is not a simulant such as cubic zirconia or moissanite, which are different materials entirely.

What is different

Origin is different, and origin is what the market prices. Laboratory-grown diamonds are produced in weeks rather than over geological timescales and are available in larger sizes and higher clarities at a fraction of mined prices. Specialised laboratory equipment can distinguish them, and reputable reports identify them explicitly.

Resale and value

Be clear-eyed about this. Laboratory-grown diamond prices have fallen substantially as production has scaled, and secondary-market resale values are typically low. A laboratory-grown diamond should be bought for how it looks and what it means to you, not as a financial investment.

Carat Drop identifies every stone it sells as laboratory-grown, in listings, on invoices and in packaging.