Q&A

Lab-grown diamonds are just as real as mined diamonds. In fact, lab-created diamonds are physically, chemically, and optically 100% identical to mined diamonds. The quality of the stones varies just like mined diamonds, and they are graded in exactly the same way and by the same grading laboratories. The only difference is in how they are created.

Yes, lab-created diamonds are better for the climate. The average energy consumption required to produce 1 carat of diamond in the lab is 25 times lower than for mined diamonds. On top of that, lab-grown diamonds are increasingly being produced using clean, renewable energy, and some laboratories are already 100% carbon neutral. Unfortunately, mining communities rarely have access to reliable, clean energy, so not only is the energy bill much higher, it’s also much dirtier.

Yes, lab-grown diamonds are better for the environment compared to their mined equivalents. On average, production of a lab-grown diamond requires 7 times less water, leaves 6,000% less mineral waste behind (and 100% of it is safely disposed of), no earth dug out and shifted (compared to 250 tons/carat for a mined diamond) and no disruption to animal habitats.

Yes, lab-grown diamonds are 30-40% cheaper than mined diamonds of the exact same quality, weight, and grading. Due to recent technological advancements, diamonds produced in the laboratory are now cheaper to make and buy than diamonds excavated from the ground. They are not only cheaper but come with several added benefits to the climate, environment, and society.

Yes, lab-grown diamonds do not involve the potential negative effects to society that mined diamonds do. However, diamond mining historically and to this day often has severe adverse effects on mining communities and their people. Some of these include funding conflict and corrupt practices, human and workers’ rights violations, injuries, and health-related issues. Lastly, many developing countries are so dependent on resource extraction that it harms sustainable industrial and economic development.

Yes, as a gemstone and in jewelry, lab-grown diamonds are just as valuable as mined diamonds. They are physically, chemically, and optically completely identical to mined diamonds.

You should invest in lab-created diamonds only if you plan to wear them as jewelry or have another worthy and sound use for them where you will get to enjoy their unmatched beauty. You should not invest in diamonds as an investment vehicle or storage of value. Prices will likely fall, and if you are looking to invest money, please invest in companies that employ people and produce real things (maybe a diamond lab?).

Yes, lab-created diamonds are graded in exactly the same way as mined diamonds. The exact same standards and grading scale (the 4Cs) are used. The main difference is that some institutes, namely GIA, don’t currently grade lab-grown diamonds as precisely. However, and for that reason, most lab-created diamonds are graded by the renowned International Gemological Institute (IGI), which is the World’s largest Independent Laboratory for testing and grading gemstones and fine jewelry.

Lab-grown diamonds are made using two main techniques. The High-Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) and the Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) methods. Both techniques now produce diamonds at a lower cost compared to mining. HPHT mimics how diamonds are created deep under Earth’s crust, while CVD is similar to how diamonds are created deep in space. Both methods produce high-quality diamonds which are physically, chemically, and optically identical to mined diamonds.

Lab-grown diamonds are also referred to as lab-created, man-made, cultured, engineered, and sometimes the somewhat distracting term synthetic. The latter can be confused with fake, faux, imitation, or other terms which lab-grown diamonds are not. Examples of imitation diamonds are cubic zirconia and moissanite but not lab-created diamonds as they are indeed very real diamonds.

You should only buy lab-grown diamonds from reputable diamond jewelers. It is highly recommended to buy lab-grown diamonds online since you will have a better chance of studying the diamonds in detail and avoiding any discoloring, imperfections, or other detractions which you may not be able to see on a store counter. In addition, make sure the online seller offers high-quality 360-degree images and has grading certificates available, as well as responsive and knowledgeable support and a risk-free full refund return policy. For those reasons, we recommend buying at Clean Origin and James Allen.

Many scientists and diamond alchemists have claimed to have created diamonds throughout history, but it was not until the 1940s that serious research went into creating diamonds in the lab. And it was not until the 1950s that the first diamonds were proved to have been created in a laboratory. The first to succeed was General Electric’s team of researchers who managed to produce a tiny and very yellow diamond, not suitable for jewelry but indeed a significant milestone. Today, lab-created diamonds are of just as high quality as any mined diamond (just cheaper).

Yes, lab-created diamonds are definitely shaking up the established diamond industry. One of the best-known diamond conglomerates, De Beers, has invested heavily in first opposing lab-grown diamonds and lobbied (unsuccessfully) for governments to enforce that lab-grown diamonds should not be referred to as “diamonds.” Later, they launched their own lab-grown diamond brand. Lab-created diamond production is indeed disrupting the industry, driving down prices so that more people can enjoy the beauty of high-quality diamonds. And what’s more, lab-grown diamonds are better for the climate, environment, and society (all while you are saving money or able to afford a better diamond).

No, they are 30-40% cheaper than mined diamonds and exactly the same and just as real. However, they are still costly to produce, and cutting, polishing, and grading certification add significant costs too. So, as gemstones are, they too are expensive but less expensive than mined diamonds.

Yes, lab-grown diamonds are better than mined diamonds for four reasons. 1. They are cheaper, which allows you to either save money or to afford an even better diamond. 2. They are better for the climate since the production requires 25 times less energy than mined diamonds. 3. They are better for the environment since they require much less water and leaves much less mineral waste behind, all of which is properly disposed of, require no earth to be shifted or holes to be dug (unlike mined which has to move 250 tons of earth to produce just one carat of diamond). 4. They are better for society and animal habitats since no local communities are disturbed, no corruption or conflict is financed, no workers’ rights are violated, and no work injuries happen in the safety of the laboratory.

The resale value of lab-grown diamonds is untested and since their supply, in theory, is unlimited, and due to technological advancements, their cost will likely decrease over time. Mined diamond value will likely also fall due to the advent of lab-created diamonds and since they are, in fact, not as rare as the diamond industry would like you to believe.