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Last Updated: October 26, 2025
Lab-grown diamonds have become one of the most popular choices for engagement rings — and for good reason. They are an eco-friendly and ethical alternative to mined diamonds and cost much less. In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about choosing the perfect lab-grown diamond engagement ring.
- Lab-Grown Diamond Engagement Rings: Is It the Right Choice for You?
- What Exactly Is a Lab-Grown Diamond?
- Are Lab Diamonds Real?
- Is Growing Diamonds in Laboratories a New Invention?
- What's the Difference Between a Lab Diamond and a Mined Diamond?
- What are the Benefits of Buying a Lab-Grown Diamond?
- Why are Lab-Grown Diamonds Cheaper Than Mined Diamonds?
- Will Lab-Grown Diamonds Lose Their Value?
- Is the Lab-grown Selection as Good as Mined Diamonds?
- Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Popular?
- Expert Verdict – Should You Choose a Lab-Grown Diamond in 2026?
Lab-Grown Diamond Engagement Rings: Is It the Right Choice for You?
Lab-grown diamond engagement rings have evolved dramatically over the past few years. What started as a niche ethical alternative is now a go-to choice for couples who value transparency, sustainability, and exceptional value.
In 2026, lab-grown diamonds are chemically and visually identical to mined diamonds, equally brilliant, and up to 80 % less expensive. But before you decide, it’s worth understanding what sets them apart, how they’re made, and whether they’re the right fit for your relationship — and your budget.
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What Exactly Is a Lab-Grown Diamond?
A lab-grown diamond is a real diamond created in a high-tech laboratory that replicates the natural formation process that occurs underground over billions of years.
There are two different ways of creating lab-grown diamonds for lab-grown diamond engagement rings:
- The first method, and most common way to create lab diamonds, is by using “High-Pressure High Temperature (HPHT).” In short, the process replicates the high pressure and high temperature found under the earth’s surface, where mined diamonds are formed. Grossly simplified, heat and immense pressure squeeze pure carbon atoms together to form a diamond.
- The second method is a more recently invented technique called “The Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD).” A diamond seed is placed in a sealed chamber and heated to around 800 degrees Celsius, and then the chamber is filled with carbon-rich gases that are used to stimulate and grow the diamond.
Both methods create sparkling and very real diamonds, and you will not be able to tell the difference between an HPHT and CVD diamond — or a mined diamond, for that matter.
Pro Tip: Don’t confuse lab-grown diamonds with simulants like moissanite or cubic zirconia — those are entirely different materials.
Interested in learning more? Read our intro to lab-grown diamonds.
Are Lab Diamonds Real?
Yes, lab-grown diamonds are 100% real diamonds. Despite being created in a laboratory, lab diamonds are chemically, physically, and visually identical to mined diamonds. They share the same properties, including unique characteristics like inclusions and clarity, making them indistinguishable from mined diamonds.
In fact, in 2018, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) officially recognized lab-grown diamonds as real diamonds. Just like their mined counterparts, lab-created diamonds undergo the same rigorous grading process based on the 4Cs—cut, color, clarity, and carat weight. These diamonds are graded by reputable laboratories such as the International Gemological Institute (IGI) and the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), and come with the same certifications as natural diamonds.
Even trained gemologists cannot tell the difference between lab-grown and mined diamonds with the naked eye. Only advanced equipment can detect the laser inscriptions, which are present on both lab-grown and mined diamonds for identification purposes.
Is Growing Diamonds in Laboratories a New Invention?
Growing diamonds in a laboratory is not a recent invention. Diamonds have been created in laboratories since the 1950s. However, gem-quality lab stones didn’t become available to the general public until a few decades later. The high-quality lab-created diamonds we see today are the result of decades of research and development by scientists, and the popularity of lab diamonds has only recently made it into mainstream retail.
For long, the traditional diamond industry heavyweights fought long and hard to keep lab diamonds out of the billion-dollar diamond market, fearing competition and the hefty margins on mined diamonds would disappear.
But times have changed, and in 2021, the world’s biggest jeweler, Pandora, announced that they would shift from mined to lab-created diamonds. Even DeBeers, the world’s largest diamond mining company, launched its own lab-grown diamond jewelry brand, Lightbox Jewelry.
What’s the Difference Between a Lab Diamond and a Mined Diamond?
Lab-created diamonds are 100% identical to mined diamonds. The only difference between a lab diamond and a mined diamond is its origin.
- Mined diamonds were created billions of years ago and are sourced deep below the Earth’s surface. It requires extensive mining operations to extract them from the ground.
- Lab-grown diamonds are created in an advanced lab from tiny carbon “seeds” in a controlled process that lowers the total cost and energy consumption.
Read more about the pros and cons of lab-grown diamonds (vs. mined) here.
What are the Benefits of Buying a Lab-Grown Diamond?
Lab diamonds are 100% identical to mined diamonds, and the fact that they are also better for the environment and more ethical is a massive plus. In contrast to mined diamonds, lab-grown diamonds are guaranteed conflict-free, so you can have peace of mind knowing that there haven’t been any unethical work practices, harmful deforestation, or corruption involved in the process (as opposed to mined diamonds).
Additionally, lab-grown diamonds are 60-80% cheaper than their mined counterparts. So you’ll either save money or get a much better, bigger diamond for the same budget!
Why are Lab-Grown Diamonds Cheaper Than Mined Diamonds?
Mined diamonds’ production and supply chains are extraordinarily long, whereas the process of growing diamonds uses fewer resources than the process of mining diamonds. Simply put, growing a diamond in a lab is less expensive than mining one from the ground, resulting in significantly lower prices. That means that you can get a bigger and better lab-created diamond.
Will Lab-Grown Diamonds Lose Their Value?
The value may decrease over time, but the same is true of mined diamonds. That’s why we don’t recommend buying a diamond (engagement ring) with the intention of selling it in the future, whether it’s mined or made in a lab, because it won’t be a good investment.
It’s a common misconception that mined diamonds become more valuable over the years. The fact is that unless the diamond is very very rare, it’s nearly impossible to make a profit from a mined diamond that was purchased years ago. The truth is, much like when buying a brand-new car, a diamond’s resale value drops significantly the moment the person walks out of the store.
Is the Lab-grown Selection as Good as Mined Diamonds?
Yes! A-list celebrities and even royals have become ardent supporters of lab-grown diamonds. Accordingly, retailers such as James Allen and Ritani provide a diverse selection of lab diamonds and jewelry. All popular diamond shapes, such as brilliant, oval, princess, cushion, emerald, and more, are available as lab-grown diamonds.
If you want a fancy-colored lab-grown diamond, don’t worry; lab diamonds are available in a variety of colors, including pink, red, yellow, blue, and green. In particular, Brilliant Earth has a great selection of colored lab diamonds. And they’re much cheaper than colored mined diamonds because these are exceptionally rare. With lab diamonds, fancy-colored diamonds are no longer reserved for the rich!
Read our guide to fancy colored lab-created diamond engagement rings and learn all about buying a colored diamond ring.
Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Popular?
The popularity of lab-grown diamonds has skyrocketed as more people become aware of their advantages over mined diamonds. Many find lab-grown diamonds appealing because lab-created diamonds are a more sustainable and ethical choice. On top of that, lab diamonds are 60-80% cheaper than mined diamonds.
Expert Verdict – Should You Choose a Lab-Grown Diamond in 2026?
If your goal is to find a ring that’s stunning, responsible, and within budget, a lab-grown diamond makes perfect sense. It shines with the same fire and brilliance as a mined diamond — just without the environmental cost or inflated price tag.
Still, some people treasure the romance of a diamond formed in nature over a billion years ago.
But if your soon-to-be would rather prefer a beautiful, ethical, and sustainably diamond grown with modern innovation, then a lab-grown diamond engagement ring is absolutely the right choice.
Here are four reasons we think you should go for a lab-grown diamond.
- Lab-Grown Diamonds Are Real Diamonds
Lab-grown diamonds are chemically, physically, and optically identical to mined diamonds. Unlike diamond alternatives such as moissanite, lab-grown diamonds are 100% genuine diamonds, offering the same brilliance, durability, and beauty as mined diamonds. - Get More Diamond for Your Budget
Lab-grown diamonds cost 60-80% less than mined diamonds. This means you can purchase a larger or higher-quality diamond without stretching your budget—or save a large chunk in your pocket. - The Ethical and Sustainable Choice
Lab-grown diamonds are the only diamonds guaranteed to be 100% conflict-free, making them the most ethical choice. They are produced in controlled environments with minimal environmental impact, unlike traditional diamond mining, which is often linked to human rights abuses and ecological destruction. - Avoid the Negative Impact of Diamond Mining
There’s nothing romantic about a “traditional” mined stone extracted from grueling underground and underwater mines, sometimes using forced labor, causing human rights violations, exploiting local communities, damaging the surrounding environment and wildlife, fueling conflict, and benefiting abusive armed forces.
After you’ve learned everything you need about lab-grown diamonds, the next step is to find the best and cheapest diamond.
After reviewing and testing dozens of lab-grown diamond retailers, our experts at LabGrownCarats identified the brands that deliver the best balance of brilliance, ethics, and value.
Our recommendations for 2026
Need help buying your first lab-grown diamond? Explore our expert guides:
