Laboratory-Grown vs Natural Diamonds: What's Actually Different

If you have searched for "lab-grown diamonds", you have probably seen two kinds of article. One says they're exactly the same as natural diamonds. The other says they're not "real". Neither is quite right. Here is what is actually the same, what isn't, and how to decide which suits you.

First, the name

In India, laboratory-grown diamonds now have a formal name. The Bureau of Indian Standards' terminology standard, IS 19469:2025, says they should be described in full as a "laboratory-grown diamond" or "laboratory-created diamond". The word "diamond" on its own is reserved for natural, mined stones. Short forms like "LGD" are not accepted in formal disclosures, and words such as "nature's" or "pure" shouldn't be used to describe them.

That's why you'll see us write "laboratory-grown" throughout this site, even though most people search for "lab-grown". It's the same thing, described clearly.

What's exactly the same

• What it's made of. Both are pure carbon arranged in the same cubic crystal structure. A laboratory-grown diamond is not a coating, a simulant or a "diamond-like" material.
• Hardness. Both are 10 on the Mohs scale, the hardest natural material known. They resist scratches in the same way and are equally suited to everyday rings and studs.
• Sparkle. Brilliance and fire come from how a diamond is cut, and both are cut, polished and graded the same way.
• Grading. Both are graded on the same 4Cs — carat, colour, clarity and cut — by independent laboratories.

A standard jeweller's diamond tester will read either one as diamond, because chemically it is one.

What's different

Origin

Natural diamonds formed deep in the earth over a very long time and are mined. Laboratory-grown diamonds are grown above ground in weeks, using one of two methods:

• CVD (chemical vapour deposition): carbon from a gas is deposited, layer by layer, onto a thin diamond "seed".
• HPHT (high pressure, high temperature): carbon is subjected to the kind of pressure and heat found deep underground.

Both methods produce real diamond crystal. The method usually appears on the grading report.

Price

This is the difference most buyers notice. Laboratory-grown diamonds cost a fraction of a natural diamond of the same size and quality, and prices have kept falling as production has grown. India's average export price for laboratory-grown diamonds fell from about $389 per carat in 2022 to about $71 per carat in January–May 2026, while natural diamonds averaged around $758 per carat over the same period. These are wholesale averages across all sizes, not shop prices, but they show the gap. (For how a finished piece is priced, see our price guide.)

Rarity and resale

Natural diamonds are finite. Laboratory-grown diamonds can be produced to order, which is exactly why they cost less. The flip side is resale: there is very little second-hand market for laboratory-grown diamonds today, and falling prices make it unwise to buy one as an investment. Buy it to wear.

How they're told apart

Not by eye, and not with a basic tester. Gemmological laboratories use spectroscopy and imaging to spot tiny differences in how the crystal grew. That's why the grading report matters: it states the origin in writing, and the report number is laser-inscribed on the stone. The International Gemological Institute has publicly flagged cases of laboratory-grown stones carrying inscriptions copied from natural-diamond reports, which is one more reason to buy from someone who lets you check.

Environmental footprint

There is no mining involved in a laboratory-grown diamond. Growing one does use a lot of energy, though, and the overall footprint depends heavily on how that energy is produced. Be wary of anyone who makes sweeping green claims either way.

Side by side

	Laboratory-grown diamond	Natural diamond
Material	Carbon, cubic crystal	Carbon, cubic crystal
Hardness	10 (Mohs)	10 (Mohs)
Origin	Grown above ground (CVD or HPHT)	Formed in the earth and mined
Grading	4Cs, by independent laboratories	4Cs, by independent laboratories
Price for the same size and quality	A fraction of natural	Much higher
Resale	Very limited	Possible, usually below purchase price
How to describe it in India	"Laboratory-grown diamond"	"Diamond" or "natural diamond"

Which should you choose?

A laboratory-grown diamond makes sense if you want a larger or better-graded stone for your budget, you plan to wear the piece rather than resell it, or you'd rather put money into design and gold than into rarity.

A natural diamond makes sense if rarity matters to you, the piece is meant to carry value as an heirloom asset, or family tradition calls for a mined stone.

Either way, insist on an independent grading report and check it yourself. Our certification page shows you how.

Quick answers

Are laboratory-grown diamonds real diamonds?

Yes. They are made of carbon in the same crystal structure as mined diamonds and have the same hardness and optical properties. In India they must be described as 'laboratory-grown diamond' or 'laboratory-created diamond'.

Can you tell a laboratory-grown diamond from a natural one by eye?

No. Even trained jewellers need specialist laboratory equipment, such as spectroscopy, to identify a diamond's origin. That is why the grading report states it.

Which is better value?

A laboratory-grown diamond costs far less for the same size and quality, but has little resale value. A natural diamond costs more and is rarer. Choose based on whether you value budget and size or rarity.