If you've ever Googled "are lab-grown diamonds real?" you're not alone. It's one of the most common questions in the jewelry world right now. And it makes sense. When something sounds too good to be true (a real diamond, but more accessible and ethically made?) your instinct is to question it.
Here's the truth: lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds. Not "almost" diamonds. Not "kind of" diamonds. Real, scientifically verified, graded-by-the-same-institutions diamonds. The difference between a lab-grown diamond and a mined diamond isn't what it's made of. It's where it comes from.
In this post, we're breaking down the science, the certifications, and the expert opinions so you can feel completely confident in what you're wearing. Whether you're shopping for yourself or for someone you love, understanding the facts changes everything. Let's start with the basics.
The Short Answer: Yes, Lab-Grown Diamonds Are Real Diamonds
There's no ambiguity here. Lab-grown diamonds are composed of pure carbon atoms arranged in a cubic crystal lattice, the exact same atomic structure found in diamonds mined from the earth. That structure is what gives a diamond its hardness, its brilliance, and its fire. It doesn't matter whether those carbon atoms were arranged 100 miles below the earth's surface over billions of years or inside a lab over a few weeks. The result is the same material.
This is why the Federal Trade Commission updated its official definition of a diamond in 2018 to include lab-grown stones. It's why the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the International Gemological Institute (IGI) both grade lab-grown diamonds using the same 4Cs standards they apply to mined stones. If these weren't real diamonds, these institutions wouldn't grade them as such.
If you're curious about how lab-grown and natural diamonds stack up side by side, our guide on lab-grown diamonds vs. natural diamonds goes deeper into what's the same and what's different.
What Makes a Diamond a Diamond?
A diamond is defined by its composition and crystal structure. According to the FTC's revised Jewelry Guides, a diamond is "a mineral consisting essentially of pure carbon crystallized in the isometric system." That's it. No mention of origin. No requirement that it come from a mine.
Both lab-grown and mined diamonds are pure carbon. Both form the same tetrahedral crystal structure, where each carbon atom bonds to four others in an incredibly rigid arrangement. This structure is what makes diamond the hardest known natural material, scoring a 10 on the Mohs hardness scale. Lab-grown diamonds score the same 10.
How Do Lab-Grown Diamonds Compare to Moissanite and Cubic Zirconia?
This is where confusion often creeps in. Moissanite and cubic zirconia are diamond simulants. They look similar to diamonds on the surface, but they are completely different materials with different chemical compositions.
| Property | Lab-Grown Diamond | Moissanite | Cubic Zirconia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical Composition | Pure carbon (C) | Silicon carbide (SiC) | Zirconium dioxide (ZrO₂) |
| Mohs Hardness | 10 | 9.25 | 8 - 8.5 |
| Refractive Index | 2.42 | 2.65 | 2.15 - 2.18 |
| Is It a Real Diamond? | Yes | No | No |
A lab-grown diamond is a diamond. Moissanite and cubic zirconia are not. The distinction matters, especially when you're investing in a piece of jewelry you'll wear every day.
The Science Behind Lab-Grown Diamonds
Understanding why lab-grown diamonds are real starts with understanding how they're made. The science is fascinating, and it's the reason the results are identical to what nature produces.
How Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Made? (CVD and HPHT Explained)
There are two primary methods used to create lab-grown diamonds, and both produce the real thing.
Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD): A small diamond seed is placed inside a vacuum chamber filled with carbon-rich gases, typically methane and hydrogen. The chamber is heated to around 800 to 1,200°C, which breaks down the gas molecules. Carbon atoms then settle onto the seed, building the diamond layer by layer over several weeks. Think of it like growing a crystal from a solution, except the "solution" is superheated gas.
High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT): This method replicates the conditions deep inside the earth's mantle. A diamond seed is placed with a carbon source (usually graphite) and a metallic catalyst inside a press. The press applies roughly 1.5 million pounds per square inch of pressure at temperatures between 1,300 and 1,600°C. Under these extreme conditions, the carbon dissolves and crystallizes around the seed, forming a new diamond.
Both methods start with carbon and end with a diamond. The resulting stones are then cut, polished, and graded, just like mined diamonds.
Same Carbon, Same Crystal Structure, Same Sparkle
At the atomic level, there is no difference between a lab-grown diamond and a mined diamond. Both consist of carbon atoms arranged in a face-centered cubic crystal structure. This arrangement is what gives diamonds their exceptional hardness, thermal conductivity, and the way they bend and scatter light to produce brilliance and fire.
The refractive index is the same (2.42). The thermal conductivity is the same. The dispersion (the rainbow "fire" you see when light passes through) is the same. A well-cut lab-grown diamond will sparkle with exactly the same intensity as a well-cut mined diamond, because cut quality determines sparkle, not origin. To learn more about why cut quality is so important, check out our post on why diamond cut matters more than size.
Do Lab-Grown Diamonds Pass a Diamond Tester?
Yes. Standard diamond testers work by measuring thermal conductivity or electrical conductivity. Because lab-grown diamonds have the same physical properties as mined diamonds, they pass these tests every time. The tester identifies the material as diamond, because that's exactly what it is.
The only way to distinguish a lab-grown diamond from a mined one is with specialized gemological equipment that can detect subtle differences in growth patterns. These patterns are invisible to the naked eye, and even most trained jewelers can't spot them without advanced tools. Your lab-grown diamond will test as real because it is real.
What Do the Experts Say?
When it comes to whether lab-grown diamonds are real, it helps to hear from the organizations that define and grade diamonds for the entire industry.
The FTC's 2018 Ruling on Lab-Grown Diamonds
In 2018, the Federal Trade Commission revised its Jewelry Guides and made a significant change: it removed the word "natural" from its official definition of a diamond. The FTC stated that since technological advances have made it possible to create diamonds in a laboratory, and these stones have essentially the same optical, physical, and chemical properties as mined diamonds, they are diamonds.
The FTC also recommended that the term "synthetic" no longer be used to describe lab-grown diamonds, recognizing that the word implies they are imitations, which they are not. This was a landmark moment for the lab-grown diamond industry, and it confirmed what scientists had known for years: origin doesn't determine whether a stone is a diamond. Composition does.
How GIA and IGI Grade Lab-Grown Diamonds
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has been grading lab-grown diamonds since 2007. The International Gemological Institute (IGI) pioneered lab-grown diamond grading even earlier, starting in 2005. Both institutions evaluate lab-grown diamonds using the same 4Cs framework they apply to mined stones: cut, color, clarity, and carat weight.
When a lab-grown diamond receives a GIA or IGI grading report, it is assessed with the same rigorous standards. The report clearly identifies the stone as laboratory-grown, and the diamond's girdle is laser-inscribed with "Laboratory-Grown" along with the report number. This transparency ensures that buyers know exactly what they're getting. At Diamore Luraya, you can learn more about how we grade lab-grown diamonds on our education page.
Can a Jeweler Tell the Difference Between Lab-Grown and Mined Diamonds?
Not with the naked eye. A lab-grown diamond and a mined diamond of the same cut, color, clarity, and carat weight will look identical. Even under a standard jeweler's loupe, the two are visually indistinguishable.
A jeweler who is also a trained gemologist may notice subtle clues under a powerful microscope, such as specific inclusion patterns or growth striations that differ between CVD, HPHT, and natural formation. But the only definitive way to determine origin is to send the diamond to a gemological laboratory with specialized detection equipment.
Many lab-grown diamonds also have a laser inscription on their girdle that identifies them as lab-grown, providing a simple way to confirm origin without advanced testing. This inscription is typically too small to see without magnification.
Will a Lab-Grown Diamond Last Forever?
Yes. A lab-grown diamond is just as permanent and durable as a mined diamond. It won't fade, cloud, get cloudy, or lose its sparkle over time. This is because durability is a property of the material itself, and lab-grown diamonds are made of the same material.
Hardness, Durability, and Everyday Wear
Diamonds (both lab-grown and mined) score 10 on the Mohs hardness scale. This makes them the hardest known material and highly resistant to scratching. You can wear your lab-grown diamond earrings every single day, and they'll maintain their polish and brilliance just like any mined diamond would.
Durability in gemstones comes down to three things: hardness (resistance to scratching), toughness (resistance to chipping), and stability (resistance to heat, light, and chemicals). Lab-grown diamonds match mined diamonds on all three fronts. The crystal structure is identical, which means the physical performance is identical.
One of our customers, Maria F., put it perfectly: "These are way better than I could have imagined, the quality is insane." That reaction is common when people see and feel a lab-grown diamond for the first time. The brilliance is real because the diamond is real.
Why Are More People Choosing Lab-Grown Diamonds?
The shift toward lab-grown diamonds isn't a trend. It's a movement backed by data, values, and a new generation of consumers who want both quality and conscience.
The Numbers Behind the Shift
The numbers tell a clear story. According to Fortune Business Insights, the global lab-grown diamond market was valued at $29.46 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $91.85 billion by 2034. And according to BriteCo's 2025 report, 42.1% of all diamond jewelry sold now features lab-grown diamonds, up from just 5.2% in 2019. That's a 709% increase in market share in just five years.
Why are so many people making the switch? A few reasons stand out. First, lab-grown diamonds are the smart, modern choice for consumers who care about ethical sourcing and environmental responsibility. Second, they offer exceptional value: because lab-grown diamonds bypass the enormous costs of mining operations and long supply chains, you can often get a larger or higher-quality stone for the same investment. And third, once people learn that lab-grown diamonds are scientifically identical to mined diamonds, the decision becomes simple.
At Diamore Luraya, we believe your jewelry should reflect who you are. That's why every pair of our earrings is handcrafted by our team right here in the USA, using lab-grown diamonds that are graded to the same exacting standards as any mined stone. As a women-led brand, we design pieces we proudly wear ourselves and share with the women closest to us.
The Bottom Line
Are lab-grown diamonds real? Science says yes. The FTC says yes. GIA and IGI say yes. And when you hold one in your hand, you'll see why.
Lab-grown diamonds have the same carbon composition, the same crystal structure, the same hardness, and the same brilliance as mined diamonds. They pass diamond testers. They receive the same certifications. They last forever. The only difference is where they began their journey, and for more and more people, that difference is exactly what makes them the right choice.
You deserve earrings that are as real as the moments you wear them for. Explore our full earring collection and discover what lab-grown diamond sparkle looks like, up close. Want to keep learning? Browse more posts in The Journal or visit our Education page to see how we grade every diamond we use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do lab-grown diamonds have the same chemical composition as mined diamonds?
Yes. Both lab-grown and mined diamonds are composed of pure carbon atoms arranged in a cubic crystal lattice. This identical atomic structure gives both types the same hardness, brilliance, fire, and thermal conductivity. There is no chemical difference between them.
Q: Can you tell a lab-grown diamond from a natural diamond with the naked eye?
No. Lab-grown and mined diamonds are visually identical. Even trained gemologists cannot distinguish between them without specialized laboratory equipment designed to detect subtle growth pattern differences. Most lab-grown diamonds also carry a microscopic laser inscription on their girdle for easy identification.
Q: Do lab-grown diamonds lose their sparkle over time?
No. Lab-grown diamonds are made of stable, crystallized carbon, the same material as mined diamonds. They will not fade, cloud, or lose brilliance over time. If your diamond ever looks dull, it's likely surface buildup from oils or lotions, which a simple cleaning will fix.
Q: What is the difference between a lab-grown diamond and cubic zirconia?
They are completely different materials. A lab-grown diamond is pure carbon with a Mohs hardness of 10, identical to a mined diamond. Cubic zirconia is made of zirconium dioxide, rates 8 to 8.5 on the Mohs scale, and does not have the same optical or physical properties as a diamond. Lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds; cubic zirconia is a simulant.
Q: How long does it take to grow a diamond in a lab?
It typically takes a few weeks to a couple of months to grow a diamond in a laboratory, depending on the method used and the desired size. The CVD method builds the diamond layer by layer from carbon-rich gas, while the HPHT method uses extreme pressure and heat to crystallize carbon around a seed. Both processes produce gem-quality diamonds that are then cut and polished.
Q: Did the FTC declare lab-grown diamonds to be real diamonds?
In 2018, the FTC revised its Jewelry Guides and removed the word "natural" from its definition of a diamond. The FTC stated that lab-grown diamonds with the same optical, physical, and chemical properties as mined diamonds are diamonds. The FTC also recommended against using the term "synthetic" to describe lab-grown diamonds, as it implies they are imitations.
Q: Are lab-grown diamonds graded the same way as natural diamonds?
Yes. Lab-grown diamonds are graded using the same 4Cs framework (cut, color, clarity, and carat weight) by leading gemological institutes including GIA and IGI. The grading report clearly identifies the diamond as laboratory-grown, and Diamore Luraya uses these same standards for every stone in our lab-grown diamond studs and across our full collection.
