The first thing we need to address with this article is the question that everyone has:

Lab Grown Diamonds. Real or Fake?

The answer is that lab grown diamonds are, in fact, diamonds. They have the same physical, chemical, and optical properties as mined diamonds. Laboratory grown diamonds may be called “synthetic” in the trade, but it’s typically a term we avoid because of the erroneous connotation that they are fake. We assure you, they are real!

When you go to the store to buy a beautiful orchid, you are most likely not getting a plant that was found in the tropical forest. The plant you’re buying probably came from a greenhouse instead, yet this plant is still the exact same as the plant growing in the forest. You can see this is similar to the difference between a laboratory grown diamond and a mined diamond.

A lab grown diamond is not a CZ (cubic zirconia.)

A lab grown diamond is not a moissanite.

A lab grown diamond is not a zircon.

These stones are called “diamond simulants,” but do not possess the same properties as diamonds. They do not have the same hardness, toughness, or the same type of sparkle. At HPerry Jewelers, we can detect that these stones are not diamonds almost immediately because they simply do not look like a diamond. With that being said, we should mention that there is no way to differentiate between a mined and lab grown diamond with the naked eye.

Can you tell if a diamond is lab grown?

This question is tricky. There are certain attributes that only lab grown diamonds possess, but not all lab grown diamonds possess them. It is also true that there are certain attributes that only mined diamonds possess, but again, not all mined diamonds have them.

Almost all diamonds, mined or lab, contain some type of inclusions.

Sometimes, the types of inclusions a diamond has can tell us whether these stones are mined or lab grown.  But unfortunately, it’s not always that easy.

It is possible to tell if certain lab grown diamonds are lab grown, but not with the naked eye and not by the average person. If you have a suspected lab grown diamond we will happily send it to either The Gem Lab, I.C.G.A in Fayetteville, or the Gemological Institute of America for you.

For more information about The Gem Lab, I.C.G.A, click here: https://www.hperryjewelers.com/do-i-need-an-appraisal/

So what are the differences between lab grown and mined diamonds?

Price.

It takes many years and millions of dollars to develop a diamond mine. The resources and man-power required are costly and time-consuming. Because there is less cost involved, lab grown diamonds are typically 20-30% more affordable than mined diamonds. 

Origin.

Lab grown diamonds have a traceable origin, meaning we can typically map their journey from the lab to the cutter, all the way to the retail store. Lab grown diamonds may come from Singapore, Russia, China, the US, and more.

The mined diamond industry, though less traceable, supports mining communities and their families all around the world. Millions of people, many in third world countries, are employed because of the demand for mined diamonds. According to the World Diamond Council (https://www.worlddiamondcouncil.org/,http://www.diamondfacts.org/,) “diamonds can provide a vital source of income that enables a country emerging from conflict to fund reconstruction and to build the institutions and infrastructure that can help maintain the peace.” For more information about this, check out our blog post: https://www.hperryjewelers.com/top-5-diamond-myths/

Lab grown diamonds have afforded people the opportunity to make their own choice.

At HPerry Jewelers, we can help you determine which choice is the best for you.

If you have any questions, feel free to stop by our store anytime to talk to our experienced jewelry consultants.

Jordan Rayne
GIA Diamonds Graduate, GIA AJP
Designer and Consultant for HPerry Jewelers since 2013