The Mulu blog
Lab-Grown vs Natural Diamonds: An Honest Comparison
What lab-grown diamonds are, how they differ from mined diamonds, and what to ask before you buy either.
A lab-grown diamond is a real diamond. It has the same chemical structure and the same physical and optical properties as a mined diamond. The difference is where it formed: in a controlled laboratory rather than deep in the earth.
Can you tell them apart?
Not by eye. Telling them apart takes specialized equipment. Any honest seller should state clearly which one you are buying, and it should appear on your paperwork.
Price and value
Lab-grown diamonds generally cost much less than mined diamonds of a similar size and quality, so the same budget can buy a larger stone. Resale value is a different matter: lab-grown diamonds tend to have much weaker resale, and you should not buy one as an investment.
Lab-created is not the same as simulated
Moissanite, cubic zirconia and white zircon can look like diamond, but they are different materials. The same care applies to coloured stones: a lab-created ruby is real ruby made in a lab, while a glass or simulated stone is an imitation. When you shop, look for the exact wording.
Questions to ask
- Is this stone natural or lab-grown?
- What is its carat weight, colour, clarity and cut?
- Does it come with a grading report or a certificate, and from whom?
- What is the return and repair policy?