Education Diamond Education Lab Diamonds

Lab Grown Diamonds: Real Diamonds Made in a Laboratory

Q: What are lab diamonds, and are they real diamonds?

Lab diamonds are identical in the chemical, molecular and visual way to natural, earth mined diamonds. These diamonds are grown or created in a lab, using the same principles of heat and pressure that create a mined diamond within the earth’s surface. Lab diamonds are 100% real diamonds just like their natural counterparts.

Q: Where do lab-created diamonds come from?

Lab created diamonds are manufactured in a lab by skilled technicians who use a combination of heat and pressure to replicate the growth conditions of a natural diamond within the earth. A diamond seed is used to grow additional layers of diamond. Ultimately, rough lab diamonds are cut into the same shapes as natural diamonds. Learn more about the History of Lab Grown Diamonds.

Q: Are lab-created diamonds the same as natural diamonds?

Lab diamonds have all the same properties as natural diamonds. Certified lab diamonds are graded on the same 4 C’s scale of cut, color, clarity and carat by gemological labs, making them comparable to natural diamonds.

Q: What are synthetic diamonds, are they the same as simulated diamonds?

Synthetic or simulated diamonds are diamond alternatives like cubic zirconia. These do not have the same visual or chemical properties of lab or natural diamonds. They also do not have the durability or sparkle. Learn more about Natural vs Synthetic Diamonds.

Q: How to tell if a diamond is natural or lab-grown?

Only a trained gemologist may be able to tell the difference between a natural or lab grown diamond with inspection. The best way to know the difference is to buy a diamond that is certified by an accredited lab like GIA or IGI.

Q: What is an IGI certificate for a lab grown diamond?

IGI is a leading gemological lab that grades and certifies diamonds. Their expertise is in looking at the 4 C’s of diamond grading like cut, color, clarity and carat in conjunction with aspects like symmetry, polish and beyond to assign diamonds grades on an alphabetical scale starting with D.

Q: Should I buy lab diamonds in-store or online?

Purchase your lab diamond wherever you feel the most comfortable with the jeweler and their policies. Ensure that your diamond ring purchase is protected by a return policy and lifetime warranty. Overall, pricing is less expensive and selection is wider online. So if you’re looking to maximize what you can get for your budget, online shopping is the better option. View more on this in our Lab Diamond Ring Buying Guide.

Lab grown diamonds are an ethically and environmentally a more sustainable choice compared to natural diamonds. Choose a lab created diamond as the center of your diamond ring or as a part of your earrings, necklaces or bracelets. Work with our certified gemologists to find the best lab diamond for you, always IGI certified.

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Lab Grown Diamond Benefits: Why?

01. VALUE

Lab created diamonds are more affordable in comparison to natural diamonds. You can expect to pay 15% to 30% less on a lab diamond than you would on a mined diamond. This price difference is because mined diamonds go through a longer supply chain and require more costly resources.

02. EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY & BEAUTY

Lab grown or man made diamonds are identical to their naturally grown, and mined counterparts. They have the same beautiful visual, robust physical, and chemical traits. And are known as the hardest substance known to man.

03. CONFLICT-FREE

Both natural and lab diamonds require carbon, and intense heat and high pressure to grow. While mined diamonds form within the Earth, lab grown diamonds are made in an environment with cutting-edge equipment that mirrors the Earth’s mantle conditions. Therefore, no mining deposits are needed!

What is a Lab Created Diamond?

When someone purchases a diamond, the consumer should be knowledgable whether their diamond is natural or lab grown. Many might think that lab created diamonds are not real, but that is false. Lab grown, lab created, or man made diamonds are the hardest substance known to man (with mined diamonds). These kind of diamonds have the same visual, physical, and chemical features to their natural counterparts. Like natural diamonds, lab created diamonds also require carbon, intense heat, and high pressure to grow.

Lab diamond education

Lab-Created vs Mined Table

How are lab diamonds made, how long is the process to create a lab diamond, how are lab-created diamonds grown?

LAB DIAMONDS	C (carbon)
NATURAL DIAMONDS	C (carbon)

LAB DIAMONDS	Lab
NATURAL DIAMONDS	Earth (mining deposits)

LAB DIAMONDS	At least 2 weeks (depending on carat weight)
NATURAL DIAMONDS	Unknown. But can take millions of years.

LAB DIAMONDS	Yes
NATURAL DIAMONDS	Depending (With Clarity only sells conflict-free diamonds)

LAB DIAMONDS	$$ / $$$$ (15% - 30% less than mined diamonds)
NATURAL DIAMONDS	$$$ / $$$$

LAB DIAMONDS	Yes
NATURAL DIAMONDS	Yes

LAB DIAMONDS	10/10
NATURAL DIAMONDS	10/10

LAB DIAMONDS	Yes
NATURAL DIAMONDS	Yes

Lab-Created vs Mined Table

How are lab diamonds made, how long is the process to create a lab diamond, how are lab-created diamonds grown?

LAB DIAMONDS

NATURAL DIAMONDS

Chemical Composition	Origin	Duration of diamond formation	Conflict-free	Price	Last Forever	Durability (Rating on Moths scale)	Is a real diamond
C (carbon)	Lab	At least 2 weeks (depending on carat weight)	Yes	$$ / $$$$ (15% - 30% less than mined diamonds)	Yes	10/10	Yes
C (carbon)	Earth (mining deposits)	Unknown. But can take millions of years.	Depending (With Clarity only sells conflict-free diamonds)	$$$ / $$$$	Yes	10/10	Yes

Discover Our Most Popular Styles to Pair with Lab Diamonds

Earrings
Round Lab Diamond Stud Earrings

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Earrings
Round Lab Diamond Halo Earrings

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Necklaces
Lab Double Bail Round Diamond Pendant

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Necklaces
Lab Diamond Pear Halo Pendant

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Engagement Rings
Twist diamond engagement ring

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Engagement Rings
Micropave diamond engagement ring

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Engagement Rings
Plain shank halo diamond engagement ring

starting at: $840

The Four C's

This diamond is carat: 0.25

This diamond is carat: 0.50

This diamond is carat: 0.75

This diamond is carat: 1.00

This diamond is carat: 1.25

This diamond is carat: 1.50

This diamond is carat: 2.00

This diamond is carat: 2.25

This diamond is carat: 3.00

0.25

3.00

Perhaps most well-known of the 4Cs of diamonds, the carat of the stone is the measure of its weight. Diamond size is measured in millimeters, but each shape holds its weight differently. That means a princess cut diamond and a round diamond that both weigh 1 carat will have different measurements in millimeters.

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This diamond is cut grade: Good

This diamond is cut grade: Very Good

This diamond is cut grade: Excellent

This diamond is cut grade: Ideal

Good

Ideal

Often mistaken for the diamond’s shape, cut is a measure of how well light can dance through the stone’s facets. That’s what gives them their irresistible sparkle and fire. Though there are four cut grades, With Clarity only carries the top three to make sure you get a diamond with maximum brilliance.

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This diamond is color grade L: colorless

This diamond is color grade K: colorless

This diamond is color grade J: colorless

This diamond is color grade I: colorless

This diamond is color grade H: colorless

This diamond is color grade G: colorless

This diamond is color grade F: colorless

This diamond is color grade E: colorless

This diamond is color grade D: colorless

Yellow

Flawless

Graded on a scale from D to Z, diamond color is the degree of colorlessness or tint of yellow/brown. The more colorless, the rarer and higher the value the diamond.

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This diamond is clarity : I1

This diamond is clarity : SI2

This diamond is clarity : SI1

This diamond is clarity : VS2

This diamond is clarity : VS1

This diamond is clarity : VVS2

This diamond is clarity : VVS1

This diamond is clarity : IF

This diamond is clarity : FL

When diamonds form in nature, tiny imperfections called inclusions form in the stones. Clarity, which is graded from FL (flawless) to I (included) is a measure of how many of these imperfections are in a stone. But many of these imperfections can only be seen with magnification, which means your stone will still look gorgeous to your eye.

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DIAMOND CERTIFICATION

GIA

Gemological Institute of America

The Gemological Institute of America is a nonprofit institute that has an international authority on diamonds, gemstones, and pearls. GIA was founded in 1931, and in the 1940s, established the “4Cs” (Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat Weight) or the “International Diamond Grading System.” The GIA is arguably the leading source of knowledge for all gemstones and jewelry, which is why all With Clarity Natural Diamonds are graded by GIA.

AWDC

Antwerp World Diamond Center

Antwerp World Diamond Center is recognized as one of the leaders in the diamond industry. For more than five centuries, Antwerp in the country of Belgium has been the capital for international diamond trade. They stand for transparency, integrity, quality, and sustainability. Their main mission is to inspire the current generations and future generations to keep Antwerp at the forefront of the diamond trade industry.

AGS

American Gem Society

The American Gem Society started in 1943 to protect jewelry consumers. While the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is the industry’s leading diamond lab, the AGS is not far behind. Like GIA, AGS is also a nonprofit organization. AGS stands out amongst other diamond grading systems because they use a 0 to 10 scale, with 0 as the best and 10 as the worst.

IGI

International Gemological Institute

The International Gemological Institute is the world’s largest independent gemstone grading organization. Established in 1975, IGI now has offices all over the globe, with 18 lab locations. This independent laboratory carefully studies colored stones and jewelry, along with lab grown diamonds (like With Clarity Lab Diamonds), to determine authenticity. Other than grading, they also have 14 schools of gemology.

GSI

Gemological Science International

At Gemological Science International, hundreds of researchers seek to use advanced technology and intelligent software to automate the diamond grading process (which is usually graded by hand). GSI diamond grading reports stand for “innovation, integrity, and professionalism.” GSI labs in places like the United States, India, Belgium, and Israel follow the alphabetical grading system.