Diamonds Gallery

Lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds. Lab-grown diamonds are composed of pure carbon atoms, and their crystal structure, hardness (10 on the Mohs scale), refractive index, and fire are all identical to natural diamonds. The only difference lies in their formation: natural diamonds form underground over billions of years, while lab-grown diamonds recreate the same process in a laboratory using technology. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) revised its "Jewelry Guides" as early as 2018 to include lab-grown diamonds within the definition of "diamond."

Both have identical composition and appearance. Neither the naked eye, a magnifying glass, nor even common diamond testing pens can distinguish between them. There are only three real differences: formation method (laboratory vs. underground), price (lab-grown diamonds are significantly cheaper), and resale value (natural diamonds are higher). To accurately differentiate between the two, a professional laboratory (such as IGI, GIA) must analyze their growth characteristics using a spectrometer.

There are two main technologies: HPHT and CVD. HPHT (High-Pressure High-Temperature) recreates the extreme environment deep underground, allowing carbon to crystallize into diamonds; CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) uses carbon-containing gas in a vacuum chamber to deposit carbon atoms layer by layer onto a diamond seed. Both methods take several weeks, and the resulting product is also a crystallized carbon diamond. IGI certificates will specify which method was used to grow the diamond.

The IGI certificate should be the primary reference. As of October 1, 2025, GIA no longer grades lab-grown diamonds using the 4Cs for color and clarity. Instead, it uses a two-tiered quality assessment: "Premium" or "Standard." To qualify for "Premium," a diamond must be D color, VVS clarity or higher, and have Excellent polish and symmetry. IGI, on the other hand, continues to use the full 4Cs (D to Z color scale, FL to I3 clarity), providing more specific information, which is currently the industry standard for lab-grown diamonds. Each main diamond at Diamonds Gallery comes with an independent certificate, and the certificate number can be directly verified on the laboratory's official website.

At 2026 market prices, lab-grown diamonds with equivalent 4C specifications are generally 60% to 85% cheaper than natural diamonds. The actual difference depends on the carat, cut, and purchasing channel. In other words, with the same budget, you can choose a larger carat and higher clarity center stone – this is the most practical advantage of lab-grown diamonds.