Natural vs Laboratory Grown Diamonds - A Comparison

You can have the luxury and quality feel of a natural diamond for a fraction of the price, but is it too good to be true?

Recent technology advancements have meant that Laboratory-grown diamonds can be created to match the 4 C’s of a diamond (colour, clarity, cut and carat weight), meaning they are almost identical to natural diamonds.

So does this make lab-grown diamonds real? And are they a good choice when looking to grow your jewellery collection? In today's blog post, we will explore the history behind lab-grown diamonds and look into the differences between each.

What Are Natural Diamonds?

Natural diamonds were developed billions of years ago and are mined beneath the surface of the earth to be used in creating beautifully sparkling jewellery pieces.

Diamonds start as carbon atoms deep below the earth's crust, where temperatures of 2,000 degrees Celsius can be reached. This causes the carbon atoms to crystallise and form a diamond structure.

Over time, the earth's surface begins to erode due to weather, wind and water. The diamond is brought closer to the surface and is then mined.

What Are Lab-Grown Diamonds?

Lab-grown diamonds are created by various processes, it can take between a few days to a few weeks to form a diamond depending on the desired size. The process is started with a ‘diamond seed’ which is a small slice of a diamond. There are then different methods of how the diamond is grown.

Once the diamond has reached the desired size, it is harvested from the growth chamber, and the diamond is then cut and polished to reveal the stone's sparkle the same way as a natural diamond (before it undergoes quality checks).

Lab-grown diamonds are an accessible and more affordable choice compared to natural diamonds, so you can grow your jewellery collection in a cost-effective way.

Key Differences Between the Two

The main difference between natural and lab-created diamonds is where they come from. Natural diamonds are formed deep within the earth over millions of years. Lab-grown diamonds, however, are created in labs using advanced technology.

Whilst natural diamonds are mined worldwide, lab-grown diamonds are made using controlled lab processes.

Now that we know the difference between the two, let's take a look at some of the pros and cons you can find with certain diamonds:

Pros and Cons of Natural Diamonds

Pros	Cons
Rare and unique	Mining negatively impacts the environment
Timeless	Natural imperfections can affect diamond clarity
Often passed down through generations	Price fluctuations lead to changes in value

Pros and Cons of Lab-Grown Diamonds

Pros	Cons
More Affordable	Risk of oversupply
Visually the same as natural diamonds	Lower value
-	Stigmas around authenticity
-	Concerns about energy consumption

Which Is Higher Value?

In short, natural diamonds are of higher value. Lab-grown diamonds still haven't established a baseline value so it is unknown whether the future resell value will be high, whereas real diamonds will hold value over time.

However, if you want to wear your diamond for life and pass it down through the family, a lab-grown diamond could be a good option. Lab-grown diamonds have the same durability as natural diamonds, so they will last just as long!

Lab-grown diamonds are a great choice to grow your jewellery collection with a lower price tag. And you can even go for a lab grown diamond engagement ring.

Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Real?

Yes, lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds - a lab-grown diamond is a diamond. They are made from all of the same compounds as natural diamonds, including their chemical composition, crystal structure, and optical brilliance.

The only difference between lab-grown diamonds and natural diamonds is that one is grown in a laboratory setting and one is grown below the earth's crust. This doesn’t make them a ‘fake’ diamond.

A commonly asked question when it comes to the authenticity of lab-grown diamonds is “if they are so similar, why is the value so different?” The answer to this is that natural diamonds go through a vigorous process to get to your jewellery box.

Natural diamonds are mined and less accessible, whereas lab-grown diamonds skip the mining process and can be formed in a few days. This ultimately leads to a less expensive diamond which reflects on its price.

Looking for Lab-Grown Diamond Jewellery?

Here at Miltons Diamonds, we have an exclusive variety of natural and lab-grown diamond jewellery pieces. Treat yourself to an affordable yet expensive-looking piece with our range of laboratory diamond pieces!

We made the laboratory diamond buying process simple, and you can be assured you will be paying for the highest quality diamonds with the lowest possible price tag.

Our team of professional jewellers are on hand to help and here to answer any of your laboratory diamond questions. Explore our collection today to add some laboratory diamond pieces to your collection!