Do you want to play a diamond game?

Lab Grown vs Natural Diamonds: Can You Tell the Difference?

In 2021, I asked my social media followers to play a simple diamond game.

I showed a video of three gemstones side by side and asked one question:

Which one is the lab grown diamond?

Two of the stones are natural diamonds. One is lab grown.

Take a look and see what you think:

This simple test reveals something most people don’t realise when they begin looking at engagement rings today: lab grown diamonds and natural diamonds are visually indistinguishable without specialist equipment.

That raises an important question — if they look the same when worn, what actually is the difference between them?

In this guide, we explore lab grown vs natural diamonds in detail, including how they are formed, how they are priced, how they compare in value, and what matters when choosing a diamond for an engagement ring.

The Truth: Lab Grown and Natural Diamonds Look Identical

Lab grown diamonds are not imitations. They are diamonds.

They have the same:

• hardness
• chemical composition
• crystal structure
• refractive index
• fire and sparkle

as natural diamonds.

To the naked eye, there is no visible difference between a lab grown diamond and a natural diamond.

The only way to tell them apart is using specialist equipment — for example:

• analysing growth patterns
• detecting fluorescence under UV light

These are not things you can see when wearing a ring.

So What Does This Mean When Choosing an Engagement Ring?

For you as the wearer, it means something quite significant:

You now have two valid ways to choose a diamond.

• A natural diamond, formed over billions of years beneath the earth
• A lab grown diamond, created using advanced technology

Visually and practically, they perform in exactly the same way.

The difference lies in:

• origin
• price
• and how you personally feel about the stone

If you’re weighing up your options, you can also see our full comparison of lab grown diamonds, natural diamonds and moissanite, where we break down the differences in appearance, durability and value side by side.

Play the Diamond Game: Which One Is Lab Grown?

Let’s go back to the three stones.

• The middle stone is the most expensive
• The right stone is the least expensive
• The left stone is three colour grades higher than the middle

So which one is lab grown?

The answer: the stone on the left.

This often surprises people.

Why the “Whitest” Diamond Isn’t Always the Best

A common misconception is that a whiter-looking diamond is automatically better.

In reality, what you’re seeing depends on:

• lighting conditions
• the cut of the stone
• and internal inclusions

For example:

• The diamond on the right appears whiter
• But it has less sparkle due to its cut
• And more inclusions within the stone

When diamonds are graded for colour, they are not viewed from the top.

They are examined from the side (through the girdle) and compared against master stones graded from D to Z.

Understanding Diamond Colour Grading

Colour grading is subtle — and often misunderstood.

Interestingly, diamonds with more inclusions can sometimes appear whiter because light is scattered.

I often describe it like this:

• A heavily included diamond is like white water in rapids
• A high-quality diamond is like looking into deep, clear water

The latter has depth, contrast, and a more captivating kind of sparkle.

Lab Grown vs Natural Diamonds: Price and Value

One of the biggest differences today is price.

• Lab grown diamonds typically offer larger size or higher quality for the same budget
• Natural diamonds are usually more expensive, especially at higher grades

In the example from the video:

• The natural diamond on the right is the lowest quality of the three.
• The higher quality natural diamond in the middle is the most expensive.
• What often surprises people is that the lab grown diamond offers the highest quality here, while also being the lowest in price.

This is where choice becomes personal.

Which Should You Choose?

There isn’t a single “right” answer — only what feels right to you.

You might choose a lab grown diamond if:

• you want to maximise size or quality within your budget
• you prefer a modern, technology-led origin
• you want an gemstone that hasn't been mined

You might choose a natural diamond if:

• you value its geological history
• you’re drawn to the idea of rarity and formation over time

Both opitons are diamonds.
Both are beautiful.

The decision is about what the stone represents to you.

Explore Engagement Rings with Lab or Natural Diamonds

All of our engagement rings can be made with either lab grown or natural diamonds.

It’s not about telling you what to choose —
it’s about helping you understand the difference, so your decision feels clear and considered.

If you’re still deciding, these are the questions we’re most often asked about lab grown and natural diamonds.

FAQ: Lab Grown vs Natural Diamonds

Are lab grown diamonds really diamonds?

Yes — lab grown diamonds are really diamonds.

They have the same chemical composition, crystal structure and hardness as natural diamonds. The only difference is how they are formed:

• natural diamonds are created over billions of years beneath the earth
• lab grown diamonds are created using advanced technology in a controlled environment

Visually and physically, they are indistinguishable without specialist equipment.

Can you tell the difference between a lab grown and natural diamond?

No — not by looking at them.

To the naked eye, lab grown and natural diamonds look identical. Even trained jewellers cannot reliably tell the difference without using gemmological equipment.

Differences can only be detected through:

• growth pattern analysis
• fluorescence under UV light
• advanced laboratory testing

Are lab grown diamonds cheaper than natural diamonds?

Yes — in most cases, lab grown diamonds are significantly more affordable.

They often allow you to choose:

• a larger stone
• a higher colour or clarity grade

for the same budget as a smaller or lower quality natural diamond.

This price difference has become more pronounced in recent years as lab diamond production has increased and the technology had advanced so that lab diamonds can be made using less power, making them even more environmentally friendly,

Why are lab grown diamonds less expensive?

Lab grown diamonds are less expensive because they are not limited by natural supply.

Natural diamonds are rare and require mining, which contributes to their cost.
Lab grown diamonds can be produced more efficiently, which makes them more accessible and better for the planet.

Do lab grown diamonds last as long as natural diamonds?

Yes — they last just as long.

Because lab grown diamonds have the same hardness (10 on the Mohs scale), they are equally durable and suitable for everyday wear, including engagement rings.

Do lab grown diamonds look different?

No — their appearance is the same.

Sparkle, brilliance and fire are determined by the cut of the diamond, not whether it is lab grown or natural.

A well-cut diamond — lab or natural — will always appear more lively and brilliant than a poorly cut one.

Are lab grown diamonds more ethical or environmentally friendly?

This is a complex and fast-evolving area, with a lot of misinformation online — but there are some important distinctions.

Lab grown diamonds are created in controlled industrial laboratory environments rather than mined from the earth. This means they avoid the environmental disruption associated with large-scale mining, including land excavation and seabed extraction.

Lab grown diamonds are produced in controlled environments, whereas mining can involve serious occupational hazards, including underground accidents such as flooding or collapse, depending on the type and location of mine.

Another key difference is energy use.

Lab diamonds require energy to grow, through high-pressure or chemical vapour processes. However, this energy use is reducing as production scales and technology develops. Some producers are investing in renewable energy, including solar-powered facilities, particularly in regions such as India where large parts of the lab diamond industry are based.

At the moment, the amount of energy needed to grow a lab grown diamond is reported as broadly comparable to fully charging a Tesla twice — equivalent to driving around 600 miles in an electric vehicle, or approximately 150–200 miles in a petrol or diesel car, depending on conditions.

Natural diamonds, by contrast, require extensive mining, processing, and global supply chains. Mining operations can have significant environmental impacts, including land disturbance, habitat disruption, and in some regions concerns around water use and local pollution. Offshore diamond mining also uses large mechanical systems that disturb the seabed.

Because both supply chains are complex, comparisons are not always straightforward. Some studies focus on energy use alone, while others consider broader environmental impacts including land, water, and ecosystem disruption.

What is generally understood is that:

• lab grown diamond production is becoming increasingly energy-efficient
• the source of that energy is gradually shifting toward lower-carbon systems in some regions
• natural diamond mining continues to evolve through traceability and responsible sourcing initiatives
• Offshore diamond mining technologies include large-scale seabed crawler systems operating in marine environments, which remain under environmental scrutiny due to habitat disturbance and underwater noise that may affect marine species relying on sound for communication and migration.
  
  

For many people, the decision comes down to priorities.

If your priority is reducing environmental disruption associated with mining — including land and seabed disturbance and potential impacts on ecosystems — lab-grown diamonds are often the more environmentally aligned choice.

If your priority is the idea of a diamond formed through natural geological processes over time, or the symbolism associated with natural origin, mined diamonds may feel more personally meaningful.

Do lab grown diamonds hold their value?

Engagement rings are not typically bought with the intention of resale — they are chosen as a symbol of commitment and a promise for the future.

If circumstances change and a ring is later sold, whether it is a natural diamond or a lab-grown diamond, the resale value is usually significantly lower than the original purchase price. This is because second-hand jewellery operates within a different market to retail, where prices are influenced by demand, condition, design, and current material values rather than original cost.

Engagement rings in particular often resell below expectations, not because they are less meaningful, but because the second-hand market is highly selective and buyers frequently prefer new pieces or specific styles. As a result, both natural and lab diamond rings should be understood as emotional purchases rather than financial assets.

Comparison between lab diamond and natural diamond resale values.

Natural diamond prices have fallen significantly since demand has grown for lab diamond alternatives around 25% to 40%