What Is a Lab Grown Diamond: A Simple Guide for First Time Buyers

Buying a diamond for the first time comes with plenty of unfamiliar terms, and “lab grown” can be one of the most confusing. Is it a real diamond? How is it different from a natural diamond? And does the way it is grown affect its quality?

A lab grown diamond is a real diamond created in a controlled environment rather than formed naturally beneath the earth. It has the crystal structure and fundamental chemical, physical, and optical properties of a diamond. What mainly changes is its origin.

This guide explains how lab grown diamonds are made, how their quality is evaluated, and what you should actually look at before buying one.

What Is a Lab Grown Diamond and Is It a Real Diamond

A lab grown diamond is a diamond created using technology that allows carbon to form into a diamond crystal under controlled conditions.

Yes, lab grown diamonds are real diamonds. They are made of crystallized carbon and have the hardness, brilliance, and other fundamental properties associated with natural diamonds.

The important distinction is origin. A natural diamond develops underground through geological processes over a very long period, while a lab grown diamond is produced in a controlled environment.

That also means a lab grown diamond should not be confused with a diamond simulant. Stones such as moissanite and cubic zirconia may resemble diamonds, but they are different materials.

You may also see terms such as laboratory grown diamond, laboratory created diamond, lab created diamond, or simply lab diamond referring to this category.

A Brief History of Lab Grown Diamonds

The idea of creating a diamond outside the earth is much older than today's lab grown diamond jewelry. Scientists experimented with making diamonds as far back as the 19th century, but for decades no one could reliably reproduce the conditions needed to grow them.

The breakthrough came in the early 1950s, and the original goal had little to do with engagement rings. Diamond is extremely hard, making it valuable for cutting, grinding, drilling, and other industrial uses. Researchers wanted a dependable way to produce diamond instead of relying entirely on natural supply.

In 1952, William Eversole of Union Carbide successfully produced tiny diamonds using an early form of Chemical Vapor Deposition, or CVD. A year later, the Swedish company ASEA successfully created diamonds using high pressure and high temperature, although the company kept its achievement private.

The name most closely associated with the major early breakthrough, however, is Tracy Hall, a scientist working with General Electric. In 1954, Hall and the GE research team successfully developed a reliable HPHT process for growing diamonds by combining carbon with intense heat and pressure. GE later began producing synthetic diamonds commercially, mainly for industrial purposes.

Those first diamonds were nothing like the clear stones seen in jewelry today. They were generally tiny and often brown or yellow, which made them far more useful for industrial tools than engagement rings.

That changed around 1970-1971, when General Electric researchers succeeded in producing the first gem quality lab grown diamonds large enough to be cut and studied as gemstones. After they were polished, some of these early diamonds were sent to GIA for examination.

From there, progress was gradual. Commercial quantities of gem quality lab grown diamonds began appearing in the 1980s, while improvements in HPHT and especially CVD technology continued over the following decades. By the mid 2010s, colorless lab grown diamonds were entering the jewelry market in much larger quantities.

What began as an attempt to create a hard material for industrial use eventually developed into the technology that now produces diamonds suitable for engagement rings and fine jewelry.

How Are Lab Grown Diamonds Made?

Lab grown diamonds are mainly produced using two methods: CVD and HPHT. Both create the conditions needed for carbon atoms to form a diamond crystal, but they achieve this in different ways.

In both processes, growth usually begins with a small piece of diamond known as a diamond seed. Carbon is then added under carefully controlled conditions so the crystal can grow around or on top of that seed. Once the rough diamond has reached the required size, it is removed, cut, polished and evaluated in much the same way as other diamonds used in jewelry.

What are CVD Diamonds

CVD stands for Chemical Vapor Deposition.

A thin diamond seed is placed inside a sealed chamber filled with carbon containing gases. The gases are activated so that carbon atoms separate and gradually settle onto the diamond seed. Layer by layer, those carbon atoms form additional diamond crystal.

CVD allows the diamond to grow under controlled conditions without requiring the extremely high pressures used in HPHT production.

What are HPHT Diamonds

HPHT stands for High Pressure High Temperature.

In this process, a diamond seed is placed in equipment that creates extremely high pressure and temperature. A carbon source is introduced, and under these conditions the carbon dissolves and begins to crystallize around the seed, gradually forming a larger diamond.

The process is designed to recreate some of the conditions under which natural diamonds form deep within the earth, but within a controlled manufacturing environment.

Is CVD or HPHT Better

Neither CVD nor HPHT automatically produces a better diamond.

They describe how the diamond was grown, not how attractive or high quality the finished stone will be. Diamonds produced through either method can vary in cut, color, clarity, carat weight, and overall appearance.

For a buyer, the individual diamond's quality and appearance usually matter more than simply choosing between CVD and HPHT.

Lab Grown Diamonds vs Natural Diamonds: What Is Actually Different 

Lab grown and natural diamonds are both diamonds, but their origins and market characteristics are different.

The difference is therefore broader than simply saying one comes from a lab and one comes from the earth. Their origins also affect supply, rarity, pricing, and resale markets.

Telling them apart by appearance alone can also be difficult. Professional gemological testing and identification methods are used when the diamond's origin needs to be established.

Are Lab Grown Diamonds the Same as Moissanite or Cubic Zirconia

No. A lab grown diamond, moissanite, and cubic zirconia may all be used in jewelry, but they are not the same material.

This distinction matters when shopping because terms such as “lab created” and “diamond alternative” can easily become mixed.

A lab grown diamond is a diamond. Moissanite and cubic zirconia imitate aspects of a diamond's appearance but are separate materials with different properties.

How Is the Quality of a Lab Grown Diamond Evaluated

Being lab grown does not automatically make a diamond high or low quality. Individual diamonds still vary.

The familiar 4Cs — cut, color, clarity, and carat weight provide a useful way to understand those differences.

Cut

Cut has a major influence on how effectively a diamond handles light.

The proportions, symmetry, and quality of the cut affect the diamond's brilliance, fire, and overall visual appearance. For a first time buyer, this is often more important than simply choosing the largest carat weight possible.

Also remember that diamond cut and diamond shape are not the same thing. Round, oval, emerald, pear, and cushion describe shapes, while cut quality refers to how well the diamond has been fashioned and proportioned.

Color

Diamond color grades describe how much noticeable body color a diamond has.

A higher color grade is not automatically necessary for every buyer. The diamond's shape, setting, metal, size, and your own sensitivity to color can all affect what you actually notice when looking at the finished piece.

Clarity

Clarity describes internal characteristics known as inclusions and surface characteristics known as blemishes.

Lab grown diamonds can have inclusions just like natural diamonds. A controlled growth environment does not mean every lab grown diamond will be flawless.

Instead of focusing only on the highest clarity grade, consider whether any characteristics are noticeable without magnification and whether they affect the diamond's appearance.

Carat Weight

Carat measures a diamond's weight, not its exact diameter or visible size.

Two diamonds with the same carat weight can have different measurements and may therefore look slightly different when viewed from above.

This is why comparing measurements alongside carat weight can give you a better idea of how large a diamond will actually appear.

How to Compare Two Lab Grown Diamonds

When comparing two lab grown diamonds, don’t choose based on carat weight or price alone. Check the 4Cs: cut, color, clarity, and carat, then compare their measurements, certification, and overall appearance. A diamond with slightly lower color or clarity can still be the better choice if it has a well proportioned cut, looks bright, and offers better value for your budget.

Quick tip: If two lab grown diamonds have similar specifications, look at their actual images or videos and compare their sparkle, proportions, and visible inclusions before making a decision.

What Does a Lab Grown Diamond Grading Report Tell You

A diamond grading or quality report provides independent information about a diamond and helps you understand what you are buying.

Depending on the laboratory and type of report, it may include information such as:

• Whether the diamond is lab grown

• Measurements

• Carat weight

• Color and clarity information

• Cut related information where applicable

• Report number

• Laser inscription information

• Growth method or treatment details where reported

Different gemological laboratories can use different reporting systems, so do not assume that every lab grown diamond report will use the same format.

When a grading report is supplied, check that its identifying information matches the diamond being offered and verify the report through the issuing laboratory where possible.

When comparing lab grown diamonds at Golden Bird Jewels, check the grading information provided for each diamond, including its cut, color, clarity, carat weight, and measurements. Depending on the diamond, you can also verify its specifications through a grading report issued by IGI or GIA, two well known independent gemological laboratories. 

A grading report should also not be confused with an appraisal. A grading report describes the diamond and its characteristics, while an appraisal is concerned with monetary valuation.

What Should a First Time Buyer Check Before Buying a Lab Grown Diamond

You do not need to become a gemologist before choosing a diamond. Focus on the details that actually affect what you receive.

Use this checklist when comparing lab grown diamonds:

1. Confirm that it is clearly identified as lab grown.
The diamond's laboratory grown origin should be disclosed rather than implied.

2. Look at the individual diamond, not just the growth method.
CVD or HPHT alone does not tell you whether the finished diamond is good quality.

3. Review the grading information.
Check the characteristics documented for the diamond and verify the report where applicable.

4. Give cut and visual appearance proper attention.
A larger carat weight or higher clarity grade does not compensate for a diamond that does not look appealing to you.

5. Compare measurements with carat weight.
Carat measures weight, while measurements help show how large the diamond may appear.

6. Choose color and clarity based on visible differences.
Paying for the highest available grade is not always necessary.

7. Consider the finished jewelry too.
If the diamond is being purchased in a ring, pendant, earrings, or another piece, setting security, metal, proportions, and craftsmanship matter alongside the stone itself.

The goal is not to find the diamond with the highest specifications in every category. It is to find a well balanced diamond whose appearance and specifications make sense for your priorities and budget.

Is a Lab Grown Diamond Right for You

A lab grown diamond can be a good choice if you want a diamond while having more flexibility around carat weight, quality, design, and budget.

A natural diamond may be more suitable if geological origin, natural rarity, or the traditional appeal of a mined diamond is particularly important to you.

Neither choice is automatically better for every buyer.

For a first purchase, start by deciding what matters most to you: appearance, size, specifications, budget, origin, or rarity. Once those priorities are clear, comparing the two options becomes much easier.

Final Thoughts

Understanding lab grown diamonds becomes much easier once you separate origin from quality.

Lab grown tells you how the diamond was created. It does not tell you whether the diamond has excellent cut, suitable color or clarity, the right size, or good overall visual appeal.

For a first time buyer, focus on the individual diamond, understand the grading information available, and choose specifications that match what you can actually see and value. That gives you a much stronger basis for deciding whether a lab grown diamond is the right choice for your jewelry and budget.

FAQs 

Do lab grown diamonds get cloudy over time?

A lab grown diamond does not inherently become cloudy simply because it was grown in a laboratory. Like any diamond jewelry, however, oils, lotions, soap, and everyday residue can reduce its sparkle until the stone is cleaned.

Do lab grown diamonds have inclusions?

Yes. Lab grown diamonds can contain inclusions and other growth characteristics. Their clarity varies from one diamond to another, which is why clarity should be evaluated on the individual stone rather than assumed from its origin.

Can you tell a lab grown diamond from a natural diamond by looking at it?

Usually not reliably with the naked eye. Lab grown and natural diamonds can appear visually alike, while professional gemological equipment and testing can identify features related to their different origins.

Do lab grown diamonds have resale value?

Lab grown diamonds can have resale value, but their secondary market and pricing behave differently from natural diamonds. Avoid relying on fixed resale percentages because market conditions and individual diamonds vary.

Is CVD better than HPHT?

Not automatically. CVD and HPHT are growth methods rather than quality grades. A well cut, attractive diamond can be produced using either method, so the finished diamond's characteristics matter more to most buyers.