Are lab grown diamonds really better than natural diamonds? What is the real difference between lab grown diamonds and mined diamonds? Why are the costs so different? 

We are regularly asked these questions by curious customers, suspicious of their findings after a Google search. The truth is down to two things: perception of value, as in what actually matters to you as a buyer or wearer of the diamond, and the cost.

A bespoke design by Laura Vann featuring a lab-grown brilliant cut diamond.

Firstly, some facts.

Do lab-grown diamonds look the same as mined diamonds?

Lab grown diamonds are visually, physically and chemically identical to natural, mined diamonds.

The are both composed of pure carbon in a cubic crystalline form, so the difference lies in how they are made, and the corresponding cost - and (and here's the important bit) their value.

How are lab-grown diamonds made?

Lab grown diamonds are man-made, and grown in controlled conditions inside a factory, most of these are based in India or China. Lab-grown diamonds develop and grow in size throughout the process, one that lasts a relatively quick few months rather than millions of years like their natural counterparts, and so they also form with natural flaws and inclusions like natural diamonds do. 

However, if the lab-grown diamond is showing signs of being exceptionally flawed or poor colour in the early stages of growth then the process is usually stopped - so it's quite hard to find really bad quality lab grown diamonds in larger sizes over a carat.

 

A bespoke ring using a lab grown diamond by Rachel Boston

 

A quick Lab grown vs Natural diamond analogy...

Imagine a natural diamond as being created using a slow cooker, over millions of years, and comparatively lab-grown diamonds are created in a microwave, taking weeks.

Are lab-growns more ethical than natural diamonds?

The fact that they can be made in a factory is considered by some to be 'ethical' - I use this word carefully, as ethics can cover environmental concerns as well as social - the working conditions of people employed by the manufacturer, for example.

Lab-grown diamonds are not mined, so there is no environmental damage in order to produce them, however they do use a lot of energy to create, which does have some environmental impact of course.

The problem with mining natural diamonds is that the supply chain is almost impossibly long - with mining done in one country, usually very far away from its intended market, cutting is done in another, sorting in another, and selling in yet another - so it can be very hard to make sure all those stages are safe for all involved. It's almost impossible to guarantee a 100% 'ethically' sourced new natural diamond. 

However, on the flip side, the diamond mining industry supports entire towns all over the world, with entire communities relying on the income derived from it.

 

Natural pear-cut white diamond ring by Minka Jewels

 

Because lab-grown diamonds are made in factory they are cheaper, and it's easy to track their journey to market. But here's a potential downside - unlike natural diamonds they are not a finite resource, which means there is no limit to the number of lab grown diamonds that can be created and introduced to the market. This dramatically affects the cost, because easy supply = cheap. And when it comes to a luxury item, cheap is not necessarily a good thing.

The lab-grown diamond market in 2025

There are essentially unlimited lab-grown diamonds available to buy, which means the price of them is unstable and unpredictable - and it has fallen dramatically over the last few years. This unpredictable pricing means that the price you pay for a lab-grown diamond now could significantly decrease in the near future. 

 

Natural diamond ring by Jessie Thomas

 

So where does the true value of a natural diamond lie, if it looks identical to a lab-grown diamond?

It no longer becomes about beauty, as lab growns are equally as beautiful and it's impossible to tell the difference. The answer is difficult to articulate, as it becomes more about a feeling; a sense that the natural diamond is 'better' and more impressive because it was created by nature over millions of years.

A somewhat crude comparison is that of natural beauty in humans vs cosmetic surgery - are a person's natural assets more impressive than something that's been achieved by cosmetic surgery, even if you can't tell the difference?

I do agree with this idea, and it's not something to be dismissed. Natural diamonds are incredible feats of nature and that will always wow us as humans. But the reality is that this finite resource comes at a huge financial cost - and why shouldn't customers with smaller budgets enjoy the beauty of a big diamond?

 

Bespoke asscher cut lab grown diamond ring by Hattie Rickards

 

Lab-grown Diamonds in Engagement Rings

A diamond engagement ring is more than just a piece of jewellery, it's a signal to the people you know and the people you meet that you are engaged, loved, valued. It is also considered by some to be a signal that tells people exactly how valued you are -  the more expensive the diamond, the 'more my partner loves me,' for example.

This is where the value of a sentimental, luxury purchase is linked to its cost - would a huge diamond ring mean as much to someone as a declaration of love if it only cost £100?

This is the question that underscores all our doubts about lab-grown diamond engagement rings...what exactly is luxury to us, and is the feeling of luxury - or love - diminished if the cost is very low. Does our engagement ring signal the same thing to us and to the people we meet, if it is made from a cheaper diamond material?

For some people the answer is 'no', and they are happy to spend less, and get a larger diamond for their engagement ring than their budget would allow using a mined diamond.

Many clients I've worked with recently have chosen a large lab-grown diamond for this reason - they want a beautiful stone, they don't plan on selling it, and it is now achievable for them thanks to lab-grown diamonds.

Natural diamond ring by Michelle Oh

The question to ask yourself is how much the ORIGIN of the diamond matters to you, so here's a quick pros and cons list for natural diamonds vs lab-grown diamonds:

Lab-grown diamond pros

• You can afford a larger diamond which means a more visually impactful design
• You can trace the origin more easily, back to a factory where labour is not intensive (usually in China or India)

Lab-grown diamond cons

• There is no 'magical beginnings' origin story to the diamond, it was made in a factory
• You won't be able to re-sell it easily and it most likely won't hold any value in the future due to mass production

Mined diamond pros

• NATURE has grown your diamond over millions of years! This idea is romantic and incredible...
• It is a signifier of luxury and romance...due to a high price tag and cultural story-telling (as well as marketing)

Mined Diamond cons

• It's very hard to trace the origin of your diamond, especially if it is under 2cts
• You will most likely not be able to recoup more than 50% of the value should you choose to sell it - unless it is very large and/or very rare

 

If you need further help making a decision between a mined diamond or a lab-grown diamond, just get in touch with kate@thecutlondon.com.