It is the first question most couples ask us: should the diamond be natural or lab-grown? Both are beautiful, and both are real diamonds. The difference is where and how they formed, and what that means for price and for meaning. Here is everything you need to decide with confidence.
Are lab-grown diamonds real diamonds?
Yes. A lab-grown diamond is carbon crystallised in the same cubic structure as a mined diamond. It has the same hardness, the same brilliance and fire, and the same chemical and optical properties. It is not a simulant like cubic zirconia or moissanite, which are different materials. Even a trained jeweller cannot tell a lab-grown diamond from a natural one by eye; it takes specialised laboratory equipment.
How each is made
A natural diamond formed deep in the Earth over a billion years or more, under immense heat and pressure, and was carried to the surface by volcanic eruptions. A lab-grown diamond is grown in weeks, either by recreating that heat and pressure (HPHT) or by building the crystal layer by layer from a carbon-rich gas (CVD). We explain both methods in how lab-grown diamonds are made.
The real differences
- Price. A lab-grown diamond costs considerably less than a natural diamond of the same size and quality. For the same budget, you can choose a larger or higher-grade stone.
- Rarity and value over time. Natural diamonds are finite and have historically held their value better. Lab-grown prices have fallen as production has grown, so a lab-grown diamond should be chosen for its beauty, not as an investment.
- Origin and meaning. For some, a stone formed by the Earth over a billion years carries a meaning nothing else can. For others, a diamond grown with modern science feels right. Neither is more "real".
- Grading. Both are graded on the same 4Cs (cut, colour, clarity, carat) by independent laboratories such as GIA and IGI, and the report states whether the diamond is natural or laboratory-grown.
How to choose
Start with what matters most to you. If you want the largest, brightest stone for your budget, lab-grown is hard to beat. If rarity, heritage or long-term value matter most, choose natural. Many couples also mix: a natural centre stone with lab-grown side stones, or the other way round.
Whichever you choose, the same rules apply. Prioritise cut quality, choose a shape you love, and buy a diamond with an independent grading report.
Natural and lab-grown at DANHOV
Most DANHOV settings are offered with natural or lab-grown side stones; you choose on each product page, and the price updates to match. For the centre stone, you can search certified natural and lab-grown loose diamonds in every shape, from round to oval and emerald, and set the one you choose in any engagement ring with Build Your Ring.