Lab-grown diamonds are chemically, physically, and optically identical to natural diamonds, and are considered just as real:
- Composition: Both are pure carbon
- Properties: They have the same hardness, brilliance, fire, scintillation, and sparkle
- Appearance: They can come in the same sizes, shapes, and colors
- Grading: Specialized laboratories grade both types of diamonds based on their flaws The only differences between lab-grown and natural diamonds are their origin and price:
OriginLab-grown diamonds are grown in a lab, while natural diamonds form deep in the Earth
PriceLab-grown diamonds are generally cheaper than natural diamonds of the same quality
Other differences include:
- Traceability: Lab-grown diamonds are more traceable than mined diamonds
- Environmental impact: Lab-grown diamonds have less environmental impact than mined diamonds
- Time to create: Lab-grown diamonds can take a month or so to make, while natural diamonds take billions of years to form
