Lab Grown Diamonds – real diamonds that don't cost the earth.

Common Questions

• Are lab grown diamonds real diamonds?

  Yes, they're real diamonds! They are physically, chemically and optically 100% the same as mined diamonds - down to the atom. The only difference is the origin. In fact, the FTC in the US ruled recently that a diamond is a diamond no matter whether is grown in a lab or dug out of the ground.

• Can you tell the difference between lab grown diamonds and mined diamonds

  No, not even experienced jewellers can tell the difference without using specialist equipment used by gem labs. Both lab grown and mined diamonds will test positive under normal diamond testers.

• Why do mined diamonds cost so much more than lab grown diamonds?

  It's because the price of mined diamonds is well above fair market pricing.

  The mined diamond industry often likes to talk about how diamonds are ‘rare’ and yes technically they are rare in the sense you have to move tonnes of dirt and dig giant holes to find them. But diamonds are one of the most common precious stones found compared to other precious gemstones like sapphires, rubies and emeralds.

  Mined diamonds are more expensive not because they’re rare, but because the diamond mining companies restrict supply to keep prices artificially high.

  Lab diamond prices on the other hand reflect normal, free market demand and supply - like most other gemstones and materials.

• Do lab grown diamonds hold their value?

  Neither mined diamonds nor lab grown diamonds hold their value. Both lab diamonds and mined diamonds lose about 40 - 50% of the resale value when bought by consumers.

  The reason when you buy a diamond, you’re also paying for the jewellers' mark-up, any setting costs and taxes. When you go to sell the diamond the buyer will want to buy less than the current wholesale rate which is going to be about 40-50% less than what you bought it for. Mined diamonds have only kept up with inflation in the long term.

  Diamonds (lab grown or mined) are not investments (unless you’re buying investment-grade diamonds which are millions of dollars).

  Traditional jewellers say this to get you to spend more than you are comfortable with the justification ‘It’s an investment for the future’. If you just buy a lab grown diamond and put the savings in price into real investments - you will be much better off.

• Are lab grown diamonds perfect?

  No, and neither are mined diamonds. Because we recreate what happens in the ground but inside a lab, our lab grown diamonds come out as raw stones each with their own unique imperfections — just like mined diamonds.

• Do lab grown diamonds come with certifications and grading reports like mined diamonds?

  Yes, every Four Words lab grown diamond is accompanied by an independent certification and grading report from one of the two esteemed institutions: the International Gemmological Institute (IGI) or the Gemmological Institute of America (GIA).

  Headquartered in Antwerp, Belgium, IGI stands as the world's premier independent authority on both mined and lab-grown diamond certification.

  While, GIA, with its base in Carlsbad, California, is globally renowned as the leading certifier and grader of diamonds and other precious gemstones

• Are lab grown diamonds graded according to the 4C’s

  Yes, exactly the same grades by the same labs. But there are other considerations to take into account — our gemmologists will pick the best diamonds according to our quality standards.

• How are lab grown diamonds made?

  Lab grown diamonds are grown inside clean high-tech labs above ground.

  You put a diamond seed (a thin wafer of diamond) inside the growing chamber, turn up the heat and pressure and mix in carbon gases.

  The carbon from the gases breaks down and crystallises on top of the diamond seed over the course of a few weeks forming the 'rough diamond.' This rough diamond is then cut and polished exactly the same way as mined diamonds.

• Are lab grown diamonds the same as cubic zirconia (CZ)?

  No – cubic zirconia is a completely different gemstone to diamonds. They are often used as diamond stimulants because they look similar to diamonds but are very cheap to produce. Although cubic zirconia are man-made, they are much easier to produce and are made from Silicon and Carbon (instead of just carbon like diamonds) and tend to 'cloud' over and scratch after a few months.

• Are Lab grown diamonds the same as moissanites?

  No - Although they look very similar, Moissanites are their own gemstones and have their own physical and optical properties. At Four Words we work with both lab grown diamond and moissanite.

• Are lab-grown diamonds more sustainable than mined diamonds?

  When you invest in a lab-grown diamond, you can be confident that it is ethically sourced and conflict-free. While our jewellery itself has a 7x less negative environmental impact, we’ve collaborated with CarbonClick to offset any impact caused by the production process by more than 500%.

  Explore our comprehensive guide on the difference between mined and lab-grown diamonds to learn more.

• Are lab-grown diamonds becoming more popular in NZ?

  Absolutely! The ethical qualities and affordability have caused a surge in the popularity of lab-grown diamonds in NZ. More people can invest in high-quality diamond jewellery without breaking the bank.

• How do I choose the perfect lab-grown diamond in NZ?

  Choosing the perfect diamond comes down to the four C’s: colour, clarity, cut, and carat. However, when you work with us, there’s no need to worry too much about the 4C’s. We use the highest quality lab-grown stones available. This translates to Ideal Cut, F colour, and VS clarity grade at minimum. This is higher than the Tiffany cut standard.

  You can learn more about our standard here.

• How much does a lab-grown diamond cost?

  With lower production costs, lab-grown diamonds are more affordable than their natural counterparts. Even with our process and high standard, you can get 1 carat lab-grown diamond engagement ring from Four Words starting from around $4,500.