Are lab grown diamonds real?

It’s normal to be sceptical of things that seem too good to be true. From new technology, new job titles and definitely new partners. It is no surprise that people err on the side of caution when it comes to lab grown diamonds. ‘How can you get exactly what you want at an affordable price? It just doesn’t make any sense!’

Questions we often get range from ‘are lab grown diamonds even real?’ to ‘how can I buy something without ever seeing it?’

We are here to answer those questions with confidence so even your parents can come to love lab grown diamonds; and your wallet.

Are lab grown diamonds real?

Lab grown diamonds are physically, optically and even atomically exactly the same as natural diamonds. The only difference is that lab grown diamonds are made above-ground in clean high tech labs.

We like to think about it like ice. You could get ice made millions of years ago from Antarctica and say this is real ice, or you could make it in your freezer. Ice is ice. The same goes for diamonds. And yes, while we have simplified a lot, it is a metaphor we often use to explain the fact that lab grown diamonds are indeed exactly the same as natural diamonds — to the point that even expert gemologists with more than 20 years of experience can’t tell the difference!

Are lab grown diamonds certified?

All lab grown diamonds are independently certified. They are typically done so by leading institutes like International Gemological Institute (IGI) or the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). IGI and GIA also grade natural diamonds, so you know their standards are going to be as rigorous for lab grown diamonds.

Each lab grown diamond is inscribed with a unique ID number on the girdle of the diamond at a 10x magnification to ensure that the certificate that they produce matches the diamond itself.

Do lab grown diamonds pass diamond detectors?

Lab grown diamonds are exactly the same as mined diamonds, even to the atomic level. This means that they will pass a diamond detector. Even professional jewellers with more than 20 years of experience can’t tell the difference between a natural diamond and a lab grown diamond.

Diamond detectors work by testing the thermal or electrical connectivity of the stone. Each atomic structure has a specific thermal or electrical signature, which means that there is a very narrow window for what can and can’t pass as a diamond.

Now the types of gemstones that won’t pass the diamond detector are gemstones like Cubic zirconia, Spinels, Sapphires and Emeralds.

Moissanite, even with just one atom different (one Carbon atom is replaced with a Silicon atom), which looks almost the same as a diamond will also fail most diamond testers because of its electrical properties (but will pass if it just measures its thermal properties). In saying that, Moissanites are not trying to be diamonds. They are their own class of gemstones and they are surging in popularity because of their fire and brilliance over a diamond.

Are lab grown diamonds sparkly?

Lab grown diamonds are exactly the same as natural diamonds. And that means if you compare like for like diamonds, they will sparkle in the same way. But that’s the thing, both lab grown diamonds and mined diamonds are graded on the 4Cs. So you need to make sure that you are choosing the right diamond in the first place.

At Four Words, we only work with the best diamonds that the eye can see. This means any of your friends (or your mum’s) wont be able to tell the difference between a flawless and colourless mined diamond that can costs well over $50,000 to one from Four Words which will be considerably lower. Just check out how much we would quote for celebrity rings such as Hailey Bieber and Sophia Richie Grainge. And yes, they would look exactly the same!

Want to nerd out a little bit more? Learn more about our standard.

Are lab grown diamonds good for the environment?

You can’t get into a conversation about diamonds without a conversation on ethics and the environment. Luckily we have spent months doing the research so you don’t have to.

According to an independent report by Frost & Sullivan, diamond mining creates approximately 57,000 grams of CO2 per carat of mined diamond. To get a sense of this, the estimated amount of CO2 produced from global diamond mining is equal to 1.5 million cars running for a full year.

For reference lab diamonds are reported to produce 0.028 grams of CO2 per carat created. At Four Words, we have partnered with Carbon Click to offset our carbon by 500%. This means for each purchase, we plant native trees on the West Coast of the South Island.

This can all be head turning stuff. We have written multiple guides on how diamonds are formed (mined and lab grown), sustainability, Four Words being climate positive, and whether mined diamonds can genuinely be an ethical purchase.

Do lab grown diamonds hold value?

It is a fugazi that lab diamonds appreciate or hold their value in the first place unless you are buying a celebrity sized ring. No rock, lab grown or mined will prove to be an investment.

We recommend choosing a diamond or gemstone that you actually like and a budget that you are comfortable with. And when it comes to budgets, it is hard to go past lab grown diamonds. They are typically 40-50% cheaper than their mined alternatives for the same quality.

Yes, it’s true that the resale market for lab grown diamonds is smaller than that of mined diamonds, but you shouldn’t be thinking about how you can get your money back while thinking of popping the question…right?

Ultimately an engagement ring is an investment in your relationship, so do what makes you and your partner happy over anything else.

Still unsure about diamond resale values? We got you.

Still have questions?

If you still have some questions about lab grown diamonds, or any other gemstone for that matter, you can book an appointment with us either in person in our Auckland studio, or online. We have thousands of happy clients and hundreds of reviews.