What are Lab Grown Diamonds?
11-17-2025
A Complete Guide to Lab Grown Diamonds
Have you ever seen or held a lab grown diamond?
These remarkable stones have surged in popularity, offering jewelry lovers a beautiful and more affordable alternative to traditional mined diamonds. Engineered through advanced scientific methods, lab grown diamonds possess the same brilliance, durability, and sparkle as natural diamonds—showcasing an incredible blend of technology and craftsmanship.
In this guide, we’ll explore what lab grown diamonds are, how they compare to natural diamonds, and the two primary methods used to create them.
What Is a Lab Grown Diamond?
A lab grown diamond—also known as a man-made, engineered, or synthetic diamond—is a real diamond created in a controlled laboratory environment rather than deep within the earth. Using pure carbon and advanced equipment, scientists replicate the natural conditions required for diamond formation.
Before lab grown technology existed, natural diamonds were the only option. These gems formed when carbon deposits were subjected to extreme heat and pressure underground for millions—even billions—of years. Today, science can reproduce the same process in a matter of weeks, resulting in diamonds that are visually and chemically identical to mined diamonds.
What Are Lab Grown Diamonds Made Of?
Lab grown diamonds are composed of pure carbon, just like natural diamonds. The goal of the creation process is to mirror the geological conditions that form earth-mined diamonds, but in a controlled environment. Through precise heat, pressure, and engineering techniques, labs can create diamonds that match natural diamonds in structure, composition, and brilliance.
Are Lab Grown Diamonds Real Diamonds?
Yes—lab grown diamonds are absolutely real diamonds.
Both natural and lab created diamonds:
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Are made of pure crystallized carbon
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Have the same chemical, optical, and physical properties
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Receive certification based on the same criteria (cut, color, clarity, carat)
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) defines a diamond as “a gemstone made of pure carbon crystallized in an isometric cubic system,” whether it forms naturally or in a lab. This means both types qualify as authentic diamonds.
How Lab Grown Diamonds Are Created
While natural diamonds take millions of years to form, lab grown diamonds can be created in weeks using sophisticated scientific methods. Each approach begins with a tiny diamond seed and builds from there.
There are two primary methods:
1. Chemical Vapor Deposition or CVD
CVD as real on a diamond tester
CVD begins with a thin slice of diamond placed inside a sealed chamber filled with carbon-rich gas. The chamber is heated to extremely high temperatures, causing the gas to break down and release carbon atoms. These atoms bond to the diamond slice, layer by layer, gradually forming a larger diamond crystal.
The process typically takes several weeks. Afterward, the diamond is cooled, cut, polished, and sent for grading.
2. High Pressure High Temperature or HPHT
HPHT does NOT test as real on a diamond tester
HPHT replicates the intense heat and pressure found deep within the earth. A diamond seed is placed inside a high-pressure press—such as a belt, cubic, or BARS press—where it is subjected to:
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About 1.5 million pounds per square inch of pressure
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Temperatures above 2,000°F
Under these extreme conditions, carbon melts and begins to crystallize around the diamond seed. Over 21–28 days, a rough diamond forms. It is then cooled, cut, polished, and graded.
In Summary
Lab grown diamonds are a stunning example of what science and innovation can achieve. They offer shoppers an accessible, ethical, and environmentally friendly alternative to mined diamonds—without compromising beauty or durability.