Education

The Lab Diamond Guide

Everything you need to know about lab-grown diamonds — what they are, how they're made, and why they're the smarter choice.

The Basics

What Is a Lab-Grown Diamond?

A lab-grown diamond is a real diamond — chemically, physically, and optically identical to a mined diamond. The only difference is where it was created: a laboratory instead of deep inside the Earth.

Lab diamonds have the same crystal structure, the same hardness (10 on the Mohs scale), the same sparkle, and the same fire as mined diamonds. Even expert gemologists cannot tell them apart without specialised equipment.

The Bottom Line: A lab diamond IS a diamond. It's not synthetic, fake, or simulated. It's the real thing — grown above ground instead of mined below it.
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Mined Diamond

  • Formed over billions of years
  • Extracted from the earth
  • High environmental impact
  • Supply chain concerns
  • 2–4x higher price
VS
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Lab Diamond

  • Grown in 6–10 weeks
  • Created in a controlled lab
  • Minimal environmental impact
  • Fully traceable origin
  • Same beauty, lower price

How Lab Diamonds Are Made

Two scientifically proven methods produce gem-quality diamonds in weeks:

01

CVD — Chemical Vapour Deposition

A diamond seed is placed in a chamber filled with carbon-rich gas. Microwaves break down the gas molecules, depositing carbon atom by atom onto the seed — just like how diamonds form in space. This is the most common method used today.

Most Common Method
02

HPHT — High Pressure High Temperature

A diamond seed is subjected to extreme pressure (1.5 million PSI) and high temperatures (1,500°C) — replicating the natural conditions deep inside the Earth. Carbon melts and forms around the seed, growing into a full diamond crystal.

Original Method

The 4Cs — Same Standards, Same Grading

Lab diamonds are graded using the exact same 4C standards as mined diamonds by independent gemological labs like IGI.

C

Cut

How well the diamond is shaped and faceted. Cut determines brilliance and sparkle — the most important of the 4Cs.

Excellent · Very Good · Good · Fair · Poor
C

Colour

Graded D (colourless) to Z (light yellow). D–F are colourless and most prized. G–J are near-colourless and offer great value.

D–F Colourless · G–J Near Colourless
C

Clarity

Refers to internal inclusions and surface blemishes. FL (Flawless) is rarest. VS1–VS2 are excellent everyday choices with inclusions invisible to the naked eye.

FL · IF · VVS1/2 · VS1/2 · SI1/2
C

Carat

The weight of the diamond. 1 carat = 0.2 grams. Larger carat = higher price, but cut and clarity can make a smaller stone look bigger and more brilliant.

0.10ct · 0.25ct · 0.50ct · 1.00ct+

Common Myths, Debunked

❌ "Lab diamonds aren't real diamonds"
✅ False. Lab diamonds are chemically and physically identical to mined diamonds. The FTC (US Federal Trade Commission) officially recognises lab diamonds as real diamonds.
❌ "Lab diamonds have no resale value"
✅ All diamonds depreciate after purchase. Lab diamonds and mined diamonds have similar resale value relative to their purchase price.
❌ "You can tell a lab diamond apart"
✅ False. No human eye can tell them apart. Even professional gemologists need specialised equipment to detect the difference.
❌ "Lab diamonds are just cubic zirconia"
✅ Completely different. CZ is a diamond simulant (zirconium dioxide). Lab diamonds are pure carbon — exactly the same material as mined diamonds.

Why Choose a Lab Diamond from ReVera?

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IGI Certified

Every diamond comes with an IGI certificate — the global gold standard in diamond grading.

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Conflict-Free

100% traceable origin. No mining, no conflict zones, no ethical concerns.

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Better Value

Get a larger, higher-quality stone for the same budget. Lab diamonds cost 60–80% less than mined.

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Eco-Friendly

Uses a fraction of the land and water of mined diamonds. A responsible choice for conscious shoppers.

Ready to Find Your Diamond?

Browse our full collection of IGI-certified lab-grown diamond jewellery.

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