DIAMOND 101

Lab-Grown Diamonds

A lab diamond is a real diamond.

Browse settings
10
Mohs hardness — identical to mined
100%
Same chemical & optical properties
~40%
Less, on average, than a mined diamond*

*Illustrative average — confirm current figure before publish.

Why most couples choose lab

It's not an alternative to a diamond. It is one.

Lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds, with the same chemical makeup, hardness, and beautiful sparkle as natural diamonds. The difference begins with how they’re grown: in a laboratory over weeks, rather than deep within the earth. Their more accessible price gives you room to explore the size, shape, and details you love and we’re here to help you find the one that feels right.

A single round brilliant-cut diamond shown from a top-down view on a plain white background.
Mined
1 ct
A single round brilliant-cut diamond shown from a top-down view on a plain white background.
Lab-grown
3 ct

Same budget

More diamond for the money.

One of the things we love about lab-grown diamonds is how much possibility they open up within your budget. Compared with a natural diamond of similar quality, you can often choose a larger stone or a higher color or clarity grade, while enjoying the brilliance and durability that make diamonds so special.

Illustrative comparison at equal spend.

The 101, side by side

How the three compare

The honest breakdown our advisors walk you through in person.

Hardness (Mohs)
10 — identical to mined
Brilliance & fire
Identical to mined
Origin
Grown in weeks, fully traceable
Conflict-free
Guaranteed
Price
Significantly more affordable

Lab and mined diamonds are physically identical — the differences that matter are price and origin.

From seed to stone

How a lab diamond is grown

01
The seed

It starts with a thin slice of real diamond, placed in a controlled chamber.

02
The growth

Over a few weeks, carbon bonds to the seed layer by layer. The same process the earth uses just accelerated.

03
The cut

The rough crystal is cut and polished like any diamond. Inclusions from the seed can carry through, which is why grading still matters.

Independently certified

Every lab-grown diamond we offer comes with an independent grading report, most often from IGI, detailing its cut, color, clarity, and carat weight. We’ll help you understand what those details mean, so you can feel confident in the diamond you choose.

See our Lifetime Warranty →

Ready when you are

See them in person.

The best way to understand a lab diamond is to hold one next to a mined one. Our advisors will show you both.

Browse settings for your lab-grown diamond →