Are Lab Grown Diamonds Real Diamonds? The Honest Answer
A professional gemologist examining two identical 2-carat diamonds under magnification would need advanced spectroscopic equipment to distinguish between them. One formed 150 miles beneath the earth's surface over a billion years. The other grew in a Manhattan laboratory over three weeks. Both are 100% carbon arranged in the same crystalline structure — both are real diamonds.
What Makes a Diamond 'Real'?
The definition of a real diamond comes down to chemistry and crystal structure, not origin story. A diamond is carbon atoms arranged in a cubic crystal lattice with a hardness of 10 on the Mohs scale, specific gravity of 3.52, and a refractive index of 2.42. The Federal Trade Commission updated its jewelry guides in 2018 to remove the word "natural" from the definition of diamonds. At Peaceful Diamonds, we've seen this regulatory shift reflect what gemologists have known for decades: origin doesn't determine authenticity.
Lab Grown Diamonds: The Science
CVD Growth Process
Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) places a diamond seed in a chamber filled with carbon-rich gases heated to 1,500°F. The carbon atoms precipitate onto the seed, building the crystal layer by layer over 2-4 weeks. We work primarily with CVD-grown stones for their consistently high clarity grades — often VS1 or better.
HPHT Growth Process
High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) mimics conditions 100 miles underground, subjecting carbon to 1.5 million pounds per square inch of pressure at 2,700°F. Developed by General Electric in 1954, this method creates diamonds in days.
Lab Diamonds vs. Diamond Simulants
Lab diamonds are not simulants. Cubic zirconia is zirconium dioxide. Moissanite is silicon carbide. Lab grown diamonds are carbon — the same material, the same crystal structure, the same diamond. A 1-carat CZ costs under $20. A lab diamond of similar size ranges from $800-2,000 based on the 4Cs.
What Gemologists Say
GIA and IGI both grade lab diamonds using the same 4Cs standards applied to natural stones. The American Gem Society recognizes lab diamonds as genuine diamonds requiring only origin disclosure. Every lab diamond in our IGI-certified inventory passes thermal conductivity diamond testers.
Final Answer
Lab grown diamonds are unequivocally real diamonds. Explore our certified lab-grown diamond collection — ethically made in New York.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are lab grown diamonds considered fake?
No. They are real diamonds with identical chemical composition and crystal structure as natural stones.
Can you tell the difference between a lab and natural diamond with the naked eye?
No. They are visually identical. Professional equipment is required to determine origin.
Do lab diamonds pass diamond testers?
Yes. They pass thermal conductivity diamond testers because they possess identical thermal properties to natural diamonds.
Are lab grown diamonds graded the same way?
Yes. Lab diamonds receive identical 4Cs grading from GIA and IGI.