Can you tell the difference between a Lab and a Natural Diamond?

Name: Gabriel Edward Jewelers
Price range: $$

Post author By gabrieledwardjewelers
Post date December 18, 2023

Can you tell the difference between a Lab versus a Natural Diamond?

Can you tell the difference between a Lab and Natural Diamond of the same quality? Absolutely not. Some consumers are (understandably) worried that if they buy a Lab-Grown Diamond for their Engagement Ring it won’t sparkle as much as a Natural Diamond. They also worry that their Lab-Grown Diamond Ring will look terrible when compared to their friends and family’s Natural Diamond Rings. Nothing could be further from the truth! Let’s dig into why.

Are Lab Diamonds and Natural Diamonds the same?

Lab-Grown Diamonds are physically, chemically and optically the same as Natural Diamonds. Same carbon tetrahedral structure. Identical chemical makeup (pure Carbon). Same light performance. The biggest difference between Lab and Natural Diamonds is price, and that you can’t tell just by looking at them. Lab Diamonds, depending on where you shop, will be 10-50% the price of an equivalent quality Natural Diamond. Here’s an example:

GIA Graded 1.01 carat "Excellent" Cut Lab-Grown Diamond

6471985028 Download

GIA Graded 1.05 carat "Excellent" Cut Natural Diamond

7458052710 Download

Can you tell the difference between a Lab-Grown and Natural Diamond’s Color?

If you’re worried that you can tell the difference between a Lab and Natural Diamond’s Color Grade, don’t be. The origin of the Diamond doesn’t matter, the grading report (from a reputable grading laboratory) does. Lab and Natural Diamonds are both graded on the same Color scales. From the GIA or IGI, both a Lab-Grown or Natural Diamond graded “F” Color will look crisp white. Doesn’t matter if it came from the earth or a lab.

Can you tell the difference between a Lab-Grown and Natural Diamond’s Cut Grade?

If you’re worried about the difference between a Lab and Natural Diamond’s Cut Grade, don’t be either. The IGI, the grading lab to which most Lab-Grown Diamonds are sent for certification, includes a full Proportions chart with Pavilion Depth and Crown Height. The IGI also pioneered a system for grading Cut on fancy-shape (non-Round) Diamonds. So again, when it comes to light return, you’re in good hands with a Lab-Grown Diamond.

This is a footnote, but the same is true with Clarity Grade. There’s no difference in how inclusions are graded between Lab-Grown and Natural Diamonds either.

So, can you tell the difference between a Lab and a Natural Diamond?

Actually, yes, but not because Lab Diamonds are poorer quality. Because of the opposite. Check out this video, I put 3 perfectly-cut Oval Diamonds in front of the team. 2 were GIA Natural Diamonds and 1 was a GIA Lab-Grown Diamond. Almost the whole team (minus Laura ????) was able to pick out the Lab Diamond, because it was the best Diamond of the group. Our team is used to Lab Diamonds being only Colorless, perfectly-cut, and high Clarity. So maybe you can tell the difference- the average Lab-Grown Diamond will look better!

Javi Perez,
President

I’m here to help you create the PERFECT Engagement Ring for thousands off retail price. Keep saving for a lifetime with your soulmate while creating a Ring she’ll adore forever.