20+ Difference Between Lab Diamond And Real Diamond

Diamond comes from the Greek word adamas, which means “unconquerable.” Diamonds were first discovered in the 4th century BC.

It is believed that the first diamonds made their way from India to China through the Silk Road, where they were used in a variety of industries and even worn as jewelry.

In several societies, diamonds were also fashioned into amulets to protect their owners from harm. Although diamonds have lost some of their mystical meaning in contemporary understandings, they still shine brightly.

In This Article

Comparison Between Lab Diamond and Real Diamond

Parameter	Lab Diamond	Real Diamond
Definition	Synthetic diamonds are identical to mined ones except for their origin. Synthetic diamonds are “made” in a lab using cutting-edge technology to mimic nature’s processes. The outcome is a synthetic diamond that looks natural (chemically, physically, and visually).	A diamond’s billions of carbon atoms make it a natural wonder. Diamonds have a cubic lattice structure. Due to strong covalent connections between carbon atoms and surrounding atoms, diamonds are the hardest natural material. Diamonds are heat-conductive, transparent, and chemically resistant.
Resale value	It is only feasible to acquire and sell synthetic diamonds at a price that is a tiny fraction of what the original cost was. Synthetic diamonds are more expensive than natural diamonds. As soon as you make the purchase, its value immediately and drastically drops for no apparent reason at all.	The value of a natural diamond will often stay relatively constant at a level that is around fifty percent of the whole sum that was first invested in it.
Cost	Market prices for lab-grown diamonds remain very volatile. Laboratory-grown diamonds cost 23–25 percent higher than their natural counterparts only four or five years ago. For the first time, lab-grown diamonds may be acquired for a far less cost than their natural counterparts. Discounts of up to 70% are possible if you purchase here.	The difference might be due to a shortage of availability. There can only be so many natural diamonds since nature takes billions of years to generate one. There is no limit on the production of synthetic diamonds, thus the supply keeps growing and driving down the market price.
Sustainability	Diamonds that are made by people, as opposed to diamonds that are mined, offer a stronger potential for long-term sustainability than diamonds that are mined. Diamonds that are created by people include both natural and artificial diamonds. The reason for this is that synthetic diamonds have a higher amount of complexity than natural diamonds do.	Mining natural diamonds has a significant and deleterious effect on the ecosystems of the areas in which it is carried out. This has a negative knock-on effect on the economy.
Composition	The absence of nitrogen, which is essential to the typical development of the diamond growing process, is maintained throughout the entire process of cultivating diamonds in a laboratory setting under stringent environmental control. This is done so in order to ensure that the diamonds are grown in the optimal conditions.	When scientists examine diamonds that have been discovered in their natural environments, they frequently discover that these diamonds contain trace amounts of nitrogen. This is because nitrogen is a component of the atmosphere.

Major Differences Between Lab Diamond and Real Diamond

What Exactly Is a Lab Diamond?

In the 1950s, scientists were able to create synthetic diamonds of sufficient quality for industrial usage. Though the first laboratory-grown diamonds were created in 1971, it wasn’t until the middle of the 2010s that commercial quantities of colorless lab-grown diamonds hit the gem and jewelry market.

According to Dr. James Shigley, a GIA Distinguished Research Fellow who has researched the topic for over 30 years, laboratory-grown diamonds may be made in two different methods.

Lab Diamond Key Differences

It’s common for lab-grown diamonds to cost far less than their mined counterparts. While this may be true, it in no way indicates that a synthetic diamond is cheap.
When comparing the expenses of cutting, polishing, and inspecting mined diamonds vs. lab-created diamonds, there is no difference.
It takes miners, wholesalers, cutters, polishers, jewelers, and merchants to transform a rough diamond into a finished gemstone ready for sale.
For the most part, the lower final cost of a lab-grown diamond may be attributed to the fact that it has fewer hands on it throughout the process.
Ethical When questionable mining and processing methods for mined diamonds were uncovered a few years ago, the sector came under intense scrutiny.
Sometimes called “blood diamonds” or “conflict diamonds,” these stones were used to profit from violence and the exploitation of miners and their families.
In fact, experts believe that as much as 99.9 percent of the diamonds mined today do not come from areas where civil war has broken out.
Knowing that your diamond was grown in a laboratory might provide you with a sense of security that you may not get from buying a natural diamond.

What Exactly Is a Real Diamond?

Approximately three billion years ago, natural diamonds originated under intense pressure and tremendous temperature deep below the Earth.

They had been waiting to be mined in kimberlite pipes, a special kind of volcanic rock structure until they were pushed to the surface by volcanic activity. It is estimated that only around 5% of kimberlite pipes really have a diamond content high enough to make mining them worthwhile.

Real Diamond Key Differences

Natural diamonds are highly prized by buyers due to their incomparable aesthetic value and the deeply personal meanings they represent.
Diamonds take between one and 3.3 billion years to develop, although other stones like rubies and sapphires are likewise incredibly durable and don’t scratch or shatter easily.
Because of their extraordinary antiquity, rarity, and hardness, as well as their outstanding clarity, these stones command exorbitant prices.
True, both are on the high end of the price spectrum, but most people can buy a natural diamond before they can afford a high-end automobile.
Having a nice car and a dazzling diamond are two of the many ways we try to improve our outward appearance and enhance our emotional well-being.
Vehicles lose value every year as they age. There is always a newer and better model on the market, yet they only stay brand new for a year.
The money we put into operating and maintaining them is wasted since they eventually break down. Untreated diamonds are timeless.
They’re trendier than ever before across the world. Plus, throughout the world, they stand for undying love and unwavering loyalty.

Contrast Between Lab Diamond and Real Diamond

Meaning

Lab Diamond – A mined diamond and a lab-grown diamond are indistinguishable in every manner, the only difference being the origin of the diamond.

An artificial diamond is a diamond that has been “made” in a laboratory by using state-of-the-art technology that imitates the processes that occur naturally in the formation of diamonds.

The finished result is a synthetic diamond that is similar to diamonds that naturally occur in every manner (chemically, physically, and visually).

Real Diamond – A diamond is an astounding example of nature’s ingenuity since it is composed of billions and billions of atoms of carbon. The cubic crystal lattice structure that diamonds have set them apart from other types of minerals.

Because each carbon atom is securely bonded to four other atoms in a diamond, it is the natural substance with the highest hardness. Diamonds, in addition to being very resistant to the effects of chemicals and clear, also have extremely excellent thermal conductivity.

Price

Lab Diamond – The value of lab-grown diamonds on the market continues to be very unstable. Just four to five years ago, the price of lab-grown diamonds was between 23 and 25 percent more than the price of their natural counterparts.

The price of lab-grown diamonds is now lower than it has ever been, and they can be purchased for a far lower sum than their natural counterparts. You may get savings of up to 70 percent if you shop here.

Real Diamond – The discrepancy may be attributed to the lack of availability. The fact that it takes nature billions of years to create a diamond implies that there is a finite amount of natural diamonds available.

However, since there is no upper limit to the manufacture of synthetic diamonds, the supply continues to expand, which results in a continuing decline in market price.

Preference

Lab Diamond – There is no reason to completely rule out the possibility of discovering man-made diamonds.

If a couple is having trouble making ends meet but still wants something beautiful for their engagement ring but is unable to buy a real diamond, lab-created diamonds may be a wonderful choice for them to consider.

You have to be aware of the possibility that the very same diamond may, at some time in the future, be offered for sale at a price that is far lower.

Real Diamond – It is not a good idea to buy diamonds with the goal of converting them into an investment; nonetheless, it is a good idea to obtain a piece of jewelry that will hold its value quite well over time. In this case, it’s advisable to splurge on real diamonds rather than cheap imitations.

Making

Lab Diamond – Diamonds made in a laboratory are exactly what they sound like. Cook elaborated on the prevalence of chemical vapor deposition, describing it as the most common technique. A diamond’s crystalline structure is already present in a very thin slice that serves as a starting point.

The ‘seed’ of a diamond is a tiny fragment of pure carbon taken from an already-existing diamond or a chunk of a natural diamond.

A vacuum is created around the seed, and carbon molecules begin to integrate into the diamond. In many ways, it’s like “printing” a diamond layer by layer.

Real Diamond – The mantle layer of Earth is where most of the world’s natural diamonds are created. Carbon underwent atomic rearrangement and crystallized into diamond form after being subjected to extreme heat and pressure for billions of years.

Deep-source volcanic eruptions pushed diamonds up via kimberlite pipes to the surface in regions with the right climate and pressure.

Clarity

Lab Diamond – Given that lab-grown diamonds are grown rather than constructed, they will also acquire the “flaws” that reduce their brilliance and quality of cut. To a lesser extent (and depending on the nature of the inclusions), a stone’s clarity will suffer when more of them are present.

Clarity ratings for lab-grown diamonds run the gamut from Flawless (F1) to Included 3, much like those for natural diamonds (I3).

Real Diamond – It’s worth noting that many of the same grading institutions that grade genuine diamonds also grade lab-created diamonds, such as the Gemological Institute of America and the International Gemological Institute.

The significance of this is that if these standard-setting agencies use the same scales to judge lab-grown and natural diamonds, then any cut, clarity, color, and carat discrepancies are rendered moot.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are diamonds grown in labs a dependable source of diamonds?

As is the case with mined diamonds, the quality of diamonds created in laboratories may be assessed by reputable laboratories. Both may be judged based on their cut, color, clarity, and carat weight. These are the four criteria that are employed.

The majority of diamonds that are extracted from mines have certificates from both the GIA and the AGS. They are highly trustworthy labs, but the costs associated with using them could be beyond reach for certain people.

Is there a disadvantage to using lab-grown diamonds as opposed to naturally occurring diamonds?

Because there are no production constraints on the market, the value of lab-grown diamonds is anticipated to continue to decrease. This is a direct outcome of the lack of any such restrictions.

Because of this, their resale value will be impacted, and in the coming years, it will be more difficult and expensive to perform any necessary updates.

Do the standards of the diamond tester apply to lab-grown stones?

Indeed, the carbon composition of lab-grown diamonds is the same as that of naturally occurring diamonds. As a direct consequence of this, their capacities to conduct heat are equivalent to one another.

When the diamonds are put through the diamond tester, the results of the test come back positive because the diamonds exhibit the same chemical and physical characteristics as real diamonds.

Are there any medicinal or therapeutic benefits associated with diamonds?

The ancient Hindus were certain in their view that the vibrations of a diamond supplied a very beneficial aura to different organs of the body, in particular, the brain and the heart.

This idea dates back to the period when the diamond was first discovered. Diamonds have many additional healing characteristics, including the capacity to protect their owners from experiencing nightmares, battle sadness, and prevent apoplexy from happening.

What specific advantages might people obtain from working with diamonds?

Diamonds have traditionally been used for a wide variety of applications, but some of the most important ones include cutting, drilling, and polishing.

On the Mohs Hardness Scale, diamonds have a score of 10, which indicates that they are among the hardest natural materials.

Diamonds are purchased by a wide variety of end users; however, the mining industry and the armed forces are two of the most significant consumers of diamonds.