What sets them apart
Lab-grown and mined diamonds are both real diamonds. They share the same chemical makeup, the same crystal structure, and the same physical properties. The only difference is where they come from: one is grown in a lab, the other is extracted from the earth.
Physical and chemical properties
Put a lab-grown diamond and a mined diamond side by side. Chemically and physically, they are the same material.
Hardness
Both score 10 on the Mohs hardness scale, the highest possible rating.
Chemical composition
Pure carbon atoms in a cubic crystal lattice. Identical structure in both.
Optical properties
The same brilliance, fire, and scintillation. Visually indistinguishable.
Durability
Equal resistance to scratching and everyday wear.
Why people choose lab-grown
Origin you can trace
Lab-grown diamonds are created in controlled environments with supplier and certification documentation. No direct mining operations are involved.
No diamond mining required
Lab-grown diamonds are produced without extracting diamonds from the earth, avoiding the direct land disturbance associated with diamond mining.
Pricing
Lab-grown diamonds cost significantly less than mined diamonds of comparable quality, meaning your budget goes further on the stone itself.
Quality and grading
Grown in controlled conditions, lab-grown diamonds are available in high clarity and colour grades. They are graded by the same independent labs as mined diamonds.
Common misconceptions
"Lab-grown diamonds are fake."
They are not simulants like cubic zirconia or moissanite. A lab-grown diamond has the same carbon crystal structure, hardness, and optical properties as a mined diamond. It is a real diamond.
"Lab-grown diamonds have no resale value."
The resale market for lab-grown diamonds has softened as prices have come down. That's worth knowing. But the comparison that matters is the absolute loss, not the percentage. A mined diamond bought for £7,500 might resell for around £3,675, a loss of nearly £4,000. A comparable lab-grown diamond bought for around £320, even at zero resale, is a loss of £320. The buyer who chose lab-grown is still significantly better off. Read our full breakdown.
"Lab-grown diamonds are lower quality."
Lab-grown diamonds are graded by the same independent gemological institutes, using the same 4C criteria, as mined diamonds. Controlled growing conditions generally produce diamonds of higher quality.
"The technology is too new."
The first lab-grown diamonds were produced in the 1950s. The technology has been refined over decades, and gem-quality lab-grown diamonds have been commercially available and independently certified for years.
"You can tell the difference by looking."
Not by looking at them. Lab-grown and mined diamonds have essentially the same chemical, physical and optical properties. Even trained gemmologists cannot reliably tell them apart by sight alone. Specialist equipment can identify differences in how the diamonds were formed.
Environmental impact
Lab-grown diamonds are produced without extracting diamonds from the earth, avoiding the direct land disturbance associated with diamond mining. However, growing diamonds requires significant energy and other resources.
The environmental impact depends on how and where each diamond is produced, particularly the source of electricity.
We're working with our suppliers to understand these impacts better, and we'll share figures once they're reliable.