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A lab grown diamond and a natural diamond are the same material: pure carbon in a cubic crystal lattice, with the same hardness, sparkle and durability. The differences are where the stone came from, what it costs, how its value behaves over time, and how a laboratory tells the two apart. This guide covers each, so you can decide on facts rather than marketing from either side.
Lab grown vs natural diamonds at a glance
| Feature | Lab grown diamond | Natural (mined) diamond |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Crystalline carbon | Crystalline carbon |
| Hardness (Mohs) | 10 | 10 |
| Sparkle, fire, brilliance | Identical at the same cut grade | Identical at the same cut grade |
| Origin | Grown from a seed in a chamber over 3 to 8 weeks | Formed in the earth's mantle 1 to 3 billion years ago |
| Grading | Same 4Cs, by IGI, SGL, GIA and others | Same 4Cs, by the same laboratories |
| Price at same carat and grades | A fraction of the natural price, and falling as supply grows | Several times higher, set by rarity and mining cost |
| Typical clarity and colour | Often higher, because growth conditions are controlled | Varies widely; inclusions are common |
| Inclusions | Metallic (HPHT) or layered (CVD), visible only under magnification | Minerals, crystals and feathers |
| How they are told apart | Not by eye and not by a standard diamond tester. Laboratories use spectroscopy to read growth patterns and trace nitrogen, and inscribe the result on the girdle. | |
| Resale | Lower resale percentage; depends on the seller's buyback policy | Higher resale in absolute terms, but typically well below retail price |
| Ethical and environmental profile | No mining; energy use depends on the producer's power source | Mining impact varies by source; Kimberley Process addresses conflict diamonds |
Are they really the same?
Physically, yes. The US Federal Trade Commission removed the word "natural" from its definition of a diamond in 2018 because lab grown stones meet it. A lab grown diamond scratches glass, passes a thermal tester and reflects light exactly as a mined diamond does. What a lab grown diamond does not have is geological age and scarcity, and those are what the price of a natural diamond pays for.
Why the price difference is so large
A natural diamond carries the cost of exploration, mining, sorting and several rounds of trading before it reaches a jeweller. A lab grown diamond is grown to order in weeks. Production has scaled quickly since 2020, especially in Surat, so the gap has widened every year. In a finished piece of jewellery the gold is now often a larger share of the price than the diamond, which is why Ivana Jewels prices move with the daily gold rate.
What about resale value?
Neither type of diamond resells at retail price. Natural diamonds typically resell at a significant discount to what was paid; lab grown diamonds resell at a smaller absolute amount because they cost less to begin with. What matters is the seller's buyback policy. Ivana Jewels offers lifetime buyback at 80% of the prevailing diamond value and 100% of the prevailing gold value, and lifetime exchange at 100% of current market rate for both, which is spelled out in our buyback guide.
Which should you buy?
Choose natural if geological rarity matters to you and you are comfortable paying for it. Choose lab grown if you want the largest, cleanest stone your budget allows, with the same certification and the same look. Most buyers in India now choose lab grown for engagement rings and everyday jewellery for that reason, and use the saving to move up in carat weight or grades.
Frequently asked questions
Can a jeweller tell the difference between lab grown and natural?
Not by eye or with a handheld tester. Identification requires laboratory spectroscopy. This is why a certificate from IGI, SGL or GIA, and the laser inscription that matches it, is the only reliable proof of what you bought.
Do lab grown diamonds look different?
No. At the same cut, colour and clarity grades the two are visually identical. Lab grown diamonds are often available in higher clarity grades because growth is controlled.
Is a lab grown diamond the same as moissanite or cubic zirconia?
No. Moissanite and cubic zirconia are different materials, softer than diamond and with different optical behaviour. A lab grown diamond is diamond.
Are natural diamonds a better investment?
Neither is an investment in the financial sense; both resell below retail. Natural diamonds hold more absolute value; lab grown diamonds lose less because less was paid. Buy either for wearing, not for returns.
Are lab grown diamonds certified?
Yes, by the same laboratories. Every Ivana Jewels diamond comes with an IGI or SGL certificate.
Read next: how lab grown diamonds are made · are lab grown diamonds real? · how to read a diamond certificate
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