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Yes, lab grown diamonds are real diamonds. They are made of the same crystalline carbon as mined diamonds, have the same hardness of 10 on the Mohs scale, the same refractive index and the same thermal conductivity, and they are graded on the same 4C scale by the same laboratories. The only difference is origin: one formed underground over billions of years, the other was grown from a seed in a chamber over a few weeks.
What makes a diamond a diamond
A diamond is carbon atoms arranged in a specific cubic crystal structure. That structure, not the place it formed, gives diamond its hardness and its way of bending light. A lab grown diamond has exactly that structure, which is why in 2018 the US Federal Trade Commission removed "natural" from its definition of a diamond: origin is no longer part of what the word means.
What lab grown diamonds are not
The confusion usually comes from diamond simulants, which are different materials made to look like diamond:
| Stone | Material | Hardness | Is it diamond? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lab grown diamond | Carbon | 10 | Yes |
| Mined diamond | Carbon | 10 | Yes |
| Moissanite | Silicon carbide | 9.25 | No |
| Cubic zirconia (CZ) | Zirconium dioxide | 8 to 8.5 | No |
| White sapphire | Aluminium oxide | 9 | No |
| American diamond | Usually cubic zirconia | 8 to 8.5 | No |
"American diamond" is a common term in India for cubic zirconia. It is not diamond of any kind. A lab grown diamond is not in this list; it is diamond.
How to check that a lab grown diamond is real
- Certificate. A diamond graded by IGI, SGL or GIA has been tested by the laboratory to confirm it is diamond, then graded. The certificate states the growth method (HPHT or CVD) for lab grown stones.
- Laser inscription. The certificate number is inscribed on the girdle of the stone, readable under 10x magnification. Match it to the certificate.
- Thermal tester. A standard jeweller's diamond tester reads a lab grown diamond as diamond, because its thermal conductivity is the same. It reads CZ as not diamond. It cannot separate lab grown from mined, and it can misread moissanite, so it is a screening tool, not proof.
Every diamond at Ivana Jewels carries an IGI or SGL certificate and the matching inscription.
Do lab grown diamonds last?
Yes. Diamond is the hardest natural material known, and a lab grown diamond is diamond. It does not fade, cloud, yellow or lose its polish with wear. Ivana Jewels backs this with a lifetime warranty on manufacturing defects and a lifetime buyback at 80% of the prevailing diamond value.
Why some people still say they are not real
Mostly because the natural diamond industry has an interest in the distinction, and because early lab grown marketing overpromised. The technical position is settled: gemmological laboratories, the FTC and the industry's own grading standards all treat lab grown diamonds as diamonds. What buyers should decide is whether they value geological rarity enough to pay for it, which is a preference, not a question of authenticity.
Frequently asked questions
Will a lab grown diamond pass a diamond tester?
Yes. It has the same thermal conductivity as a mined diamond, so a standard tester reads it as diamond.
Is a CVD diamond a real diamond?
Yes. CVD is one of the two methods for growing diamonds; the result is diamond.
Do lab grown diamonds have resale value?
Yes, on the terms of 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.
Can a lab grown diamond be told apart from a mined one?
Only with laboratory equipment that reads growth patterns or trace elements. Not by eye, and not with a handheld tester.
Read next: lab grown vs natural diamonds · how lab grown diamonds are made
