Natural vs lab-grown diamonds: what actually differs
Same crystal, different origin — and a price gap worth understanding before you choose.
Studio bench notes · 2026-06-02 · reviewed: Gemmologist review (FGA)
A lab-grown diamond is crystallised carbon with the same hardness, brilliance and grading system as a mined diamond. Under a loupe, even a trained grader cannot separate them without instruments that read growth patterns.
What you pay for
The difference is rarity and resale structure, not beauty. Lab-grown stones usually cost substantially less than mined stones at equal grade, which often means clients choose a larger or higher-quality stone for the same budget. Mined stones retain a second-hand market that lab-grown stones largely do not.
How we handle disclosure
Every lab-grown stone we set is described as lab-grown on the quote and the invoice, never implied to be natural. Where a stone listed in your written quotation is accompanied by a grading report (IGI or GIA), the report is provided with the piece; reports are not otherwise promised. Treatment disclosures apply to coloured stones in the same way — heat, oil, irradiation are stated when present.
Commission
Begin with a sentence, a sketch, or a photograph.
Tell us what the piece should mean. We write back with questions, suggestions and a written proposal — no obligation.
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