5 min read
Natural vs Lab-Grown Diamonds
The difference in origin, rarity and pricing — and how to choose between them.
Same material, different origin
Natural and lab-grown diamonds are both crystalline carbon and share the same hardness, refractive index and optical behaviour. A trained eye cannot separate them without instruments; grading laboratories identify origin using growth patterns and trace elements.
The distinction is therefore not one of appearance but of origin. Natural diamonds formed over geological time and reached the surface through volcanic activity. Lab-grown diamonds are produced in weeks using high pressure high temperature or chemical vapour deposition.
Rarity and pricing behaviour
Natural diamond supply is finite and constrained by mining. Lab-grown production capacity continues to expand, and wholesale prices for lab-grown goods have fallen substantially as capacity has grown.
For clients purchasing a stone intended to be held, inherited or re-set, the supply dynamics of a natural diamond are a meaningful part of the decision.
How we advise
VVS Diamonds sources both natural and lab-grown diamonds. We source to your shape, carat, colour, clarity and budget, always state the origin clearly, and show you the grading report before you commit.
If you are weighing origin against carat weight within a fixed budget, speak to a specialist — that trade-off is best made with real stones in front of you.
Questions about your own purchase? Speak with a specialist directly.
Speak to a Specialist