Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Real Diamonds? - Future Jewelry

Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Diamonds? What GIA and the FTC Say

Quick answer: Yes. Lab-grown diamonds are diamonds. GIA says they have essentially the same chemical, physical and optical properties as mined diamonds, and the FTC recognizes them as diamonds. The main differences are where they come from and what they cost.

Lab-grown diamonds are diamonds, not imitations. They look, feel, and sparkle like mined diamonds because they are made of the same material, and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission removed the word "natural" from its definition of a diamond in 2018, so under FTC guidance they are diamonds when clearly described as lab-grown. Let’s break it down in simple terms so you can understand why lab-grown diamonds count as diamonds.

What Are Lab-Grown Diamonds?

Lab-grown diamonds are created in a lab, not deep underground like mined diamonds. Scientists use advanced machines to mimic how diamonds form in nature. The result is a diamond made of pure carbon, just like a natural one. The two main methods are HPHT and CVD.

Are Lab-Grown and Mined Diamonds the Same?

Yes. According to GIA, a lab-grown diamond has essentially the same chemical, physical and optical properties as a natural diamond:

According to GIA, the differences can only be detected by trained gemologists using sophisticated equipment.

Why Choose Lab-Grown Diamonds?

Here’s why lab-grown diamonds are a smart choice:

  1. No Conflict Diamond Risk: Conflict diamonds are mined rough diamonds used to finance conflict, so a stone grown in a lab cannot be one.
  2. Affordable: CNBC reported in 2025 that lab-grown diamonds can sell for around one-tenth the price of a comparable natural diamond, and wholesale prices fell another 14% year over year in early 2026.
  3. No Mining Required: They are grown without digging up the earth.
  4. Color Options: Lab-grown diamonds also come in fancy colors like pink, yellow, and blue. Per GIA research, blue comes from boron and yellow from nitrogen added during growth, the same elements that color natural diamonds, while pink CVD stones are usually colored by irradiation and annealing.

Common Misunderstandings

Some people confuse lab-grown diamonds with stones like cubic zirconia or moissanite. Lab-grown diamonds are not simulants. As GIA explains, cubic zirconia and moissanite are diamond simulants, meaning look-alikes made of different materials.

Same Diamond, Smarter Choice

Lab-grown diamonds are diamonds, they are beautiful, and they are easier on your wallet. They give you the same sparkle as mined diamonds without the mining.

So, if someone asks whether a lab-grown diamond is a diamond, you can confidently say yes.

Ready to see for yourself? Browse our lab grown diamond engagement rings or explore our colored diamond jewelry. Every stone is certified and made for you.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is a lab grown diamond the same as moissanite?

No. Moissanite is a diamond simulant, a look-alike made of a different material (silicon carbide), while a lab-grown diamond is carbon, the same as a mined diamond. Cubic zirconia is also a simulant. Of the three, only a lab-grown diamond is actually a diamond.

What are lab grown diamonds made of?

Carbon. Both lab-grown and mined diamonds are about 99.95 percent carbon, arranged in the same crystal structure. That is why they share the same hardness, sparkle and optical properties. The real differences are where they formed and what they cost.

Does the FTC consider lab grown diamonds real diamonds?

Yes. The FTC removed the word "natural" from its definition of a diamond in 2018, so lab-grown stones are diamonds under its guidance. Sellers must clearly describe them with a qualifier such as "laboratory-grown" or "laboratory-created" so buyers know the origin.

Do lab grown diamonds come in colors?

Yes. Lab-grown diamonds come in fancy colors like pink, yellow and blue. Per GIA research, blue comes from boron and yellow from nitrogen added during growth, the same elements that color natural diamonds, while pink CVD stones are usually colored by irradiation and annealing.

Can a jeweler tell a lab grown diamond from a mined one?

Not by eye. According to GIA, the differences can only be detected by trained gemologists using sophisticated equipment. That is why the grading report matters: it states that the diamond is laboratory-grown, and GIA also laser inscribes "Laboratory-Grown" on the stones it grades.