Learn · Stones
Natural vs lab-grown diamonds
Both are real diamonds; the choice is about budget, size and what resale means to you.
What it is
Natural diamond
Mined diamond, graded and certified.
Lab-grown diamond
A real diamond, chemically and optically identical to mined, grown in a lab and graded the same way.
Why people love it
Natural diamond
- Hardness 10: the most durable stone there is.
- An established resale market.
Lab-grown diamond
- Hardness 10, the same durability.
- Typically costs a fraction per carat, so the same budget buys a larger or cleaner stone.
Trade-offs
Natural diamond
- Costs considerably more per carat than lab-grown.
Lab-grown diamond
- Resale value is limited and still settling.
- Not a mined, one-of-a-kind origin, if that matters to you.