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Everything you need to understand lab grown diamonds before you buy — how they're made, how they're graded, how to read a certificate, and how they compare to mined diamonds. Written by the Infinite Gems team in Hong Kong.

What is a lab grown diamond?

A lab grown diamond is a real diamond — identical in chemistry, crystal structure, and optical and physical properties to a mined diamond. It is pure crystallised carbon, grown in a laboratory that recreates the heat and pressure conditions under which diamonds form in the earth. It is not a simulant like cubic zirconia or moissanite; it is the same material as a natural diamond, certified by the same independent laboratories (such as IGI) using the same grading scales.

The only difference is origin: one took a few weeks to grow in a controlled chamber, the other took billions of years underground. Under a loupe, on a tester, and on a certificate, they grade by the same four standards — the 4Cs.

How are lab grown diamonds made?

There are two methods, and both produce genuine diamonds:

  • HPHT (High Pressure, High Temperature) recreates the earth's natural conditions — extreme pressure and temperatures above 1,400°C — to crystallise carbon around a small diamond seed.
  • CVD (Chemical Vapour Deposition) grows a diamond layer by layer from a carbon-rich gas inside a vacuum chamber, allowing precise control over purity.

Most high-clarity, colourless stones today are grown by CVD and then graded exactly like mined diamonds. At Infinite Gems, every centre stone is selected to our house standard of D–F colour and VVS–VS clarity.

Are lab grown diamonds real diamonds? What GIA and the FTC confirm

Yes — by every scientific and legal measure, a lab grown diamond is a diamond. It is chemically, physically, and optically identical to a mined diamond: pure crystallised carbon, the same hardness (10 on the Mohs scale), the same fire and brilliance, and it tests as diamond on a standard diamond tester. The only difference is origin.

This is not just our claim. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) confirms that laboratory-grown diamonds have “essentially the same chemical composition, crystal structure, optical, and physical properties” as natural diamonds. GIA has graded lab grown diamonds since 2007 and dropped the term “synthetic” from its reports in 2019. And in 2018, the US Federal Trade Commission revised its official definition of “diamond” to include laboratory-grown stones — formal recognition that a lab grown diamond is, simply, a diamond.

The two are so alike that only a specialist gemmological laboratory, using advanced instrumentation, can tell them apart — and what it identifies is the stone's growth history, never a difference in quality or beauty. That is exactly why every Infinite Gems centre stone of one carat and above is independently IGI certified (GIA available on request), graded against the same 4Cs used for natural diamonds, so you can verify precisely what you own.

Lab grown vs natural diamonds: an honest comparison

The stones are the same material, so the real differences are price, origin, and value retention. Here is the straight version:

  • Price. This is the headline — though how much you save depends on the piece. On a loose diamond, a lab grown stone costs roughly 70–90% less than a comparable natural one. On a finished bracelet or necklace, the saving is typically 40–70%, because the 18K gold and craftsmanship cost the same whatever the diamond's origin — so on metal-heavy pieces the gold and labour, not the diamond, set the price floor. Either way, you get a larger, higher-grade stone for your budget.
  • Quality. Because growers control the conditions, it is easier and more affordable to source stones in the top colour and clarity grades. Our pieces are set with D–F colour, VVS–VS clarity stones as standard.
  • Origin and ethics. Lab grown diamonds are grown in a traceable, conflict-free process with a far smaller land and water footprint than mining.
  • Resale. Like all diamonds, the resale market is a fraction of retail. Buy a diamond — lab grown or mined — to wear and treasure, not as a financial investment.

The sensible takeaway: if you want the largest, most beautiful stone your budget allows, in the highest grades, a lab grown diamond gives you dramatically more for your money with no visible compromise.

The 4Cs explained (with our recommendations)

Every diamond is graded on four characteristics. Here's what each means, and where we'd guide you to spend.

  • Cut. The most important C for sparkle. Cut grades how well a diamond's facets return light — a poorly cut stone looks dull even at high colour and clarity. Our advice: never compromise on cut. Aim for Excellent / Ideal.
  • Colour. Graded D (colourless) to Z (light yellow). The less colour, the rarer and brighter-white the stone. Our standard: D–F, the colourless range.
  • Clarity. Measures tiny natural inclusions, from Flawless down. Our standard: VVS–VS — inclusions invisible to the naked eye, at a far better price than Flawless.
  • Carat. The stone's weight, not its size. Because lab grown diamonds cost less per carat, this is where your savings let you go larger. Our advice: use the savings to size up, while holding cut, colour, and clarity to standard.

How to read an IGI certificate

An IGI (International Gemological Institute) certificate is your independent proof of exactly what you're buying. When you receive one, check:

  • Stone type — it will state “Laboratory Grown Diamond” and the growth method (CVD or HPHT).
  • Shape and measurements — e.g. Round Brilliant, with millimetre dimensions.
  • Carat weight — the certified weight.
  • The 4Cs — cut, colour, and clarity grades, plus polish and symmetry.
  • Report number — often laser-inscribed on the diamond's girdle, so the stone and its certificate are permanently matched.

At Infinite Gems, IGI certification is available, and is standard on centre stones of 1 carat and above. Smaller pavé and melee accent stones are held to the same D–F / VVS–VS quality but are not individually certified, as is normal across the industry.

Bespoke and made to order

Most Infinite Gems pieces are crafted to order in our Hong Kong workshop, in 18K white, yellow, or rose gold, or platinum. If you'd like a different carat weight, shape, or setting from what you see online, we can make it — simply reach out and we'll guide you through the options.

Frequently asked questions

Are lab grown diamonds the same as cubic zirconia or moissanite?

No. Cubic zirconia and moissanite are diamond simulants — different materials that imitate a diamond's look. A lab grown diamond is a real diamond: the same carbon crystal, hardness, and sparkle as a mined one.

Will a jeweller be able to tell it's lab grown?

Not by eye or with a standard diamond tester — they are identical. Specialist laboratory equipment can distinguish growth origin, which is why each stone is certified as laboratory grown on its report.

How much can I save with a lab grown diamond?

It depends on the piece. On a loose diamond, expect to save around 70–90% versus a comparable natural stone. On a finished bracelet or necklace — where the 18K gold and labour cost the same regardless of the diamond — the saving is typically 40–70%. The larger the diamond's share of the piece, the bigger the saving.

What colour and clarity should I choose?

For a bright, eye-clean stone, D–F colour and VVS–VS clarity is the sweet spot — the grades we use as standard. Prioritise an Excellent cut above all, as it drives the sparkle.

Do lab grown diamonds come with a certificate?

Yes — IGI certification is available and standard on centre stones of 1 carat and above. Smaller accent stones meet the same quality standard but aren't individually certified.

Can I order a custom size or setting?

Yes. Most pieces are made to order in 18K gold or platinum, and we can adjust carat, shape, and setting. Get in touch and we'll help you design it.