The Lab Grown
Diamond Guide

Lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds in every measurable way. Same carbon structure. Same brilliance. Same hardness. This guide explains exactly what they are, how they compare to mined diamonds, and how to choose the right stone for your engagement ring or fine jewelry piece.

What is a lab grown diamond?

When purchasing gemstone jewelry like engagement rings, necklaces, and earrings, many people wonder if lab grown gemstones and diamonds are real. Lab grown gemstones and lab grown diamonds, also known as synthetic or cultured stones, are identical to natural stones in every way. Chemically, physically, and optically, they offer the same brilliance, hardness, and fire, while providing an ethical and affordable alternative by reducing the environmental and social impact of traditional mining.

Lab grown gemstones and diamonds are created by replicating the natural formation process in a controlled environment using advanced technology. These techniques simulate the conditions deep within the Earth where natural stones form over millions to billions of years, allowing lab created diamonds and gemstones to be produced in just weeks to months without compromising their beauty or quality.

Banner for Lab-Grown Diamond Guide showing sparkling diamonds and elegant typography

Types of Lab Grown Diamonds

There are two methods used to create lab-grown diamonds: HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature) and CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition). Both produce genuine diamonds. Both are used commercially. The method affects how the diamond grows but does not inherently determine quality - grading still comes down to the 4Cs.

HPHT :
The HPHT method uses extreme heat and immense pressure just like the conditions found miles beneath the Earth’s crust. A small diamond “seed” is placed in a carbon source, then subjected to intense temperatures and pressures until the carbon crystallizes into a rough diamond. This process has been used the longest and is especially effective for creating larger diamonds with exceptional clarity.
CVD :
In the CVD method, a tiny diamond seed is placed inside a sealed chamber filled with carbon-rich gas. When the gas is energized, carbon atoms separate and settle onto the seed, building the diamond layer by layer in a precise, controlled way. This technique produces high-quality diamonds with excellent purity and allows for more customization in shape and size.

Why Choose Lab Grown?

Lab grown diamonds are considered more ethical because they do not rely on harmful mining practices that can damage the environment and disrupt ecosystems. Lab created diamonds are also conflict-free, meaning their production avoids the involvement of warlords, drug cartels, and other unethical sources often associated with high-conflict mining regions. By being created in controlled environments, they also support fair labor practices and provide safe, regulated working conditions.

Another benefit of lab grown diamonds is their consistent quality and clarity, as they are produced under controlled conditions using advanced technology. Lab created diamonds can be easily traced back to their origin and production process, offering complete transparency and building trust with consumers who value sustainability, ethical sourcing, and reliable diamond quality.

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Lab Grown Diamond vs. Natural Diamond

Here’s how a lab grown diamond and a natural diamond compare:

	Lab Grown Diamond	Natural Diamond
Durability	10 on the Mohs scale	10 on the Mohs scale
Brilliance	Refractive index ranges from 2.417 to 2.419	Refractive index ranges from 2.417 to 2.419
Color	Primarily colorless, but can occur in many color options that are often more vivid	Primarily colorless, but can occur in many color options including pink, blue, and yellow
Grading	Graded on cut, color, clarity, and carat	Graded on cut, color, clarity, and carat
Certification	Certified by reputable gemological institutions	Certified by reputable gemological institutions
Origin	Grown in controlled laboratories over several days to weeks, then cut and polished	Formed deep in Earth over billions of years, mined, cut, and polished
Rarity	Can be produced in increasing quantities as technology advances	Limited quantities based on geological conditions
Price	Lower cost due to availability	Higher cost due to mining and rarity

Beautiful, responsibly.

Lab grown diamonds remove the questions that come with mining - land disruption, labor concerns, conflict sourcing and replace them with traceable origin from day one. At Fortevia, every lab grown diamond is grown in facilities that prioritize renewable energy and full chain-of-custody transparency.

Lower footprint
Less land disturbance and water use than traditional mining.

Conflict-free
Origin is fully traceable from reactor to ring.

Renewable energy
We partner with growers committed to clean power.

Lab-Grown Diamond Questions Answered

The questions we hear most often from Fortevia customers, answered directly.

Yes — completely real. Lab-grown diamonds share the same chemical composition, crystal structure, and optical properties as mined diamonds. They are not simulants. The only difference is origin: lab instead of earth

Yes. Standard diamond testers cannot tell a lab-grown diamond from a mined one — both register identically. Only specialized gemological lab instruments can detect the difference.

Lab-grown diamonds are 70–90% less expensive than mined diamonds of the same cut, color, clarity, and carat weight — with no visual difference between the two.

Both are genuine lab-grown diamonds. HPHT uses high heat and pressure; CVD deposits carbon layer by layer from gas. CVD dominates modern jewelry production and typically achieves higher clarity grades.

Lab-grown diamond resale value is limited — prices have declined as production scales. Like most mined diamonds, they are best purchased for beauty and sentiment, not as a financial investment.

No — not with the naked eye and not by a trained gemologist. A lab-grown and mined diamond of the same grade are visually identical. Only specialized lab instruments can confirm origin.

Yes. No mining means no conflict sourcing, no land disruption, and no unethical labor. Lab-grown diamonds are the most transparent and traceable ethical diamond option available today.

VS1 to SI1 is the best value range — eye-clean in person with no visible inclusions. VVS and Flawless grades cost significantly more with no real-world visual difference worth paying for.

Yes. Every lab-grown diamond at Fortevia Jewels is IGI-certified with full 4Cs grading — cut, color, clarity, and carat. Certificate numbers are verifiable directly on the IGI website.