What a lab-grown diamond is
A lab-grown diamond is carbon crystallised into the same cubic structure as a mined diamond, using either high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) or chemical vapour deposition (CVD) growth. It has the same hardness, refractive index and chemical composition.
It is not a simulant. Cubic zirconia and moissanite are different materials that only look similar.
How to tell them apart
Not by eye. Gemmological laboratories use spectroscopy and growth-pattern analysis to identify origin, and can laser-inscribe the report number on the girdle.
Price and value
Per carat, a lab-grown diamond typically costs a fraction of a comparable natural stone. Natural diamonds have historically held resale value better; resale markets for lab-grown stones are still developing.
On every Solenne product page you can switch between the two and see the price change before you decide.
Certification
Our lab-grown diamonds are graded by IGI and our natural diamonds by GIA. The report number is recorded against your order.
| Lab-grown | Natural | |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Diamond (carbon) | Diamond (carbon) |
| Origin | Grown in weeks | Formed over billions of years |
| Grading report | IGI | GIA |
