Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Real? The Truth Behind the Technology

It's the question almost every engagement ring shopper asks: are lab-grown diamonds actually real? The answer — backed by science, gemology, and every major certification body in the world — is an unequivocal yes.

A lab-grown diamond is a real diamond. Not a fake. Not a copy. Not a simulation. It is a diamond, grown through an advanced technological process that replicates the conditions deep within the Earth's mantle.

What Does "Real" Actually Mean?

When we say a diamond is "real," we typically mean it's made of carbon atoms arranged in the specific crystal lattice structure that gives diamonds their hardness, brilliance, and durability. Lab-grown diamonds have that exact structure. They score 10 on the Mohs hardness scale — the maximum. They refract light the same way. They feel the same. They weigh the same.

In 2018, the Federal Trade Commission in the United States updated its guidelines to confirm that lab-grown diamonds are diamonds — removing the requirement for the word "natural" from the definition. That's not marketing speak. That's regulatory recognition of scientific fact.

How Is a Lab-Grown Diamond Made?

There are two main methods: Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) and High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT). Both start with a tiny diamond seed crystal and grow it into a full gem over several weeks.

CVD works by placing a diamond seed in a sealed chamber filled with carbon-rich gas. The gas is energised — essentially crackling it apart — and the carbon atoms bond to the seed layer by layer, growing a diamond crystal. HPHT mimics the intense pressure and heat found underground, pressing carbon into diamond form around a seed crystal.

Both methods produce genuine diamonds, certified by institutions like IGI.

Can You Tell the Difference?

Not with the naked eye — and not without specialist equipment. Even experienced jewellers and gemologists cannot distinguish a lab-grown diamond from a mined one through visual inspection alone. The only way to tell is by testing trace elements using machines not found in standard jewellery stores.

Why the Scepticism?

Much of the doubt around lab-grown diamonds comes from the natural diamond industry — which has a significant financial interest in maintaining the perception that mined diamonds are superior. The science doesn't support that position. Lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds in every meaningful sense.

Browse our full collection of lab-grown diamond solitaire rings, each made to order in solid 18K gold or platinum.

Further reading

• The science behind lab-grown diamonds: how CVD and HPHT work
• Debunking common myths about lab-grown diamonds
• Are lab-grown diamonds ethical? A sustainability guide

See Lab-Grown Diamonds at Una Diamond

Every Una Diamond ring is set with an IGI-certified lab-grown diamond — chemically, physically, and optically identical to mined. Browse the collection:

• The Georgina — oval-cut solitaire
• The Celina — emerald cut
• Solitaire rings — the most timeless style
• Oval cut rings — the elongating shape
• Marquise rings — rare, bold, distinctive
• Browse all ready-to-ship rings →