Natural Mined or Laboratory - Diamonds which one to choose?
Two real diamonds, one very personal choice. Here is how natural and laboratory-grown diamonds differ, and how to decide which is right for you.
Natural Mined or Laboratory - Diamonds which one to choose?
"Should I choose a natural or a lab-grown diamond?" It is one of the questions we are asked most often, particularly when a client is choosing an engagement ring.
There is no wrong answer. A natural diamond and a laboratory-grown diamond are both real diamonds, with the same sparkle, the same hardness and the same ability to last a lifetime. What separates them is their origin, how they are graded, and what matters most to the person who will wear them.
In this guide, we explain how each is formed, how each is graded, and the questions worth asking yourself before you decide.
How they are formed:
Natural diamonds
A natural diamond begins deep within the earth, more than 150 kilometers below the surface. There, carbon is subjected to immense heat and pressure, and over a very long time its atoms lock together into the crystal structure we know as diamond. Most natural diamonds formed between one and three billion years ago.
They reached the surface through deep volcanic eruptions, carried up in rock known as kimberlite. Today they are recovered from those deposits, or from riverbeds and coastlines where they were later washed. No two are quite alike: each carries tiny traces of its journey, which is part of what makes every natural stone unique.
Laboratory-grown diamonds
A laboratory-grown diamond is created above ground, using technology that recreates the conditions in which diamonds form. There are two main methods:
- HPHT (high pressure, high temperature). A small diamond seed is placed with carbon in a press that reproduces the extreme heat and pressure found deep in the earth.
- CVD (chemical vapour deposition). A diamond seed sits in a chamber filled with carbon-rich gas. The gas is heated until carbon atoms settle on the seed, building up the crystal layer by layer.
Rather than billions of years, a laboratory-grown diamond takes a matter of weeks to grow. It is then cut and polished by hand, in exactly the same way as a natural stone.
What they share
Both are made of pure carbon arranged in the same crystal structure. They share the same hardness, the same brilliance and the same fire. To the naked eye they are identical, and even a trained jeweller needs specialist equipment to tell one from the other. A laboratory-grown diamond is not a simulant like cubic zirconia or moissanite; it is a real diamond, with a different origin.
How they are graded
Many diamonds, particularly larger stones, come with an independent grading report from a recognised gemmological laboratory. A report tells you exactly what you are buying, and a matching number laser-inscribed on the edge of the stone ties the report to the diamond. Since late 2025, however, natural and laboratory-grown diamonds have been graded rather differently.
Natural diamonds: the 4Cs
Natural diamonds are graded on the familiar 4Cs:
- Colour, on a scale from D (colourless) to Z (light yellow or brown).
- Clarity, from Flawless to Included, describing the tiny natural features within the stone.
- Cut, describing how well the diamond has been shaped and polished to return light.
- Carat, the diamond's weight.
The GIA (Gemological Institute of America), which created the 4Cs, remains the most widely recognised laboratory for natural diamonds.
Laboratory-grown diamonds: a new approach
On 1 October 2025, the GIA stopped issuing full 4Cs grades for laboratory-grown diamonds. Instead, it now places each stone in one of two categories:
- Premium, reserved for the very finest stones: D colour, VVS clarity or better, and excellent polish and symmetry, with an excellent cut grade for round diamonds.
- Standard, for stones that meet the GIA's minimum quality criteria, with colour from E to J.
Stones that fall below those minimums do not receive a GIA report at all.
Other laboratories have taken a different view. The IGI (International Gemological Institute), which grades a large share of laboratory-grown diamonds, continues to use the full 4Cs, so you will still see individual colour, clarity and cut grades on many reports.
What this means for you
|
|
Natural diamond |
Laboratory-grown diamond |
|---|---|---|
|
Typical report |
GIA |
IGI, or GIA |
|
How quality is described |
Full 4Cs grades |
Full 4Cs (IGI), or Premium / Standard (GIA) |
|
Origin stated on the report |
Natural |
Laboratory-grown |
If your diamond comes with a report, check that its number matches the inscription on the stone. We are always happy to talk you through a report line by line.
Choosing between the two
Because the two look identical, the choice rarely comes down to appearance. It comes down to what the diamond means to you. These are the questions we find most helpful.
What story would you like your diamond to tell?
A natural diamond carries a story billions of years in the making, formed deep in the earth long before any of us. For many people, that sense of history and rarity is exactly what gives the stone its meaning.
A laboratory-grown diamond tells a different story: one of modern science and craftsmanship, created to the same standard as a natural stone. For many others, that is every bit as meaningful.
How do size and design fit with your budget?
A laboratory-grown diamond lets you choose a larger stone, a finer grade, or a more elaborate design within the same budget. If you have your heart set on a particular size or setting, it can open up options.
A natural diamond of a similar size and grade will usually be a greater investment, reflecting its rarity.
Is this a piece to pass down?
If you see your diamond as a future heirloom, or you value owning something that is genuinely rare, a natural diamond may feel like the right choice. Every natural stone is one of a kind, and supply is finite.
That said, any diamond can become an heirloom. What makes a piece precious to the next generation is often the moment it marks and the person who wore it.
How will you wear it?
This is one question where there is no difference at all. Both are equally hard and equally durable, and both will stand up to everyday wear for a lifetime. Both can be set in any metal and any design.
At a glance
|
You may lean towards a natural diamond if… |
You may lean towards a laboratory-grown diamond if… |
|---|---|
|
Rarity and a story billions of years old matter to you |
You love the idea of a diamond created through modern science |
|
You are choosing a future heirloom |
You would like a larger stone or finer grade within your budget |
|
Tradition is important to you or your family |
You want the freedom to put more into the design and setting |
There is no hierarchy between the two columns. Many of our clients consider both before deciding, and some choose one for an engagement ring and the other for a different piece entirely.
A personal choice - Alexandra's thoughts
Gifting a piece of jewellery to yourself or a loved one is deeply personal. The story that goes with that piece of jewellery and where it has come from is incredibly important - saying I love you holds so much weight it isn't just the materials we use to make that piece, it is the emotion and the journey behind it.
If you are choosing jewellery as an acquisition asset, a piece that will retain or grow in value, choosing a lab-grown diamond is not the right choice. However it doesn't mean you can't start there. We have lots of clients who choose a lab grown center stone in order to fulfil the design requirements that their budget allows, knowing that in 5, 10, 15 years time they will be able to "swap out" lab-grown diamond for a natural mined diamond . This is a beautiful way of getting what you want visually when you need it and being able to grow your assets in the years to come.
Ultimately when it comes down to choosing which stone is right for you it needs to feel right for yourself or whoever you a buying for, financially, aesthetically and emotionally.
Let us help you decide
At Alexandra Elizabeth, we work with both natural and laboratory-grown diamonds. Most of our stones over 0.50ct come with an independent grading report, and we can source any stone with a certificate on request. If you would like a certified stone, simply get in touch and we will find the right one for you. Whether you are choosing an engagement ring or designing a bespoke piece, we would be delighted to show you both side by side and help you find the diamond that feels right.
Book a consultation or call us on (+44) 0113 5381820.
With warm regards,
Sources:
- GIA to Ditch 4Cs Lab Grown Grading from October (IDEX Online)
- GIA to Replace 4Cs with Two-Tier Grading System (Diamond World)
- GIA Redefines Laboratory-Grown Diamond Grading (Whiteflash)
- GIA vs IGI for Lab-Grown Diamonds (Liori Diamonds)
- Skydiamond ASA ruling (Israeli Diamond Industry)