Both are diamonds; they contain the same crystal structure and are both made of pure carbon. Lab diamonds are made using advanced technological processes that simulate the conditions under which natural diamonds form deep inside the Earth; as such, they are not “substitutes” to mined diamonds – both diamonds are chemically and physically identical to each other, with the same crystal structure and light-reflecting qualities. The only way they can be told apart is by expert analysis; from the unique serial numbers engraved on a microscopic level that allow them to be tracked and traced, and also the more consistent growth pattern. Diamonds used in our jewelry are highly durable, with the same hardness and resistance to scratches as natural diamonds. This means that your stones will last you a lifetime and can be treasured and passed across generations.  Lab diamonds are recognized as genuine diamonds with the same durability, and brilliance. In fact, they are nearly impossible to distinguish from mined diamonds; especially for gems under 0.3 carats in size, differentiation is near impossible and often natural diamonds will come at a premium yet contain imperfections and inclusions that are hard to identify but lessen their sparkle.  The grading method using Carats, Color, Cut, and Clarity is also applied in the same way to lab diamonds.

In general, the capital costs for final lab diamonds are actually similar to natural diamonds; however, the key difference is the supply chain is significantly shorter and more transparent. Since lab diamonds skip the mining process, they touch less hands along the way, with fewer middlemen charging premiums to get your diamond in its final form.  So whilst the process for creating lab diamonds is still expensive, it does not compare to the financial, social and human costs involved in the extraction of natural diamonds from the earth.