What is the same
Hardness, brilliance, fire and chemical composition are the same. A jeweler cannot tell them apart without specialized equipment, and both are graded on the same color, clarity, cut and carat scales.
What is different
- Origin: natural diamonds formed over a very long time deep in the earth. Lab-grown diamonds are grown in weeks.
- Price: a lab-grown diamond of the same grade usually costs a fraction of a natural one, so the same budget buys a larger or higher-grade stone.
- Resale: natural diamonds have a more established secondary market. Treat a lab-grown diamond as something you buy to wear and enjoy.
- Disclosure: reputable sellers state lab-grown clearly, and grading reports say so.
Which should you choose?
If you want the most size and quality for your budget, lab-grown is hard to beat. If provenance or resale value is the priority, natural may fit better. Either way, buy a certified stone and read the report.