Lab-Grown vs Natural Diamonds: Start Here

Lab-grown and natural diamonds are both real diamonds, with the same chemistry and sparkle. The main differences are origin, price and what matters to you. Lab-grown diamonds usually cost less for the same size and quality, while natural diamonds are rarer and formed over a very long time underground.

This page gives you a short comparison first, then brings our in depth guides together so you can read further if you want to.

Side by side

• Origin: natural diamonds form deep underground over a very long time. Lab-grown diamonds are made in a laboratory.
• Appearance: to the eye, a well cut lab-grown diamond and a natural diamond look the same.
• Certification: we offer both with GIA or IGI reports, and the report states whether a stone is natural or laboratory grown.
• Price: lab-grown is usually lower for the same specification. Pieces start from £600.
• Resale and value: neither should be bought as an investment. Resale prices for either can be well below what you paid, so choose the stone you will enjoy wearing. Our resale and investment articles below explain more.

Which might suit you?

Lab-grown may suit you if you want the most size or quality for your budget and you are happy with a stone made in a laboratory. Natural may suit you if origin and rarity matter to you and you are happy to pay more for them. Not sure? Tell us your budget and the look you want, and we will show you both.

Start here

• Natural vs lab-grown diamonds: which is right for you?
  A side by side look at cost, looks and values to help you choose.
• Lab-grown diamonds guide
  How lab-grown diamonds are made, graded and priced.
• Natural diamonds guide
  What makes a natural diamond, and what to look for when choosing one.

About lab-grown diamonds

• HPHT vs CVD lab-grown diamonds
  The two ways lab-grown diamonds are made, and what reports show.
• Lab-grown diamond resale value
  An honest answer on what a lab-grown stone is worth second hand.
• Lab-grown diamond prices in 2026
  How lab-grown prices have moved and what that means for you.
• Do lab-grown diamonds look flashy or different?
  Whether lab-grown stones look any different once set.
• Do lab-grown diamonds pass a diamond tester?
  What a standard tester can and cannot tell you.
• Are lab-grown diamonds fake?
  Why lab-grown stones are real diamond, not a simulant.
• Are lab-grown diamonds worth buying?
  The honest pros and cons of buying lab-grown.
• Moissanite vs lab-grown diamond
  How moissanite differs from diamond in looks and hardness.

About natural diamonds

• Natural diamonds: what they are and why they still matter
  Why some couples still choose a natural stone.
• Why are natural diamonds more expensive?
  What drives the price gap between natural and lab-grown.
• Are natural diamonds a good investment?
  A realistic look at natural diamonds and resale.
• Our approach to ethical sourcing
  How we approach sourcing for every stone.

Browse our lab-grown colourless diamonds, read the bespoke journey, or ask us to compare stones for you.

Frequently asked questions

Are lab-grown diamonds real diamonds?

Yes. They have the same chemical makeup and physical properties as natural diamonds. A gemmological report will state that the stone is laboratory grown.

Can you tell the difference by looking?

Not usually with the naked eye. Specialist equipment is needed to identify the origin.

Which is better value?

Lab-grown usually gives you a larger or higher grade stone for the same budget. Natural diamonds cost more because they are rarer. Neither should be bought as an investment.

Do your diamonds come with reports?

Yes, we offer diamonds with GIA or IGI reports.