Bevilles Jewellery School 101 is your guide to diamonds, gemstones, and precious metals.
Understanding the debate around lab grown diamonds vs real diamonds is essential when choosing the right stone for your jewellery. While both look identical and share the same physical properties, their origin, price, and market perception differ.
A common question is: are lab grown diamonds real?
Yes! Lab-grown diamonds are 100% real diamonds.
They have the same chemical structure, hardness (10 on the Mohs scale), and optical brilliance as mined diamonds. The only difference is how they are created. Lab-grown diamonds are formed in controlled environments, while mined diamonds form naturally over billions of years underground.
So, when comparing lab grown diamonds vs real, it’s important to understand that lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds—just created differently.
Mined diamonds are natural gemstones formed deep within the Earth over billions of years. Despite a common myth, diamonds are not formed from coal—in fact, most are far older than plant life on Earth.
A diamond is made of 99.95% pure carbon, arranged in a crystal structure that makes it the hardest natural material known, ranking 10 on the Mohs scale.
They form around 150 kilometres beneath the Earth’s surface, where extreme heat and intense pressure transform carbon atoms into crystal structures over vast periods of time. Over millions to billions of years, volcanic activity slowly pushes these diamonds closer to the Earth’s surface, where they can eventually be discovered and mined.
Because of this long natural formation process, every mined diamond is completely unique. No two stones are ever exactly the same, with each one carrying its own internal characteristics shaped by the conditions in which it was formed.
Mined diamonds are valued not only for their beauty and durability, but also for their rarity, natural origin, and the incredible geological journey they take from deep within the Earth to the jewellery we wear today.
Lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds created using advanced technology that replicates the natural conditions under which diamonds form deep within the Earth. Instead of developing over billions of years underground, they are grown in controlled laboratory environments over a matter of weeks.
The process begins with a tiny diamond “seed,” which acts as the foundation. This seed is placed inside a specialised chamber where carbon atoms are introduced. Over time, these carbon atoms bond to the seed, building up layer by layer and forming a complete diamond crystal.
There are two main methods used to create lab-grown diamonds:
Both methods produce diamonds that are chemically, physically, and optically identical to mined diamonds. They have the same crystal structure, brilliance, hardness, and durability.
The result is a genuine diamond—created in a modern, controlled environment rather than through geological processes underground.
One of the biggest advantages of lab-grown stones is price. But why do lab diamonds cost less?
The lower cost comes down to production and supply:
Because of this, lab-grown diamonds are typically 40%–80% more affordable than mined diamonds of similar size and quality.
Lab-grown diamonds are often considered a more sustainable choice because they avoid large-scale mining. However, energy use still plays a role in production.
In reality, it’s difficult to make a clear, black-and-white claim that one is definitively more sustainable than the other. Both lab-grown and mined diamonds come with environmental trade-offs.
Mined diamonds can involve land disruption, habitat impact, and significant resource use during extraction and processing. However, the industry has also introduced stricter environmental standards, rehabilitation efforts, and more responsible sourcing practices in many regions.
Lab-grown diamonds avoid excavation and reduce direct land disturbance, but their environmental footprint depends heavily on how they are produced. Energy-intensive growing processes—particularly if powered by non-renewable energy sources—can still result in a carbon impact.
Mined diamonds can be ethically sourced, but mining has historically raised environmental and social concerns. Certification systems like the Kimberley Process aim to improve transparency. Bevilles complies with the Kimberly Process.
When comparing lab grown diamonds vs mined diamonds, the key takeaway is simple: lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds.
The choice comes down to what matters most:
Both options offer exceptional beauty, durability, and brilliance—making either a meaningful choice for any jewellery piece.
| Feature | Lab-Grown Diamonds | Mined Diamonds |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Created in laboratory | Formed naturally underground |
| Are they real? | Yes, real diamonds | Yes, real diamonds |
| Appearance | Identical to mined | Identical to lab-grown |
| Quality | High and very consistent | Natural variation |
| Price (Australia) | Lower, more affordable | Higher due to rarity |
| Why price differs | Controlled production + scalable supply | Mining + rarity + extraction costs |
| Resale Value | Lower market demand | Traditionally higher |
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Lab Grown vs Mined Diamonds explained by melissanapoli89
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