STORIES - Lab-Grown vs. Natural Diamonds: What's the Difference?

A diamond tells a story. For centuries, it has symbolised love, strength and timelessness. But the way that diamond comes into being is changing. At BY JACKY, we're increasingly asked: what's the actual difference between a lab-grown and a natural diamond? And which one fits your story? In this blog, we take you into the world of both.

Same origin, different path

Chemically, optically and physically, lab-grown and natural diamonds are identical. Both are made of pure carbon, arranged in the same crystal structure. Even with professional equipment, the difference is invisible to the eye. The distinction lies entirely in where they come from.

Natural diamonds form deep inside the earth, around 150 to 200 kilometres below the surface. Under extreme pressure and heat, over billions of years, carbon slowly crystallises into a diamond. Volcanic eruptions then carried these stones closer to the surface, where they are mined.

Lab-grown diamonds are created in a laboratory, where scientists recreate those same natural conditions. This happens through two methods: HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature), which simulates high pressure and heat, or CVD (Chemical Vapour Deposition), where carbon atoms are deposited layer by layer onto a diamond seed. What normally takes billions of years is compressed into a matter of weeks.

Quality and grading

Both types of diamonds are assessed the same way: the 4 C's; Carat, Cut, Clarity and Colour. Both are also certified by recognised laboratories such as GIA or IGI. A lab-grown diamond with the same 4 C's as a natural diamond is, quite literally, indistinguishable.

The main difference in valuation comes down to rarity. Natural diamonds are the result of a unique, unrepeatable process shaped by the earth itself. Lab-grown diamonds can, in theory, be produced without limit. This is reflected directly in price: a lab-grown diamond typically costs 30 to 50% less than a comparable natural diamond.

Long-term value

This price difference also carries through to value retention. Natural diamonds, partly because of their rarity, tend to hold their value better over the long term and are often passed down as heirlooms. Lab-grown diamonds have gained popularity mainly because of their accessible price, making it possible to choose a larger or purer stone within the same budget.

Which diamond suits you?

There's no right or wrong answer. It comes down to what matters most to you:

• Do you value the story of billions of years of history and the rarity of something shaped by the earth itself? Then a natural diamond is your match.
• Do you value accessibility, getting more stone for your budget with the exact same brilliance? Then a lab-grown diamond may be the right fit.

At BY JACKY, we believe every piece of jewellery tells a personal story and that starts with understanding the stone itself, whichever path it took to reach you.