Are Lab-Grown Diamonds "Real" Diamonds?

It's the most common question we hear, and in a world of fakes and simulants, the confusion is understandable. When you hear lab-grown, your mind might jump to artificial or not genuine.

So, let's get the most important fact out of the way immediately:

Yes, lab-grown diamonds are 100% real diamonds.

They are not fakes. They are not knock-offs. And importantly, they are not simulants (like Cubic Zirconia or Moissanite, which are different materials entirely).

A lab-grown diamond is chemically, physically, and optically identical to a mined diamond. The only thing that changes is the origin.

The Ice Analogy: Nature vs. Your Freezer

To make it simple, think of it this way: Is ice from your freezer real ice?

A mined diamond is like ice formed naturally on a frozen lake. It was created by a specific set of pressure and temperature conditions deep within the Earth over billions of years.

A lab-grown diamond is like ice from your freezer. It was created by humans using incredible technology that replicates those exact same natural conditions (extreme pressure and heat) inside a highly controlled lab environment.

Both are 100% frozen water (H₂O). They look the same, feel the same, and are the same.

The same is true for diamonds. Both mined and lab-grown diamonds are made of pure carbon atoms crystallized in a specific structure. You cannot tell the difference with the naked eye. In fact, even a trained gemologist needs highly specialized equipment to tell them apart.

If They're Real, How Are They Graded?

Because they are chemically identical, a lab-grown diamond has the exact same properties as a mined one:

  • Hardness: They are a 10 on the Mohs scale, the hardest substance on earth.
  • Brilliance: They have the exact same fire, sparkle, and scintillation.

This is why they are graded by the exact same independent gemological labs, like GIA and IGI, using the exact same 4Cs: Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat.

This standard is crucial. It’s what allows us to guarantee quality, and at Elvin Jewellery, quality is our first priority. We believe that choosing a modern diamond shouldn't mean compromising on beauty.

That is why we specialize in only the top tiers of diamonds:

  • Color: Only colorless D-F grades for white diamonds and Fancy Intense and Fancy Vivid for colored diamonds
  • Clarity: Only virtually flawless VVS (Very, Very Slightly Included) and VS grades.

We provide the best so you can be confident you are wearing the best.

The "Next Generation" Diamond

Let's be clear: Choosing a lab-grown diamond does not mean you are settling for a lesser stone.

It means you are making a conscious choice. You get the exact same (or often, a much better) quality and size for your budget, all while knowing your diamond has a transparent, ethical, and more sustainable origin.

It isn't a substitute. It is an evolution.

You are choosing the true next-generation diamond.

So, when you look at your ring from Elvin Jewellery, know this: It is, without question, a real, high-quality, and brilliant diamond.