Melbourne client care · Made in Surat
A lab grown diamond is a real diamond. The same carbon atoms, the same crystal structure, the same physical and optical properties as a diamond formed underground over billions of years — grown in a laboratory in weeks. This guide explains exactly what a lab grown diamond is, how it compares to a mined diamond and why Fenora works exclusively with lab grown.
A lab grown diamond is chemically, physically and optically identical to a mined diamond. Both are pure carbon arranged in the same cubic crystal structure — the structure that gives diamond its extraordinary hardness, its light-bending properties and its brilliance. No instrument, no test and no human eye can distinguish a lab grown diamond from a mined diamond of equivalent quality.
The difference is origin. A mined diamond formed underground under extreme heat and pressure over billions of years and was brought to the surface by volcanic activity. A lab grown diamond is created in a controlled facility using technology that replicates those same extreme conditions — high pressure, high temperature or a chemical vapour process — in weeks rather than billions of years.
The result is the same: a diamond. The same Mohs hardness of 10. The same refractive index. The same thermal conductivity. The same IGI grading scale. The same laser inscription. A different origin — and a dramatically different price.
This is the most common question buyers ask. The answer is nuanced: standard diamond testing equipment cannot distinguish lab grown from mined. Specialist equipment can — but it requires deliberate testing and is not available in most jewellery retail settings.
The equipment that identifies lab grown diamonds looks for specific growth patterns at the microscopic level — patterns that differ between natural geological formation and laboratory growth. This equipment is used by gemological laboratories like IGI, not by standard jewellers or customers.
At Fenora, every lab grown diamond certificate states that the stone is laboratory grown. The IGI certificate includes this information explicitly. Fenora does not sell lab grown diamonds as mined or obscure their origin in any way. The distinction is documented, disclosed and part of the certification.
There are two main methods for growing diamonds in a laboratory: High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) and Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD). Both produce genuine diamonds. The method affects the growth characteristics of the stone — not its quality as a finished diamond.
| HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature) | CVD (Chemical Vapour Deposition) | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Recreates the conditions under which natural diamonds form — extreme pressure (around 1.5 million PSI) and extreme temperature (around 1500°C) | A carbon-rich gas (typically methane) is broken down in a plasma chamber, depositing carbon atoms onto a diamond seed layer by layer |
| Growth time | Days to weeks depending on size | Weeks to months depending on size |
| Typical characteristics | May show metallic inclusions from the metal catalyst used. Strong growth sectors visible under specific magnification | Generally cleaner growth with fewer inclusions. The method used for most gem-quality stones at Fenora |
| Energy use | Very high — replicating extreme geological pressures is energy intensive | Lower than HPHT but still significant |
| Fenora usage | Available but less common in the collection | Primary method used for Fenora diamonds — CVD produces the cleaner, more consistent gem-quality stones |
Both HPHT and CVD diamonds are graded on exactly the same IGI scale. The growth method does not affect the colour, clarity, cut or carat weight grades. Yash Chandpara identifies the growth method of every stone during the consultation if it is relevant to the specific stone being discussed.
The complete comparison between lab grown and mined diamonds across every relevant dimension.
| Dimension | Lab Grown Diamond | Mined Diamond |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical composition | Pure carbon — cubic crystal structure | Pure carbon — cubic crystal structure — identical |
| Physical properties | Identical — same hardness, same thermal conductivity | Identical |
| Optical properties | Identical — same refractive index, same light behaviour | Identical |
| IGI grading | Same scale — D-Z colour, Flawless-I3 clarity, Excellent-Poor cut | Same scale |
| Origin | Grown in a controlled laboratory facility in weeks | Formed underground over billions of years, mined |
| Price at equivalent quality | 60–80% less expensive than mined | Carries geological scarcity premium |
| Environmental footprint | Significantly lower — no land excavation, traceable supply chain | Large — mining operations involve significant land and water use |
| Supply chain traceability | Fully traceable to specific growth facility | Often involves multiple countries and intermediaries |
| Availability | Grown to specification — specific qualities available on demand | Subject to what is mined — certain qualities can be scarce |
| Resale value | Lower than mined — lab grown prices have declined as production scales | Higher resale value — but lower resale relative to purchase price than most buyers expect |
The 60–80% price difference between lab grown and mined diamonds at equivalent IGI-certified quality is real and significant. Understanding where it comes from helps buyers understand what they are — and are not — paying for.
Mined diamonds carry a geological scarcity premium. The process of finding and extracting diamonds from the earth, processing the rough stone and bringing it to market through the supply chain creates costs and a scarcity value that are embedded in every mined diamond price. These costs are real but they are not quality costs — they are origin costs.
Lab grown diamonds have none of these origin costs. The carbon structure is the same. The light performance is the same. The IGI grading is the same. The price is different because the origin is different — not because the diamond is different.
Two questions come up consistently when buyers consider lab grown: do they last as long as mined diamonds, and what happens to their value over time?
Fenora works exclusively with lab grown diamonds. Every stone in the collection is IGI certified, Excellent cut and sourced from CVD growth facilities powered by renewable or offset energy. This is not a marketing position — it is a quality and transparency commitment.
Every question about lab grown diamonds that comes up in consultations.
Book a free online consultation. Yash Chandpara explains every aspect of lab grown diamonds honestly — the science, the quality, the value and the trade-offs — in plain language.
