Lab grown diamond is real in every way that matters. A lab-grown diamond is composed of pure carbon, sharing the same structure, brilliance, and strength as a mined diamond. Each one passes identical hardness tests, reflects light with equal fire, and radiates the same enduring beauty proving that origin doesn’t define authenticity, character does.
The only true difference lies in their origin: one born deep within the earth over millennia, the other created in a modern chamber that recreates those same natural forces with precision and care.
At AW Jewelry, we work with both because beauty doesn’t depend on where something begins it depends on the story it carries forward. If a diamond catches your breath in natural light and feels like it belongs, then it’s real in every way that matters.
So What Makes a Diamond “Real,” Anyway?
When it comes down to it, “real” is a matter of science, not sales language. Both mined and lab grown diamond creations are composed of pure carbon atoms arranged in the same iconic diamond structure. It’s this structure that gives each lab grown diamond its remarkable fire, enduring durability, and unmistakable brilliance proof that authenticity lies in composition, not origin.
When we look at a diamond in the atelier, we’re not asking where it came from, we’re asking how it carries light. We study its symmetry, its polish, the way it glows from the center out to the edges. Instruments can tell us the origin, but they can’t measure beauty.
So we start with your eye and your feelings. If you look down and the light feels alive that’s what counts.
How Is Lab Grown Diamond Made?
There are two main ways to create a lab grown diamond, and both are beautifully simple once you understand them.
HPHT (High Pressure, High Temperature):
Carbon is placed under the same pressure and heat found deep in the earth until a diamond forms.
CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition):
Carbon gas is layered onto a small seed crystal in a vacuum, slowly building a diamond from the inside out.
A diamond that’s chemically, physically, and visually identical to one pulled from the ground. The only difference is time. Instead of waiting billions of years, we let modern science do in weeks what nature took ages to accomplish.
In our studio, we always compare stones in natural light not showroom glare because real life tells the truth. A well-cut lab grown diamond performs just like a well-cut mined one: bright, balanced, and beautiful.
Can You Tell the Difference Between Lab and Natural Diamond?
No not by looking. Even trained gemologists need specialized equipment to tell them apart. To the naked eye, lab grown diamonds and mined diamonds are identical twins.
That’s why grading and documentation matter. Every lab grown diamond should come with an independent certificate from a trusted lab. It’ll list the 4Cs cut, color, clarity, and carat and note that it’s “Laboratory-Grown.” Many are laser-inscribed with a matching report number, just like mined diamonds.
So when people ask, “But can you see the difference?” The answer is simple: you can’t. What you can see is light and that’s the same, wherever it began.
Will Lab Grown Diamond Last as Long?
They will because a diamond is still a diamond. Whether it’s from the earth or from a lab, it’s one of the hardest materials known. It won’t cloud, fade, or lose its sparkle with everyday wear.
Durability comes down to craftsmanship not creation. Secure prongs, proper setting height, and balanced design protect any stone, lab grown or not.
At AW Jewelry, we shape each ring for real life rounded edges, low profiles for comfort, bezels or six-prong settings for security. Whether you’re typing, traveling, or tending a garden, your ring should move with you. When design and engineering work together, beauty becomes effortless.
How Do Lab Grown Diamonds Compare in Price and Value?
Here’s the practical truth: lab grown diamonds typically cost less than mined ones of the same grade. That means you can often choose a larger stone, a finer cut, or a more intricate design within the same budget.
Resale markets will always shift, but most of our clients aren’t buying a diamond to trade later they’re buying it to wear, to celebrate, and to pass on.
So we focus on the kind of value you can feel daily: the sparkle you see, the comfort you feel, and the craftsmanship that endures. True worth lives in joy, not in speculation.
What Should You Look For When Comparing Stones?
Here’s a simple way to look with confidence no jargon needed:
- Cut comes first, as it’s what truly makes a diamond sparkle always.
- Color should be considered next, judged in the context of your chosen metal, whether gold, platinum, or rose.
- Clarity matters only to the eye; if it appears “eye-clean,” that’s perfect what you can’t see doesn’t matter.
- Shape and presence influence perception, with ovals and pears often appearing larger than rounds.
- Comfort depends on the right profile, width, and setting, which together make all the difference.
- Certification is essential, so always ask for an independent grading report.
Bring your ideas, Pinterest saves, or an heirloom you love. We’ll help you design something that feels new but deeply familiar, a reflection of your life right now.
How Do You Care for Lab Grown Diamonds?
Care is simple and mostly about consistency.
- Weekly clean gently with warm water, mild soap, and a soft brush.
- Daily slip it off for gardening, workouts, or harsh cleaning.
- Yearly bring it in for a quick inspection and polish what we call The Art of Renewal.
Should You Choose Lab Grown or Natural?
There’s no wrong answer truly. The choice between natural and lab-grown diamonds comes down to what matters most to you right now: history, innovation, or emotion. If you’re drawn to the timeless story of the earth pressure, patience, and rarity a natural diamond may speak to you.
If you value modern craftsmanship, environmental mindfulness, and thoughtful budgeting, a lab-grown diamond may feel just as true. Both are real, radiant, and enduring. The right choice isn’t about origin, it’s about alignment with your values and the meaning you want your diamond to carry every time it catches the light.
How AW Jewelry Helps You Choose?
When you visit the atelier, we don’t start with charts or grades. We start with you.
We’ll ask how you live, what you love, and what you want this ring to feel like light and airy, classic and balanced, or soft and romantic. Then we place natural and lab grown diamonds side by side in the sunlight and let the light speak for itself.
You’ll see how one glows warmly, another sparkles sharp and quick, another hums with quiet fire. Once you know what your eye responds to, we’ll build the ring around that feeling. Prong style, metal tone, and comfort all come next one calm decision at a time.
Our role isn’t to sell you on a type of diamond. It’s to help you see clearly what feels meant for you.
When you’re ready, come by our Beaufort atelier or start the conversation online. Bring your ideas, your photos, your questions. We’ll show you both, in identical settings, side by side in natural light and let you decide with your eyes, your heart, and your instincts.