Lab Grown Diamonds vs. Natural Diamonds: Are They Worth It?

Published: June 9, 2026 Reading Time: 11 min Part 17 of the Zalkari 50-Day Silver Guide Series

There is a number that tells you a lot about where the diamond industry stands in 2026: 61%.

According to The Knot's latest Real Weddings Study, 61% of all engagement ring center stones sold this year are lab grown diamonds. That is up from 52% two years ago, and from just 12% back in 2019. More than half of all diamond engagement rings sold in the US are now lab grown. That is not a niche trend anymore. It is the mainstream choice.

And yet a meaningful number of buyers still feel uncertain about whether lab grown is the right call — whether they are missing something, whether there is a hidden catch, whether they will regret choosing a lab stone over a natural one.

This guide works through all of it. What lab grown diamonds actually are, how they compare to natural diamonds on every dimension that matters, the honest picture on resale value, and the one framework that makes the decision straightforward for most buyers.

What a Lab Grown Diamond Actually Is

A lab grown diamond is a real diamond. That is the most important thing to understand before anything else in this guide.

It is not a simulant. It is not moissanite, cubic zirconia, or any other material designed to look like diamond. A lab grown diamond is carbon, crystallized in the isometric crystal system under conditions that produce the same atomic structure as a natural diamond. Same hardness — 10 on the Mohs scale. Same refractive index of 2.42. Same thermal conductivity. Same optical properties. Same 4C grading criteria evaluated by the same gemological labs, including GIA and IGI.

The FTC updated its official definition of "diamond" in 2018, removing the word "natural" entirely. The definition now simply reads: a mineral consisting essentially of pure carbon crystallized in the isometric system. Lab grown diamonds meet that definition completely.

The only difference between a lab grown diamond and a natural diamond is where the crystallization happened. Natural diamonds formed billions of years ago under extreme heat and pressure deep in the earth's mantle and were pushed to the surface through volcanic activity. Lab grown diamonds are produced in controlled environments using one of two processes — High Pressure High Temperature, which replicates the conditions of natural diamond formation, or Chemical Vapor Deposition, which builds the crystal layer by layer from a carbon-rich gas. Both produce genuine diamond crystals. Neither produces a better or worse diamond from a gemological standpoint — the quality of the finished stone depends on the growing conditions and post-growth cutting, not the method used.

How They Compare on What Actually Matters

Appearance

A lab grown diamond and a natural diamond of the same cut, color, clarity, and carat weight are visually indistinguishable to the naked eye. A trained gemologist with the right equipment can identify a lab grown stone through specific growth patterns visible under magnification — natural diamonds show irregular growth patterns from their formation, while lab grown stones show patterns specific to the growing method used. This identification requires professional equipment. Nobody at a dinner table, in photographs, or at work will tell the difference.

Hardness and Durability

Both are 10 on the Mohs scale — the hardest rating possible. There is no durability difference between lab grown and natural diamond. Both will last indefinitely under normal jewelry wear, both can withstand the heat used in jewelry repair and resizing, and both require the same care to avoid chipping from sharp impact along their cleavage planes.

Quality and Grading

Lab grown diamonds are graded using the same 4C system as natural diamonds — cut, color, clarity, and carat weight — by the same institutions. A GIA-graded lab grown diamond comes with the same type of certification as a GIA-graded natural diamond. Quality varies across the full spectrum in lab grown stones just as it does in natural stones. A poorly cut lab grown diamond is less beautiful than a well-cut natural diamond of the same carat weight, and vice versa. The growing method does not determine quality — the 4Cs do.

Price

This is where the comparison becomes dramatic.

In 2026, lab grown diamonds cost roughly 70 to 80% less than comparable natural diamonds. A 1-carat lab grown diamond in G color and VS1 clarity runs approximately $800 to $1,200. The natural equivalent costs $4,000 to $8,000. For larger stones and higher quality grades, the gap widens further.

The practical consequence is significant. A $5,000 budget that buys a 0.7-carat natural diamond of decent quality buys a 2 to 2.5-carat lab grown diamond of the same or better quality grade. For buyers who want maximum visual impact within a budget, the math strongly favors lab grown.

One additional note that most guides leave out: lab grown diamond prices have been falling consistently and significantly. A stone purchased for $1,500 today may retail for considerably less in five years as production technology continues to improve and supply increases. This matters primarily for the resale value question, which we address directly below.

Resale Value — The Honest Picture

This is the area where natural diamonds hold a genuine advantage, and it is worth being straightforward about it.

Natural diamonds typically resell for 25 to 50% of their retail price, depending on the stone's quality and the resale channel used — private sale, auction, or jewelry trade-in. Lab grown diamonds currently resell for roughly 10 to 20% of retail, and the market for reselling them is less established, with some retailers declining to accept them as trade-ins at all.

Both numbers represent significant depreciation from retail price. A $10,000 natural diamond that resells for 40% of its value returns $4,000 — a $6,000 loss. A $2,000 lab grown diamond of comparable appearance that resells for 15% of its value returns $300 — a $1,700 loss. The natural diamond loses more dollars in absolute terms while retaining more percentage of its value.

Here is the frame that most buyers find clarifying: neither natural nor lab grown diamonds are reliable investment vehicles. The jewelry industry has spent decades marketing diamonds as stores of value, but the resale reality for standard retail purchases has always been stark depreciation. If you are buying a diamond as a financial investment, the advice from most financial advisors would be to invest your money elsewhere entirely — regardless of whether the stone is natural or lab grown.

If you are buying a diamond to wear and enjoy, which describes the vast majority of buyers, the resale value gap matters much less than the purchase price difference. The money saved on a lab grown diamond stays in your pocket now, not hypothetically in a resale transaction years later.

The Ethics and Environmental Question

Lab grown diamonds eliminate the mining concerns associated with some natural diamond supply chains. No pit mining, no associated habitat destruction, no community displacement, and no exposure to conflict diamond supply chains that the Kimberley Process has reduced but not eliminated entirely.

Lab grown diamond production is energy-intensive, and the environmental footprint depends significantly on whether the growing facility uses renewable energy. Some producers are more transparent about this than others. If environmental impact is a priority for you, it is worth looking into a specific brand's energy sourcing — not just assuming "lab grown" automatically means "green."

Natural diamonds from certified ethical sources — Canadian diamonds, for instance, or Botswana stones — have well-documented supply chains with strong labor and environmental standards. The ethical picture is not black and white in either direction. It depends on the specific stone's origin and the specific producer's practices.

Who Lab Grown Makes Sense For

Lab grown diamonds make the most sense for buyers who want maximum stone for their budget — larger carat weight, higher clarity, better color grade than the same money buys in natural. They make sense for buyers who prioritize the wearing experience over resale potential. They make sense for buyers who want to avoid the ethical gray areas of mined diamond supply chains. And they make sense for buyers who find the traditional premium for natural diamonds hard to justify when the stones are visually and physically identical.

In 2026, more than 61% of engagement ring buyers have already made this calculation and chosen lab grown. That market share tells you something about where the sentiment is heading.

One buyer named Marcus, who upgraded from a 0.75-carat natural diamond to a 2.5-carat lab grown stone in 2025, put it this way: "My wife loves the bigger stone. Nobody has ever asked if it is lab grown. And we used the money we saved to pay off student loans. Best decision we made."

That is not a universal experience, but it is a representative one.

Who Natural Diamond Still Makes Sense For

Natural diamonds still make the stronger choice for buyers for whom geological rarity and the specific history of a natural stone hold genuine personal meaning — and that is a completely legitimate reason that does not require economic justification.

If heirloom value over multiple generations is genuinely important to you, natural diamonds retain more value and have a more established resale and estate market. If a partner specifically wants a natural diamond, that preference matters and is worth honoring. And if the tradition of a stone formed billions of years ago in the earth has meaning that a lab grown stone does not fully replicate for you emotionally, that is a real consideration no price comparison fully resolves.

Lab Grown Diamonds at Zalkari

Our lab grown diamond collection features certified stones set in 925 sterling silver — a combination that delivers genuine diamond brilliance in a hallmarked, nickel-free precious metal setting at an accessible price point.

If you are still weighing your gemstone options more broadly, these guides from our series are worth reading alongside this one:

Moissanite vs. Diamond: Is Moissanite Worth It in 2026? compares moissanite and diamond across every dimension — useful if you are deciding between all three options.

Is Moissanite Real? addresses the common skepticism around moissanite specifically.

What Is 925 Sterling Silver? explains the precious metal setting your stone lives in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are lab grown diamonds real diamonds? Yes. Lab grown diamonds are chemically, physically, and optically identical to natural diamonds — both are pure carbon crystallized in the isometric system. The FTC's official definition of "diamond" includes lab grown stones. A trained gemologist can identify a lab grown stone under magnification through specific growth patterns, but visually and materially it is a real diamond.

Can you tell a lab grown diamond from a natural diamond? Not with the naked eye. In everyday social contexts, photographs, and standard viewing conditions, lab grown and natural diamonds of the same quality grade are visually indistinguishable. Identification requires professional gemological equipment.

Do lab grown diamonds hold their value? Less so than natural diamonds. Lab grown diamonds currently resell for roughly 10 to 20% of retail value, compared to 25 to 50% for natural diamonds. Lab grown diamond prices have also been falling consistently as production increases, which affects future resale further. Neither type functions as a reliable investment vehicle — the resale loss on standard retail diamond purchases is significant regardless of origin.

How much cheaper are lab grown diamonds? In 2026, lab grown diamonds typically cost 70 to 80% less than natural diamonds of comparable quality. A 1-carat lab grown diamond in G color, VS1 clarity runs approximately $800 to $1,200. The natural equivalent costs $4,000 to $8,000 or more.

Are lab grown diamonds ethical? They eliminate concerns around mining impacts — no pit mining, no habitat destruction, no conflict supply chain exposure. The environmental footprint of growing facilities varies depending on energy sourcing. Overall, lab grown diamonds have a cleaner ethical and environmental profile than most mined diamonds, though the specifics depend on the producer.

What is the difference between lab grown diamonds and moissanite? Lab grown diamonds are real diamonds — carbon with a Mohs hardness of 10. Moissanite is silicon carbide with a Mohs hardness of 9.25. They are different materials with different optical signatures. Moissanite is significantly less expensive than lab grown diamond and produces more colorful fire. For the full comparison, see our guide on moissanite vs diamond.

Shop at Zalkari

Our collections feature certified gemstones set in 925 sterling silver — hallmarked, nickel-free, and verified before every order ships.

Lab Grown Diamond Jewelry — certified lab grown diamonds in 925 sterling silver settings

Moissanite Jewelry — lab created moissanite in certified sterling silver

Birthstone Jewelry — genuine gemstones in 925 silver settings

Sterling Silver Rings — minimalist bands and stackable styles

Sterling Silver Earrings — hypoallergenic studs, hoops, and drops

Sterling Silver Necklaces — dainty layering chains and pendants

Sterling Silver Anklets — our most popular everyday category

Fast shipping across the US. Easy returns. Real stones in real precious metal — every time.

Previous: Is Moissanite Real? Everything Skeptics Ask, Answered — Day 16

Next: What Makes Jewelry Hypoallergenic? The Science Behind Safe Silver — Day 18, publishing June 10, 2026