A lab-grown diamond is a real diamond that is produced in a laboratory rather than mined from the earth. It shares the exact same chemical composition – pure crystallized carbon in a cubic lattice structure – hardness (10 on the Mohs scale), optical properties, and physical characteristics as a mined diamond. The two methods used to grow diamonds in labs are High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT), which replicates the conditions deep in the earth's mantle, and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD), which builds the crystal layer by layer from a carbon-rich gas. A lab-grown diamond is not a simulant: it is not cubic zirconia, moissanite, or glass. It is, by every scientific measure, a diamond.
Lab-grown diamonds appear in all the same cuts, colors, and clarity grades as mined stones and are certified by the same independent gemological labs – GIA, IGI, and GCAL – that certify natural diamonds. They have become a significant portion of the engagement ring market over the past decade, primarily because they offer the same visual appearance and structural performance at a substantially lower price point. A lab-grown diamond in the same cut, carat weight, and quality grade as a mined stone typically costs 50-80% less at retail. The tradeoff is resale value: lab-grown diamonds do not retain value the way rare mined stones can.
From a repair perspective, lab-grown diamonds behave identically to mined stones. They can be re-set, tightened, polished, and replaced using the same techniques. At QJR, we work with lab-grown diamonds in every setting style – flush, prong, bezel, channel, and pavé – and the repair approach is no different from natural diamond work. If a lab-grown stone needs replacement, the main factor is sourcing a calibrated stone that matches the original size and cut, which is typically straightforward given the volume of lab-grown inventory available.