What Is a Lab-Grown Diamond?

You'll see "lab-grown diamond" on some of our 14K gold pieces. Here's what that means, and why we love them.

A real diamond, grown in a lab

A lab-grown diamond is a real diamond. It's made of the same carbon crystal structure as a diamond mined from the earth, so it has the same hardness, sparkle and fire. The only difference is where it formed: in a controlled laboratory over a few weeks, instead of deep underground over millions of years.

Lab-grown diamonds are not the same as cubic zirconia or moissanite. Those are different materials that look similar. A lab-grown diamond is a diamond.

How they're made

There are two main methods. One recreates the high pressure and heat that form diamonds in nature. The other builds the diamond up layer by layer from carbon-rich gas. Both produce a diamond that is chemically and physically the same as a mined one.

Why choose lab-grown?

• The same beauty. To the eye, and even under a jeweller's loupe, a lab-grown diamond looks the same as a mined diamond.
• Durable for everyday wear. Diamond is one of the hardest materials there is, so it resists scratches and keeps its sparkle.
• Better value. Lab-grown diamonds usually cost less than mined diamonds of the same size and quality.
• A known origin. Because they're grown in a lab, their source is clear.

Lab-grown diamonds in piercing jewelry

We set lab-grown diamonds in solid 14K gold, which is suitable for both fresh and healed piercings. That makes them a lovely choice for a first lobe, a nostril or a delicate upper-ear stud you'll wear every day.

Shop pieces like our 14K invisible stone stud, invisible stone nose stud and invisible crown, or ask us on WhatsApp about what's in stock.