Education
Lab-grown diamonds
A lab-grown diamond is a real diamond — the same carbon crystal as one pulled from the earth, simply grown above ground in weeks rather than formed below it over billions of years. Everything worth knowing, before you choose yours.
The basics
What is a lab-grown diamond?
It begins as a tiny slice of diamond — a “seed” — and carbon. Under the right heat and pressure, that carbon crystallises onto the seed, atom by atom, into a full diamond. Same element, same crystal, same result — grown by people instead of geology.
- 100%
Pure crystallised carbon — chemically a diamond, not a simulant.
- 10/10
The same Mohs hardness as mined — the hardest natural material there is.
- 2–8 wks
Grown in weeks, versus the 1–3 billion years a mined diamond takes.
Not a copy — the real thing
Identical to a mined diamond in every way that shows
Chemically, physically, and optically the same: the same sparkle, the same fire, the same durability. Even a jeweller can’t tell by eye — it takes specialised equipment to read a diamond’s growth pattern. The single real difference is where it began.
How it’s made
Two ways to grow a diamond
Every lab-grown diamond is created by one of two methods. Both start with a seed; they differ in how they coax carbon to crystallise. Choose one to see how it works.
HPHT — recreating the earth
- 1
A diamond seed and pure carbon are sealed in a growth cell with a metal catalyst.
- 2
A press squeezes it to roughly 1.5 million psi and heats it past 1,400°C — the conditions found deep underground.
- 3
The carbon dissolves and crystallises onto the seed, growing a rough diamond over days to weeks.
- 4
The rough is cut and polished exactly like a mined diamond.
- Mimics earth’s conditions
- Extreme pressure & heat
- Excellent for fancy colours
CVD — building it layer by layer
- 1
A thin diamond seed wafer is placed inside a vacuum chamber.
- 2
Carbon-rich gas (methane and hydrogen) fills the chamber and is energised into a glowing plasma.
- 3
Carbon atoms settle onto the seed and bond to it, building the crystal one atomic layer at a time.
- 4
The grown rough is cut and polished into a finished diamond.
- Lower pressure
- Layer-by-layer growth
- Ideal for large, high-clarity stones
Why we choose them
The benefits over mined diamonds
The same beauty, with real advantages — which is why every Margot Vane stone is lab-grown.
Ethical by origin
No mining means no disturbed earth and none of the human cost that extraction can carry.
A lighter footprint
Grown in a controlled facility rather than dug from the ground — gentler on the land.
More for your budget
Typically more size and higher quality for the same spend than a comparable mined stone.
Exceptional quality
Grown in clean, controlled conditions, often with outstanding clarity and colour.
Truly identical
The same carbon, the same 10/10 hardness, the same fire — it is a diamond.
Independently certified
Graded by GIA, IGI, or GCAL, exactly like a mined diamond — quality verified.
Side by side
Lab-grown vs mined
Everything that makes a diamond a diamond is identical. Only origin, time, and footprint differ.
Clearing it up
A diamond — not a “diamond look”
This is the one most people wonder about. A lab-grown diamond is a diamond. Moissanite and cubic zirconia only imitate one — different materials that mimic the sparkle. Here’s how they really compare.
-
The real thing
Lab-grown diamond
- What it is
- Pure crystallised carbon
- Hardness
- 10 / 10 — the hardest
- Sparkle
- True diamond brilliance and fire
- A diamond?
- Yes
-
Moissanite
- What it is
- Silicon carbide — a different mineral
- Hardness
- 9.25
- Sparkle
- Extra rainbow flashes; can look “disco”
- A diamond?
- No — a simulant
-
Cubic zirconia
- What it is
- Zirconium dioxide — glass-like
- Hardness
- 8 – 8.5
- Sparkle
- Softer; can cloud and scratch over time
- A diamond?
- No — a simulant
Margot Vane works with lab-grown diamonds only — never simulants.
“But are they real diamonds?”
Yes — without an asterisk. A lab-grown diamond has the same crystal structure, the same 10/10 hardness, and the same brilliance as a mined one. The only difference is that ours began with a diamond seed in a lab rather than carbon deep underground. It will sparkle, wear, and last exactly the same — and every stone is independently certified, often laser-inscribed with its report number so you can match the diamond to its certificate.
The value
What it means for your budget
A lab-grown diamond typically costs a good deal less than a mined stone of the same size and quality — not because it’s lesser, but because there’s no rarity premium and a far shorter journey from origin to you. That difference goes straight to you.
A larger stone
The same budget can reach a noticeably bigger diamond — without giving up quality.
Or higher quality
Prefer a smaller stone? Put the saving into a finer cut, colour, and clarity instead.
Priced for what it is
Honestly valued — chosen to be worn and loved every day, not bought as an investment.
Good to know
Common questions
Are lab-grown diamonds real diamonds?
Yes. They are pure crystallised carbon with the identical structure, hardness, and optics of a mined diamond — not a simulant like cubic zirconia or moissanite.
Will a lab-grown diamond last, or scratch easily?
It lasts a lifetime. With the same 10/10 Mohs hardness as any diamond, it resists scratching just as well and is made to be passed down.
Can anyone tell it apart from a mined diamond?
Not by eye — not even a jeweller’s. Distinguishing the two requires specialised laboratory equipment that reads a stone’s growth pattern. Both are graded by the same labs.
Why are lab-grown diamonds more affordable?
There’s no rarity premium and a far shorter supply chain, so you typically get more size and higher quality for the same budget — for an identical-looking stone.
Are they certified?
Yes. Every Margot Vane diamond is graded by GIA, IGI, or GCAL, with a full report covering the 4Cs and a unique identifier you can verify.
Are lab-grown diamonds the ethical choice?
Because they require no mining, lab-grown diamonds avoid the environmental disturbance and human cost extraction can carry — beauty without that compromise.
How do I care for a lab-grown diamond?
Exactly like any diamond. Warm water, a drop of mild soap and a soft brush bring back its sparkle; store it apart from other pieces, and have the setting looked over now and then so the stone stays secure.
Do lab-grown diamonds hold their value?
They are best chosen for beauty and meaning rather than resale — as diamonds generally are. Because lab-grown is priced fairly for what it is, more of your budget goes into the stone you will actually wear and pass down.
See them for yourself
Every diamond we make is lab-grown and certified. Explore the collection, or start your ring.
