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Expertise you can trust: Brilliant Earth is known for its award-winning jewelry designs and seamless, innovative shopping experience. This Brilliant Earth diamond guide breaks down whether lab grown diamonds are worthwhile. All Brilliant Earth guides are meticulously researched and reviewed by our certified gemologists, content, editorial, and brand teams before publication to ensure industry-leading excellence and accuracy.
First, Yes, Lab Diamonds Are Real Diamonds
This is still one of the biggest misconceptions we hear from customers. Lab diamonds are not cubic zirconia or diamond simulants. They are real diamonds with the same physical and visual qualities as natural diamonds. In fact, lab diamonds and natural diamonds look identical to the naked eye.
They are evaluated using the same grading standards, and even jewelers and gemologists need specialized equipment to tell them apart from mined diamonds.
The main difference between the two is origin:
- Natural diamonds are formed within the earth over billions of years
- Lab diamonds are created using advanced technology over several days or weeks
Beyond origin and price, lab and natural diamonds are the same.
Why Do People Buy Lab Diamonds?
1. You Can Get More for Your Money
The biggest advantage of lab diamonds is value. This is usually the biggest reason customers choose lab diamonds.
Lab diamonds are not as limited in supply in the same way natural diamonds are. As the technology behind them has improved, lab diamonds have become more accessible.
When couples compare options side-by-side, we often see them surprised by how much more size or quality they can get within the same budget. With lab diamonds, customers can often afford:
- A larger carat weight
- Better color
- Better cut quality
- Higher clarity
- Or simply spend less overall
In practice, we often see couples deciding between two very different priorities within the same price range:
- A smaller natural diamond with rarity and natural origin
- Or a larger lab diamond that focuses more on size and visual impact
One thing we consistently tell customers is that neither choice is wrong. They simply reflect different personal values and priorities.
2. Some Customers Feel More Comfortable with the Sourcing
We also see many customers drawn to lab diamonds because they avoid traditional mining.
For some couples, that feels like a more modern or environmentally conscious choice. We’ve also heard customers say they appreciate feeling like they have more transparency around sourcing.
At the same time, we always want customers to understand that both our natural and lab diamonds are responsibly sourced and held to high sustainability standards.
While lab diamonds still require energy and resources to create, they typically have a smaller carbon footprint and less environmental impact than traditional large-scale mining. That’s one reason we’ve seen some customers feel more comfortable choosing a lab diamond, while others feel equally confident choosing a responsibly sourced natural diamond.
Why Do People Avoid Lab Diamonds?
1. They Lack Natural Rarity
The biggest drawback of lab diamonds for some couples is that they do not have the same rarity as natural diamonds.
Natural diamonds are finite and formed over billions of years beneath the earth’s surface. Lab diamonds, while technologically impressive, can be made continuously as technology expands.
For many couples, that rarity is part of what gives natural diamonds their long-standing appeal and emotional significance. We’ve also spoken with customers who love the idea that no two natural diamonds are exactly alike and that their diamond was formed naturally long before it ever became part of their story.
We often hear customers describe natural diamonds as timeless, irreplaceable, and deeply meaningful because of where they came from and how rare they are.
2. They Don’t Carry the Same Sense of Origin or Tradition
For many couples we work with, diamonds are closely tied to tradition, family history, and milestone moments.
We’ve spoken with many customers who grew up imagining a natural diamond engagement ring because it was what they saw passed down through generations. Others simply love the idea of choosing something rare and naturally formed.
We’ve also seen customers become emotional when selecting a natural diamond because they feel connected to the history, rarity, and meaning behind it. Some couples tell us that knowing the diamond formed naturally over billions of years makes the piece feel even more special to them.
At the same time, we’ve also seen many modern couples feel genuinely excited about choosing a lab diamond because it allows them to prioritize different goals and values.
What makes the decision meaningful is rarely the diamond alone. In our experience, the purchase often becomes a reflection of what matters most to each couple, whether that is rarity, size, symbolism, tradition, or practicality.
So, Are Lab Diamonds Really Worth It?
For many couples, absolutely. We’ve seen customers leave thrilled because they were able to get the ring they truly wanted without stretching their budget.
At the same time, we’ve also seen customers feel deeply connected to the uniqueness and symbolism of a natural diamond. For some couples, the rarity and natural origin become just as important as the ring’s appearance.
That’s why we never think this decision should come down to trends or pressure. The decision often comes down to whether a couple prioritizes size and value or rarity and tradition.
We usually encourage customers to think about the decision this way:
- Choose a lab diamond if you want to get the most size and quality within your budget.
- Choose a natural diamond if rarity, natural origin, and the tradition behind a naturally formed diamond matter most to you.
Neither choice is wrong. We’ve found the best diamond is usually the one that aligns most closely with what matters to you as a couple.
