Lab Grown vs Natural Diamonds: An Honest Take from a Jeweler
Lab Grown vs Natural Diamonds
An Honest Take
We sell both lab grown and natural diamond jewelry. We have no financial incentive to push one over the other. So here is the truth: lab grown and natural diamonds are physically, chemically, and optically identical. The only differences are origin, price, and personal meaning.
No difference — only personal preference. Here's the full breakdown.
Lab Grown vs Natural — Key Facts
| Property | Lab Grown | Natural |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical composition | Pure carbon | Pure carbon |
| Hardness (Mohs) | 10 | 10 |
| Refractive index | 2.42 | 2.42 |
| Density (g/cm3) | 3.52 | 3.52 |
| Price (4.5ct bracelet) | $1,450 | $8,000+ |
| Certification | IGI | GIA / IGI |
Same Diamond. Different Origin.
A lab grown diamond IS a diamond. This is not marketing language. It is a statement of physical fact confirmed by the FTC in 2018. Lab grown diamonds have the same crystal structure (cubic carbon lattice), the same hardness (10 Mohs), the same refractive index (2.42), the same thermal conductivity, and the same optical properties as natural diamonds.
The formation process differs: natural diamonds form over billions of years under extreme pressure and temperature deep in the Earth's mantle. Lab grown diamonds form in weeks under replicated conditions using HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature) or CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) methods.
The end product is chemically identical. A lab grown diamond and a natural diamond of the same cut, clarity, color, and carat weight will look the same under a loupe, perform the same on a hardness test, and sparkle the same on a wrist. No jeweler can distinguish them without specialized spectroscopy equipment.
Our position: We sell both. We have no reason to push one over the other. The difference is not in the diamond — it's in what matters to you.
The 60-80% Price Gap
Lab grown diamonds cost 60-80% less than natural diamonds of equivalent quality. This is not because they are inferior — they are physically identical. It's because they can be produced on demand rather than mined from finite geological deposits.
For a tennis bracelet — which requires 30-50 matched diamonds — the savings compound dramatically. A 4.5ct natural diamond tennis bracelet in 14K white gold would cost $8,000-$15,000 depending on diamond quality. The same bracelet with lab grown diamonds of equivalent grade costs $1,450 at TEASES.
Important context on "value": Neither lab grown nor natural diamonds are financial investments. Natural diamonds lose 30-50% of retail value the moment you leave the store. Lab grown diamonds have even lower resale value because they can be reproduced. Both are consumer goods you buy to wear and enjoy — not to sell later.
If you are buying a diamond to wear for decades, the question is simple: do you want to pay $1,450 or $8,000+ for the same physical properties on your wrist?
You sacrifice: Nothing physical. Same stones, same metal, same clasp, same certification.
Moissanite Is Not a Diamond
This is a common confusion that needs clearing up. Moissanite is sometimes marketed as a "diamond alternative," but it is a completely different mineral — silicon carbide (SiC) rather than carbon (C).
Moissanite has different hardness (9.25 vs 10 Mohs), a different refractive index (2.65 vs 2.42), different density (3.21 vs 3.52 g/cm3), and different thermal conductivity. It produces more rainbow dispersion ("fire") than diamond, which some people find appealing and others find looks artificial.
Moissanite is a good gemstone. It's hard, durable, and attractive. But it is not a diamond. Comparing moissanite to diamond is like comparing silver to platinum — both are fine metals, but they are different materials with different properties.
Lab grown diamond vs moissanite: A lab grown diamond IS a diamond. Moissanite is not. If you want a diamond — with diamond's specific optical properties, hardness, and thermal behavior — lab grown is the accessible path. Moissanite is its own category.
| Property | Diamond | Moissanite |
|---|---|---|
| Composition | Carbon (C) | Silicon carbide (SiC) |
| Hardness | 10 Mohs | 9.25 Mohs |
| Refractive index | 2.42 | 2.65 |
| Density | 3.52 g/cm3 | 3.21 g/cm3 |
| Fire (dispersion) | 0.044 | 0.104 |
| Is it a diamond? | Yes | No |
How Diamonds Are Certified
GIA (Gemological Institute of America) is the most recognized grading authority for natural diamonds. They grade the 4Cs — cut, color, clarity, and carat — and issue a report number that can be verified online. GIA also grades lab grown diamonds but uses a different report format.
IGI (International Gemological Institute) is the leading grading authority for lab grown diamonds. They use the same 4Cs grading scale and issue reports with the same level of detail as GIA. IGI certification is the industry standard for lab grown diamond jewelry.
The TEASES approach: Our lab grown diamond tennis bracelet uses IGI-certified stones — each graded for cut, color, clarity, and carat weight. For natural diamond pieces, we use GIA or IGI certification depending on the source. Every diamond in your bracelet has a traceable grade.
Certification matters because it ensures you know exactly what you are buying — regardless of whether the diamond is lab grown or natural. Without certification, you are trusting marketing claims rather than independent science.
Stone count: 42 diamonds
Shape: 21 princess + 21 round (alternating)
Clarity: SI1
Metal: 14K white gold
Clasp: Double-lock
Certification: IGI
Price (lab grown): $1,450
Natural diamond: Available on request
"We sell both. We recommend neither. We just give you the facts and let you decide."
The TEASES Diamond Tennis Bracelet is available with lab grown diamonds at $1,450 — or with natural diamonds on request. Same 14K white gold. Same double-lock clasp. Same 42-stone alternating design. Same craftsmanship.
The only thing that changes is the origin of the carbon. Everything you see and feel on your wrist is identical.
Lab Grown: $1,450 | Natural: On Request
Frequently Asked
Lab grown vs natural diamonds — answered without bias.