Natural vs. Lab-Grown Diamonds: How to Choose the Right Diamond for You
Shopping for a diamond should be exciting—not overwhelming.
One of the biggest questions we hear from customers today is:
“Should I choose a natural diamond or a lab-grown diamond?”
The answer is different for everyone.
Natural and lab-grown diamonds are both real diamonds, and both can be absolutely beautiful. The biggest differences come down to where they come from, rarity, price, and what matters most to you personally.
At Wm Moore Jewelers, our job isn't to tell you which one you should choose. It's to give you the information you need to feel confident about the diamond you bring home.
First Things First: Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Real Diamonds?
Yes.
This is probably the most common misconception surrounding lab-grown diamonds.
A lab-grown diamond is not cubic zirconia, moissanite, glass, or another diamond imitation.
Lab-grown diamonds have essentially the same chemical composition, crystal structure, hardness, and optical properties as natural diamonds. The primary difference is their origin.
Natural diamonds are created within the Earth.
Lab-grown diamonds are created in a controlled laboratory environment using technology designed to reproduce the conditions under which diamonds form.
That difference in origin has a significant effect on rarity, availability, and price.
Why Choose a Natural Diamond?
Natural diamonds were formed deep within the Earth through geological processes over immense periods of time.
For many people, that history is part of what makes a natural diamond so special.
No laboratory created it. Nature did.
Natural diamonds are also a finite natural resource, which gives them a sense of rarity that cannot be replicated by a manufactured diamond.
A natural diamond may be the right choice for you if you value:
Natural origin and rarity
Tradition
The geological history behind your diamond
The idea of passing your jewelry down as an heirloom
Owning something that cannot simply be produced again
Natural diamonds typically command a significantly higher purchase price than comparable lab-grown diamonds, so your budget may purchase a smaller natural diamond than it would a lab-grown diamond with similar specifications.
For some customers, that's a worthwhile tradeoff.
Why Choose a Lab-Grown Diamond?
Lab-grown diamonds have completely changed the way people can shop for diamond jewelry.
Because they can be produced rather than discovered and mined as a finite natural resource, they generally cost considerably less than natural diamonds with comparable characteristics.
That can give you much more flexibility with your budget.
For example, someone who prioritizes a larger center stone may be able to choose a larger lab-grown diamond while staying within the same budget they had established for a smaller natural diamond.
A lab-grown diamond may be the right choice for you if you prioritize:
Getting a larger diamond for your budget
Higher color or clarity specifications within a particular price range
The appearance and durability of a diamond
Having more flexibility when choosing your center stone
Spending less on the diamond and allocating more of your budget toward the setting, wedding bands, honeymoon, or other priorities
Choosing lab-grown doesn't mean you're choosing a “fake” diamond.
You're simply choosing a diamond with a different origin.
Natural vs. Lab-Grown Diamonds at a Glance
Natural Diamond
✓ Real diamond
✓ 10 on the Mohs hardness scale
✓ Formed naturally within the Earth
✓ Naturally finite
✓ Available in many cuts, colors, clarities, and carat weights
✓ Typically carries a higher purchase price
✓ Strong traditional and heirloom appeal
Lab-Grown Diamond
✓ Real diamond
✓ 10 on the Mohs hardness scale
✓ Created in a controlled laboratory environment
✓ Can be produced rather than naturally discovered
✓ Available in many cuts, colors, clarities, and carat weights
✓ Typically carries a lower purchase price
✓ Often allows for a larger or higher-specification diamond within the same budget
Don't Forget About the 4Cs
Whether you're shopping for a natural or lab-grown diamond, you'll still hear us talk about the 4Cs: Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat.
Cut
Cut describes how well a diamond's proportions and craftsmanship allow it to interact with light.
This is an incredibly important part of choosing a diamond because it has a major influence on its brilliance, sparkle, and overall appearance.
A bigger diamond isn't necessarily a prettier diamond.
Color
Diamond color grades generally describe how much—or how little—color is visible within a diamond.
Many customers are surprised to discover that they don't necessarily need the highest color grade to find a diamond that looks beautifully white in their chosen setting.
Clarity
Clarity evaluates characteristics found inside or on the surface of a diamond.
Rather than automatically chasing the highest clarity grade, we can help you understand what you'll actually be able to see with your own eyes.
Carat
Carat refers to a diamond's weight, not simply how large it looks.
Two diamonds with the same carat weight can appear slightly different in size depending on their shape, proportions, and cut.
That's why we encourage customers to look at diamonds rather than shopping by numbers alone.
What About Resale Value?
This is an important conversation—and one that deserves an honest answer.
Purchase price and resale value are not the same thing.
Natural and lab-grown diamond markets behave differently, and market prices can change over time.
We don't recommend purchasing either type of diamond based on an assumption that it will provide a guaranteed financial return later.
Instead, think about what you're purchasing the diamond for.
An engagement ring may eventually become something you pass down to your children or grandchildren. An anniversary ring may remind you of a particular chapter in your marriage. A diamond purchased to celebrate an accomplishment may carry a story that means far more to you than its resale price.
If long-term value or future resale is particularly important to you, talk with us about it while you're shopping. We're happy to explain the differences and current market considerations before you make your decision.
So…Which Diamond Should You Choose?
Here's the good news:
There isn't one “right” diamond. There's the right diamond for you.
If you love the idea of wearing something incredibly old, naturally formed, finite, and traditionally associated with generations of fine jewelry, you may find yourself drawn to a natural diamond.
If your priority is getting more size or higher specifications while making the most of your budget, a lab-grown diamond may make perfect sense.
And sometimes, all of those considerations disappear the moment you see the right diamond.
That's why we believe one of the best ways to decide is to see them in person.
Come Compare Them Side-by-Side
Online research is a great place to start, but diamonds are meant to be seen.
Come into Wm Moore Jewelers and let us show you natural and lab-grown diamonds side-by-side. Look at different shapes. Compare sizes. See how different cuts perform in the light. Try them with different settings.
Ask every question you have.
There shouldn't be pressure involved in choosing something this meaningful.
Our goal is simply to help you understand exactly what you're looking at, what you're paying for, and what makes one diamond different from another.
Then you get to decide what matters most.
Because whether your perfect diamond was created deep within the Earth or grown using modern technology, the most important part is the story you're about to create with it.
Wm Moore Jewelers
Downtown Greeley, Colorado
Come see us and discover the diamond that feels like yours.. and saw hi to Spooky, The Jewelry Store Cat
