Lab vs Natural Diamonds — The Honest Guide

Let us begin with the most important fact: a lab-grown diamond is a real diamond. It has the same chemical composition, the same crystal structure, the same optical properties, and the same hardness (10 on the Mohs scale) as a diamond formed underground over billions of years. If you placed a lab diamond and a natural diamond side by side, neither a gemologist nor a machine could distinguish them without specialised equipment.

That said, the choice between lab and natural is not trivial. It is a values decision more than a quality decision.

The case for lab diamonds

Lab diamonds are grown in controlled environments using either HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature) or CVD (Chemical Vapour Deposition) processes. They take weeks, not billions of years. As a result, they cost 60–80% less than comparable natural diamonds.

For a customer who wants the largest, most brilliant stone within a given budget, lab diamonds represent exceptional value. A 2ct D VVS2 lab diamond costs roughly what a 1ct natural stone of similar quality would cost. The light performance is identical.

The case for natural diamonds

Natural diamonds are formed over one to three billion years, under conditions of extreme heat and pressure in the earth's mantle. They are carried to the surface by volcanic eruptions and found in a handful of places on the planet. Each one is unique.

There is something irreducibly meaningful about wearing a stone formed before human life existed on earth. For many customers, this story — the geological improbability of the thing — is precisely what they are paying for.

At Jabour & Co.

We offer both, without preference. We believe the right choice is the one that resonates with you. Our Impérial Collection works exclusively with natural, certified diamonds. Our Clássico Collection can be configured with either, depending on your specification.

We will never tell you which matters more. But we will always tell you the truth about what you are buying.