Lab-grown diamond

Yes, in the way that matters chemically. Lab-grown diamonds have the same crystal structure as natural ones, tightly bonded carbon atoms, and nearly identical properties. The main difference is where they formed: in a lab, not deep underground over a very long time.

The US Federal Trade Commission's Jewelry Guides, which are American guidance rather than Canadian law, define a diamond as a mineral consisting essentially of pure carbon crystallized in the isometric system. That definition is about composition, not origin. A lab-grown stone fits it, which is why "lab-grown diamond" is an honest name and "fake diamond" is not. A moissanite or a cubic zirconia is a different material, and calling it a diamond would be wrong.

Two methods dominate. Both start with a tiny diamond seed. In HPHT (high pressure, high temperature), carbon dissolved in molten metal crystallizes onto the seed in a press. In CVD (chemical vapour deposition), a microwave beam causes carbon from a gas to deposit onto the seed in thin layers.

General Electric began creating diamonds in a laboratory in 1954, the first gem-quality HPHT diamonds were grown in 1970, and lab-grown diamonds were first sold in 1984. Today they are common.

Not reliably by eye. Identifying a lab-grown diamond takes testing with advanced scientific instruments. Laboratories use spectroscopy and fluorescence imaging such as DiamondView to read the growth patterns and trace impurities inside the crystal, and GIA's iD100 desktop instrument helps jewellers screen stones for lab-grown origin in under two seconds.

Because of this, the practical protection for a buyer is disclosure and paperwork. GIA laser-inscribes every lab-grown diamond it evaluates on the girdle with a laboratory-grown statement and a report number. When you buy, ask for the stone's report, read it for the words laboratory-grown, and match the inscription to the report number.

Canada's Competition Act prohibits making a representation to the public that is false or misleading in a material respect, in paragraph 74.01(1)(a). The Competition Bureau judges both the literal meaning of a claim and the general impression it creates. Selling a lab-grown stone as natural, or leaving out what it is when the buyer would reasonably assume otherwise, risks falling under that provision. That general rule is the legal standard for how a seller may describe any diamond in Canada.

Industry guidance is more specific. The Canadian Jewellers Association's 2020 advertising guidelines, which are a trade association's rules and not legislation, say "synthetic", "lab-grown" or "lab-created" must come before "diamond" and not be given less prominence than it.

The US Jewelry Guides, which are American guidance and not Canadian law, say a term like laboratory-grown should come immediately before a stone's name with equal conspicuousness, and that the word faux is not enough. They allow cultured only when it is qualified by a clear lab-grown disclosure. The Kimberley Process is a different matter: it covers rough diamonds used to finance rebel movements, and it does not address lab-grown stones, which are made rather than mined.

GIA has changed how it reports lab-grown stones. Since October 1, 2025, its Laboratory-Grown Diamond Quality Assessment describes colourless to near-colourless stones of 0.15 ct and up as Premium or Standard instead of using the colour and clarity grades it gives natural diamonds. Its coloured lab-grown reports cover growth type and post-growth treatment. IGI certifies a large share of lab-grown stones too. Report formats change, so read the current one for the exact wording.

On resale, be realistic. The Canadian Jewellers Association's guidelines say claims that lab-grown diamonds will gain value have not been proven. A diamond bought today may sell for far less later, and the same caution applies to any jewellery, which is made to be worn, not to hold or grow in worth. Choose for the look, the size and the price you are comfortable paying now.

It depends on what you value. Lab-grown vs natural diamonds lays out the trade-offs. If a stone formed in the Earth matters to you, see natural diamonds. A third option is moissanite, a different material from diamond. A custom ring can be built around any of the three, and the custom engagement ring page explains how an order starts.