Wondering how to identify lab grown diamonds from natural diamonds?
You’re in the right place.
Before we dive in, if you’re also shopping for lab diamonds and want to make sure you’re buying from trustworthy retailers, check out our guide on the Best Place to Buy Lab Grown Diamonds | Top 3 Stores — it’s a great starting point.
In this Learning Guide, I’ll answer the top questions people ask when trying to tell the difference between a synthetic diamond and a mined diamond .
Can You Tell the Difference Between Lab Grown Diamonds and Mined Diamonds?
Many shoppers wonder if you can truly tell a natural diamond from a lab-grown one. It’s one of the most common questions in the jewelry world — and the answer isn’t as simple as it seems.
Let’s walk through everything you need to know.
Read Also : When Did Lab-Grown Diamonds Start?
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Are Lab Grown Diamonds the Same as Natural Diamonds?
Yes — lab grown diamonds are real diamonds.
They share the exact same:
Chemical composition (pure carbon)
Crystal structure
Optical performance
Durability (10 on Mohs hardness scale)
The only difference is where they’re formed:
Mined diamonds: created deep in the Earth over billions of years
Lab grown diamonds: created in a controlled chamber over weeks
Both produce a genuine diamond — not a simulant and not a fake.
Double sparkle. Pure golden elegance
Read Also : Lab Grown Diamond Price: Cost Comparison (In-Depth Guide)
Where Are Lab Grown Diamonds Identified?
If you’re trying to confirm whether your stone is natural or lab-grown, you can check:
Your diamond grading report
A local jeweler with advanced testing machines
A certified gemologist trained specifically in lab-diamond detection
Major labs like GIA, IGI, or GCAL
Lab-grown identification always requires equipment, not eyesight alone.
What Are Lab Created Diamonds?
Lab grown diamonds are real diamonds manufactured in one of two ways:
1. HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature)
A diamond seed is placed under extreme heat and pressure — similar to how diamonds form in Earth’s mantle.
2. CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition)
A Type IIa diamond seed is placed in a vacuum chamber. Carbon vapor attaches to the seed layer by layer, forming a diamond.
Type IIa diamonds are the purest form of diamond with no nitrogen or boron impurities. Only 1–2% of natural diamonds are Type IIa — which means CVD diamonds begin with exceptionally pure seeds.
Both HPHT and CVD processes produce high-quality real diamonds.
Neither one is objectively “better” — they just have different growth environments.
Read Also : HPHT vs CVD Diamonds: Which Creation Method Is Better?
Classic sparkle in sleek white gold
Are Lab Created Diamonds Real Diamonds?
Yes — absolutely.
People often confuse “lab grown” with fake diamonds or simulants, but they’re completely different things.
Lab Grown = Real Diamond
Same carbon structure, same brilliance, same durability.
Diamond Simulants = Not Real Diamonds
Simulants only look like diamonds but have different chemistry, hardness, and sparkle.
Examples of simulants:
Moissanite
Cubic Zirconia (CZ)
White sapphire
White topaz
White zircon
Simulants can be intentional substitutes — or used unethically to mislead buyers.
Lab-grown diamonds are genuine diamonds. Simulants are not.
Read Also : Lab Grown Blue Diamonds
Brilliant studs for everyday elegance
Can You Tell the Difference Between a Lab Grown Diamond and a Mined Diamond?
Here’s the truth:
You cannot tell the difference with the naked eye.
You also can’t tell by using a standard diamond tester — both will test positive as real diamonds.
And if someone tried to sell a conflict diamond, they wouldn’t do it at lab-grown pricing. That’s not how the scam works.
But there’s a catch:
A trained gemologist can identify a lab grown diamond…
…but a typical customer cannot.
Lab diamonds share the same optical properties as natural diamonds, so their sparkle, fire, and brilliance appear identical. The only reliable way to know is through advanced testing and a proper grading report.
And if you’re also planning to buy a lab-grown diamond, it may help to review our guide on the Best Place to Buy Lab Grown Diamonds, so you can shop confidently and avoid any uncertainty from the start.
5 Ways to Identify Lab Grown Diamonds (Video Guide)
Want a quick visual breakdown?
This video walks you through the top five professional methods used to identify lab grown diamonds, showing how experts distinguish them from natural stones using real examples and reliable testing techniques.
How Do Gemologists Identify Lab Grown Diamonds From Natural Diamonds?
Not all gemologists specialize in distinguishing lab diamonds — even those with a GIA Graduate Gemologist (GG) degree. Specialized labs and jewelers with advanced tools can detect them.
Here’s how professionals do it:
1. Fluorescence (DiamondView® Machine)
The GIA’s DiamondView machine exposes the stone to intense UV light. The diamond glows, revealing patterns invisible to the naked eye.
HPHT diamonds → bright blue fluorescence
CVD diamonds → orange fluorescence
Natural diamonds → generally weaker glow
Important: not all diamonds fluoresce.
2. Growth Patterns
Using the fluorescent scan, gemologists analyze the diamond’s internal growth structure:
Natural diamonds → irregular, organic growth
Lab-grown diamonds → structured, layered, or metallic patterns
These patterns are like a “birth fingerprint.”
3. Phosphorescence
This is the “afterglow” once UV light is removed.
Only 0.001% of natural diamonds phosphoresce — making it a useful identification point.
4. Inclusions
While not foolproof, inclusions can give clues:
Natural inclusion types:
Minerals
Crystals
Feathers
Clouds
Lab-grown inclusions:
Metallic flux (HPHT)
Parallel graining lines (CVD)
Graphite inclusions
Dark pinpoint clusters
VVS or IF diamonds make this method more challenging — but labs have tools for microscopic detection.
5. Type II Testing Machine
This device detects whether a diamond belongs to the Type II category — commonly associated with CVD diamonds.
Not every jeweler has this equipment, but it’s incredibly accurate.
How to Identify Lab Grown Diamonds as a Customer
You can’t visually identify a lab diamond on your own — but you can protect yourself.
1. Buy a Certified Lab Grown Diamond
A proper certification report will clearly state:
Whether the diamond is lab grown
Whether it’s HPHT or CVD
Detailed clarity plots and measurements
For natural diamonds:
GIA
AGS
For lab-grown diamonds:
IGI
GCAL
GIA (for lab-grown, but less common)
Your grading report is the most reliable way to confirm a diamond’s identity.
If you’re shopping for a lab diamond, I can also recommend trusted online stores with the best quality and value.
Read Also : Lab Grown Diamonds Certification
A laser inscription is a tiny, microscopic number etched onto the diamond’s girdle. It’s invisible to the naked eye, but you can see it with a jeweler’s loupe or a microscope. This number usually matches the grading report ID, allowing you to confirm the diamond’s identity instantly.
Laser inscriptions help verify:
Whether the diamond is lab grown or natural
Which grading lab certified it
The report number
Whether the diamond matches the certificate you received
Not all diamonds have laser inscriptions, but most reputable jewelers and grading labs offer them—especially for lab-grown stones. It’s one of the most reliable ways to confirm your diamond’s authenticity without sending it back to a lab.
Send It Off to a Grading Lab
If you’re not sure whether a diamond is lab grown or natural, you can send it to a grading lab for confirmation.
If you already own a diamond engagement ring and want it certified, you can do that as well. GIA-certified or AGS-certified natural diamonds hold the highest value among colorless mined diamonds.
I recommend sending both natural and lab-grown diamonds to the GIA for grading.
You’ll need to send your unmounted diamond to their facility. A GIA Lab-Grown Diamond Report costs around $125, and they also offer reports for lab-created fancy color diamonds.
If you want a less expensive option for lab-grown grading, the International Gemological Institute (IGI) offers very common and widely accepted lab-grown diamond reports. Before GIA updated their lab-grown grading system, IGI was the top choice.
Laser Inscription
If you purchased a certified lab-grown diamond from a reputable grading authority, it may have a laser inscription on the stone. This is sometimes called a GemScribe number.
To find the inscription, you’ll need a jeweler’s loupe. If you don’t have one, a local jeweler can read it for you.
A laser-inscribed diamond will have a small combination of letters and numbers on the girdle — the thin edge that circles around the diamond.
You can match this number to your grading report or type it into the grading lab’s website to verify the diamond’s identity.
You should know that not all diamonds with a grading report are laser-inscribed. Major grading labs like the GIA can add a laser inscription upon request, but it comes with an additional cost.
A laser-inscribed diamond can be extremely helpful in situations involving theft or diamond switching. As much as we’d like to believe these things never happen, they do — and many people have reported cases where their diamond was swapped during repairs or cleanings.
With a laser inscription, you can confirm that the diamond you receive back from a jeweler or repair shop is your exact diamond, not just a real one.
If you purchased a stone certified by a reputable grading lab, a laser inscription can also protect you in the event of theft. If someone steals your diamond and tries to pawn it, the pawn shop will check the stone. If they see a laser inscription, they’ll look up the number. If that number has been reported as stolen (which you must notify the lab about), the shop will keep the diamond and alert the authorities.
That’s why I recommend the GIA for both services. They’re the top in the industry and you should be well-protected if either unfortunate situation were to happen.
2-Buy From a Reputable Retailer :
The simplest, safest way to avoid confusion is to buy from a retailer who provides trusted certifications and transparent labeling.
High-quality retailers will clearly disclose:
Whether a diamond is lab grown or mined
Which method was used (HPHT or CVD)
The full grading report from GIA, IGI, or GCAL
The laser inscription (when applicable)
They won’t try to hide details or push uncertified stones.
Delicate sparkle with effortless charm
Should You Be Worried About Buying the Wrong Type of Diamond?
For most shoppers, the answer is no. The jewelry industry is heavily regulated, and major grading labs and retailers follow strict rules about disclosing diamond origin.
The only real risks come from:
Buying uncertified diamonds
Buying from unknown sellers
Purchasing stones labeled by their own in-house “labs”
No-return policies or unclear product descriptions
Avoiding these red flags ensures you’ll never be misled. And if you want extra peace of mind when shopping, you can check our guide on the Best Place to Buy Lab Grown Diamonds | Top 3 Stores to learn where the most reliable and transparent retailers are.
So… What’s the Best Way to Identify a Lab Grown Diamond?
Here’s the quick summary:
For customers:
Check the grading report
Look up the report number online
Verify laser inscription
Buy from reputable jewelers
For professionals:
DiamondView® fluorescence analysis
Growth pattern imaging
Inclusion mapping
Type II testing
Spectroscopy
For absolute certainty:
Send the diamond to GIA or IGI for an origin report
FAQ
1. Can you tell a lab grown diamond from a natural one?
Not with the naked eye. Only professional tools and gemologists can confirm the difference.
2. Are lab grown diamonds real diamonds?
Yes. They have the same chemical, physical, and optical properties as natural diamonds.
3. Do lab grown diamonds show up on a diamond tester?
Yes. Both natural and lab grown diamonds test as real diamonds.
4. How can I verify if my diamond is lab grown?
Check the grading report, laser inscription, or have a gemologist examine it.
5. Do lab grown diamonds hold their value?
They usually have lower resale value because they’re easier to produce, but they offer better upfront savings.
Read Also : Why Not to Buy a Lab Grown Diamond .
