Lab-grown and natural diamonds compared
| Lab-grown diamond | Natural diamond | |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Pure crystallised carbon | Pure crystallised carbon |
| Hardness | 10 on the Mohs scale | 10 on the Mohs scale |
| Refractive index | 2.42 | 2.42 |
| Sparkle and fire | Identical | Identical |
| Formation time | A few weeks | 1 to 3 billion years |
| Origin | Fully traceable laboratory | Mine, often hard to trace |
| Certification | IGI, GIA | GIA, IGI, HRD |
| Price for the same quality | Significantly lower | Significantly higher |
Even trained gemmologists cannot tell lab-grown and natural diamonds apart with the naked eye or a loupe. Specialised laboratory equipment is needed to detect tiny differences in growth patterns and trace elements.
How a lab-grown diamond grows
CVD (Chemical Vapour Deposition): a thin slice of diamond, the seed, is placed in a sealed chamber. A mixture of methane and hydrogen is heated with microwaves into a glowing plasma. Carbon atoms separate from the gas and bond to the seed, building the crystal atom by atom. The result is a flat, square rough diamond that is then cut and polished like any other.
HPHT (High Pressure, High Temperature): a seed is placed in a press together with pure carbon and a metal solvent. At around 1,500 °C and pressures more than 50,000 times the atmosphere, the carbon dissolves and crystallises on the seed. HPHT crystals typically grow with a cuboctahedral shape.
Both methods create real diamonds. Some CVD diamonds receive a brief heat treatment after growth to perfect their colour; this is standard practice and is always stated on the certificate.
What Type IIa means
Scientists also sort diamonds by their chemistry. Type Ia diamonds contain clusters of nitrogen and make up most natural diamonds. Type Ib contain scattered nitrogen and often look yellow. Type IIa diamonds contain almost no nitrogen, which makes them exceptionally white and transparent; only about 1 to 2 percent of natural diamonds belong to this group. Type IIb contain boron and can appear blue. Most high-quality lab-grown diamonds are Type IIa, the purest type there is.
How to recognise a real diamond
Simulants such as cubic zirconia or glass may look similar at first glance, but they are different materials with different hardness and light behaviour. The only reliable proof is an independent certificate and, for our diamonds, a laser inscription on the girdle that matches the certificate number.
Why BEUSÉA works only with lab-grown diamonds
We believe the most beautiful diamond should not come at the cost of the earth. Lab-grown diamonds give us full traceability, consistent top quality and a far smaller environmental footprint, while offering the same fire and durability. That is why every diamond we set is lab-grown, D colour, VVS–VS1 clarity and IGI certified.
