Real diamonds. Grown in a lab. Certified by IGI. And up to 70% more affordable than mined stones. Here's everything you need to know.
If you've been searching for diamond jewellery recently, you've probably come across the term "lab grown diamonds." Maybe a friend mentioned them. Maybe you saw them on Instagram. Or maybe you're just wondering — are these things actually real?
The short answer: yes, completely. Lab grown diamonds are real diamonds in every sense of the word — same crystal structure, same sparkle, same hardness, same chemical composition. The only difference is where they were born.
In this guide, we're going to break down everything you need to know: what lab grown diamonds are, how they're made, how they compare to mined diamonds, and why more and more Indian jewellery buyers are choosing them. By the end, you'll have all the information you need to make a confident, informed decision.
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Identical chemical composition to mined diamonds |
IGI Certified every stone graded by independent lab |
Up to 70% more affordable than equivalent mined stones |
What exactly is a lab grown diamond?
A lab grown diamond — also called a lab created diamond, synthetic diamond, or cultured diamond — is a diamond that was created in a controlled laboratory environment rather than forming naturally underground over billions of years.
But here's what matters: the end result is identical. A lab grown diamond is made of pure carbon atoms arranged in a crystal lattice structure — exactly the same as a mined diamond. They have the same physical properties, the same optical properties, and the same chemical properties.
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the International Gemological Institute (IGI) — the world's most respected gem grading organisations — both grade lab grown diamonds using.
"Lab grown diamonds are diamonds. They have essentially the same chemical, physical, and optical properties as natural diamonds." — International Gemological Institute (IGI)
In other words, if you showed a lab grown diamond and a mined diamond to a gemologist without telling them which was which, they would not be able to tell the difference with the naked eye — or even with standard gemological tools. Only specialist equipment capable of detecting trace elements can distinguish between the two.
How are lab grown diamonds made?
There are two main methods used to create lab grown diamonds, and both replicate the extreme heat and pressure conditions under which natural diamonds form deep within the Earth's mantle.
1. High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT)
The HPHT method mimics the natural diamond formation process. A small diamond seed is placed in a chamber where it is exposed to temperatures exceeding 1,500°C and pressures of around 1.5 million pounds per square inch. Under these conditions, the carbon around the seed crystallises and grows into a full diamond over a period of days to weeks.
2. Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD)
The CVD method is more recent and increasingly popular. A diamond seed is placed in a vacuum chamber and exposed to a carbon-rich gas mixture. When the gas is activated by microwave energy, carbon atoms separate from the gas and deposit onto the seed, building up layer by layer until a full diamond crystal is formed.
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Both methods produce genuine diamonds. The choice of method affects the growth process, but not the quality or authenticity of the final stone. All New Age Diamonds pieces use IGI-certified diamonds regardless of growth method. |
Lab grown diamonds vs mined diamonds — what's the real difference?
This is the question most buyers want answered. Here's an honest, side-by-side breakdown.
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Property |
Lab grown diamond |
Mined diamond |
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Chemical composition |
Pure carbon (C) |
Pure carbon (C) |
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Hardness (Mohs) |
10 — the hardest |
10 — the hardest |
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Refractive index |
2.417 |
2.417 |
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IGI / GIA certified |
Yes |
Yes |
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Visually identical |
Yes |
Yes |
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Price (same specs) |
30–70% lower |
Higher |
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Environmental impact |
Significantly lower |
High (mining) |
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Ethical sourcing |
Guaranteed |
Variable (conflict risk) |
The takeaway from this table is straightforward: lab grown diamonds and mined diamonds are the same product, produced differently. The differences that actually matter to buyers — price, ethics, and environmental footprint — all favour the lab grown option.
Are lab grown diamonds certified?
Yes — and certification is one of the most important things to look for when buying any diamond, lab grown or mined.
Every diamond sold by New Age Diamonds comes with an IGI (International Gemological Institute) certificate. The IGI is one of the world's leading gem grading laboratories, and their certification process for lab grown diamonds is identical to the process used for mined diamonds.
Your IGI certificate will include:
• Carat weight: the precise weight of your diamond, measured to two decimal places
• Cut grade: from Excellent to Poor, measuring how well the diamond has been shaped to maximise light performance
• Colour grade: from D (colourless) to Z, with D–F being the most prized
• Clarity grade: from Flawless (FL) to Included (I3), describing internal characteristics
• Shape and dimensions: the precise measurements of the stone
• Laser inscription: a unique ID number inscribed on the girdle, linking the stone to its certificate
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Tip: When shopping for diamond jewellery, always ask for the IGI certificate number. You can verify any certificate at igi.org using the unique report number. |
Why are lab grown diamonds so much more affordable?
This is one of the most common questions we hear — and it's a fair one. If lab grown diamonds are genuinely the same as mined diamonds, why do they cost so much less?
The answer comes down to supply chain, not quality.
A mined diamond travels an extraordinarily long route before it reaches your finger. It is extracted from deep underground (often at significant environmental and human cost), transported to cutting centres in Antwerp, Mumbai, or New York, traded through multiple layers of dealers and wholesalers, certified, and eventually sold through a retailer with substantial markup at every stage.
A lab grown diamond is created in a controlled facility, certified, set in jewellery, and sold — a dramatically shorter and more efficient supply chain. There are no mining operations, no geopolitical complications, and no artificial scarcity.
The result: you can buy a larger, better-quality diamond for the same budget — or spend significantly less for the same size and quality you'd find in a mined stone.
The environmental and ethical case for lab grown diamonds
For a growing number of Indian buyers, especially younger consumers, the ethics of where their jewellery comes from matters as much as how it looks.
Traditional diamond mining has a troubled history. It is associated with significant environmental damage — including deforestation, soil erosion, and water contamination — and the human rights concerns around conflict diamonds (also called "blood diamonds") have been extensively documented.
Lab grown diamonds sidestep all of this entirely. They are:
• Created in controlled facilities with a fraction of the environmental footprint of mining
• Traceable from creation to certification, eliminating conflict diamond concerns
• Increasingly powered by renewable energy sources as the industry matures
• Produced without displacing communities or damaging ecosystems
This is not to say lab grown diamonds are perfect from an environmental standpoint — the energy required to create them is significant. But by virtually every measure, their environmental impact is substantially lower than mined diamonds.
Lab grown diamonds and the Indian jewellery market
India has one of the world's most sophisticated diamond industries — Surat processes over 90% of the world's cut and polished diamonds. And increasingly, Indian consumers are embracing lab grown diamonds, not just as a cost-saving option, but as a conscious, modern choice.
The lab grown diamond jewellery market in India is growing rapidly, driven by:
• Price accessibility: lab grown diamonds make fine diamond jewellery accessible to a much wider audience
• Urban, educated buyers: younger professionals in metros are driving demand, prioritising value and ethics
• Gifting culture: lab grown diamonds unlock more meaningful gifts within everyday budgets
• Trust in certification: IGI-certified lab grown diamonds remove the guesswork from online diamond buying
At New Age Diamonds, we've built our entire collection around making IGI-certified lab grown diamond jewellery accessible to Indian buyers — with prices starting from under ₹5,000 and pieces available in 925 silver with palladium, our Silvadium range delivers the look and feel of luxury at a fraction of traditional diamond prices.
Frequently asked questions about lab grown diamonds
Are lab grown diamonds real diamonds?
Yes, completely. Lab grown diamonds have the same chemical composition (pure carbon), the same crystal structure, the same hardness (10 on the Mohs scale), and the same optical properties as mined diamonds. They are graded by IGI and GIA using the same standards.
Can you tell the difference between a lab grown and mined diamond?
Not with the naked eye, and not with standard gemological tools. Only specialist equipment capable of detecting trace elements introduced during the growth process can distinguish between the two. Your jeweller, your friends, and your partner will not be able to tell.
Do lab grown diamonds have resale value?
Lab grown diamonds do have resale value, though — like most jewellery — it is lower than the original purchase price. At New Age Diamonds, we offer an 80% buyback programme on our pieces, giving you exceptional value even if you decide to upgrade in future.
Are lab grown diamonds certified?
Yes. Every diamond in our collection comes with an IGI certificate, which documents the cut, colour, clarity, and carat weight of your stone. You can verify your certificate independently at igi.org.
What metal are New Age Diamonds pieces made in?
Our silver jewellery collection uses 925 sterling silver with a palladium treatment (which we call Silvadium) — this gives the pieces a platinum-like appearance and significantly improves durability and tarnish resistance compared to regular silver.
How much does a lab grown diamond ring cost in India?
At New Age Diamonds, lab grown diamond rings start from under ₹5,000 and go up to ₹52,000+ for premium pieces with larger IGI-certified stones. Our most popular pieces fall in the ₹8,000–₹20,000 range.
Ready to find your diamond?
Lab grown diamonds represent a genuine shift in how we think about fine jewellery — not a compromise, but an upgrade. Same beauty. Same certification. Dramatically better value. And a much cleaner conscience.
At New Age Diamonds, every piece in our collection is IGI certified, beautifully crafted, and designed for real life — from everyday wear to special occasions.
Explore the collection at New Age Diamonds
IGI certified · Free shipping · 80% buyback · COD available
thenewagediamonds.com/collections/all-jewellery
Related articles you might like:
• IGI certification explained — what the numbers on your certificate actually mean
• Lab diamond vs mined diamond: an honest comparison for Indian buyers
• How to find your ring size at home — the complete India guide
• The best lab grown diamond rings under ₹15,000 in 2025