Lab-Grown Diamond Studs vs. Natural Diamond Studs – What’s the difference?

There are important variable factors between lab grown diamonds and earth’s natural counterparts. Though the most common misconception is that lab created diamond earrings are “fake diamonds” or diamond simulants, but that is far from the fact. Lab grown diamond studs are chemically and physically the same as a natural diamonds produced by the pressure of mother nature. While a diamond simulant such as a moissanite or cubic zirconia will only have the same optical properties— being chemically different and less durable. Not to mention, these only visually similar stones may maintain a lower value.

Before you make your purchase for diamond stud earrings, we want to help you consider all the differences (or similarities) between a natural pair of mined diamond studs and a pair of lab-grown diamond stud earrings.

The Biggest Difference is in the Formation Process

Natural diamonds form in specific conditions over a long period of time. In fact, it can take anywhere from 1 to 3.3 billion years for a diamond to form in the earth. This delicate process takes place under extreme temperatures (about 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit) and immense amounts of pressure. Then earthquakes and volcanic movements within the earth disrupt the placement of these natural diamonds bringing them closer to the earth’s surface embedded in large chunks of rocks. Understanding this lengthy process helps us to convey the rarity of a genuine natural mined diamond. The journey for those sparkling diamond earrings continues from the rough diamonds that are then exhumed from the earth to the intricate cutting process and then finally being set into fine diamond jewelry you can find in stores or online. 

Another varying factor to note is that these extreme conditions in which natural diamonds form can not be controlled. Therefore, producing a wide range of variable diamond colors, diamond clarity and carat weights. These differences can be caused by the presence of trace minerals and other conditions that influence the surroundings as the diamond grows. 

As the common saying in life, ‘No two people are alike’ This is also true between a created lab diamond and a natural diamond. The biggest difference steming from where the diamonds come from.

What is a Lab-Grown Diamond

Created lab diamonds are grown in highly-controlled laboratory conditions that replicate the earth’s environment – high pressure and high temperature, but above ground. These man made diamonds have the same chemical makeup, crystal structure, optical and physical properties of earth’s natural counterparts. Being of the same makeup, a lab diamond will exhibit the same strength, brilliance and fire. There are two ways to reproduce this above ground process in the Lab with either with high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) or chemical vapor deposition (CVD).

The Lab-Grown Diamonds Timeline

The lab process of ‘growing’ these diamonds is fascinating as the time is sped up in the comparison of billions of years to a mere 6 to 10 weeks. The laboratory growing period will also vary depending on the size of the grown diamond. Starting with the diamond seed, larger lab-grown diamonds will take longer to create. For a natural diamond to be mined today, it would have made it’s way to the earth’s surface after forming in nature over a few billion years ago. This time factor is not only a variable differentiation among a lab diamond and a natural diamond, but will also reflect in the value. After all, we could consider the earth’s natural mined diamond as one of the earth’s most pure antiques. Making the mined diamond even more romantic as the center focus of a diamond solitaire ring. 

The carat weight produced by lab-created diamonds is another interesting, notable difference. The carat weight ranges of lab-created diamonds max out at carat weights around 20 carats vs. large rough diamonds being discovered from the earth upwards of 400 carats total weight. There is no doubt that mother nature’s pressure can produce a larger natural diamond that can be created above ground in a laboratory. For this reason, a laboratory produces ideal carat weights for lab-grown diamond stud earrings. Could you imagine wearing over a 20 carat total weight pair of earrings? We couldn’t either but the perfect pair of 1.00 carat weight lab-grown studs in a yellow gold setting just might do the trick. Notably, the most popular pair of studs is the classic 1.00 carat total weight created diamond studs bezel set.

Are Lab-Grown Diamond Stud Earrings a Better Value?

Lab created diamond studs can cost up to 30% less vs natural diamond earrings of the same comparable size and quality. Considering the differences noted with mined and lab diamonds, this may not be surprising. 

Just like mother natures minded diamonds are available in variable colors, clarity, and qualities that impact the diamond earring prices, the same is true with lab-grown diamond earrings. These product details along with other options like metal type and carat diamond weight will determine the overall price of your selection. This may allow you to select a fancy shape like princess cut diamond earrings, but in a larger carat weight or the same carat weight earrings but with a higher diamond quality than you originally began searching for online.

Do Diamond Simulant Earrings Compare?

Other created stones like the Moissanite gemstone may be an optically similar gemstone that have only appearance factors similar to a diamond. A moissanite gemstone or cubic zirconia (aka the CZ) are also lab-created and designed to look similar to diamonds, but they are physically just not comparable and don’t stand up to the lab diamond. Cubic Zirconia (also known as CZ) was first created for its low cost, and appearance similar to a diamond. The CZ stone is always produced with a flawless appearance and has a high sparkle, for some time. Though, the hardness of these created stones is not similar to the strength of lab-created diamonds and overtime will become porous. Taking on other chemicals it is introduced to and leaving these stones appearing cloudy and unclear. 

These two diamond simulants are not made of the same physical structure, carbon crystals like diamonds. Which means simulated earrings sell at lower prices than diamonds (lab or mined). Though, these diamond simulants may serve a great purpose when it comes to fashion jewelry or a piece of jewelry that is only desired for a certain purpose or time period.  The untrained person may not be able to identify the differences with just the naked eye. Though, any person educated in gemological training or fine jewelry training will be able to spot the difference just with the naked eye when viewing simulant earrings vs a true lab created a diamond. 

Select the Diamond Studs That Appeal to You

Natural mined diamond studs and lab-created diamond studs are both of identical chemical properties. They will both equally perform and both last for generations. The beauty of both genuine formed diamonds is hard to compare nor deny. Yet, the most notable difference being the formation origins of the diamond studs. Selecting the most important factors to you will help you choose whichever type of genuine diamond earrings or gemstone studs are right for you. The fact that lab-created diamond studs earrings will have an unsurpassed sparkle and offer more value, is sure a hard fact to ignore. The round brilliant cut lab-created stud earrings are the most popular lab earring selection. We have definitely added these laboratory created diamonds to our Holiday Wish List. But, if you remain a hopeless romantic that adores timeless traditions, the earth grown, mined diamonds may be your ideal choice.

Don’t Forget the Certification

No matter where your purchase is from, ensure your lab-grown diamond earrings or natural mined diamond jewelry includes a reputable diamond certification. There are many different certificates in the US, the most well known certificates are GIA (Gemological Institute of America), EGL USA, and IGI (International Gemological Institute).

You can shop natural diamond earrings or lab grown diamond earrings with confidence at DiamondStuds.com, knowing that we guarantee our quality, our earring selections are certified, and every purchase can also include a requested jewelry appraisal.