YES! Lab grown diamonds (also known as man made, lab created, or engineered diamonds) are 100% chemically, physically, and optically the same as a natural diamond. The only real difference is the origin – lab created diamonds are created using the same process as a natural diamond with high pressure and high temperature except they are created in a laboratory setting instead of under the earth. Lab Grown diamonds are graded by the same standards as natural diamonds and are recognized around the world as a true diamond. All of the center diamonds in our rings are certified for your protection, and most are from IGI – International Gemological Institute – the world’s foremost laboratory for grading lab grown diamonds.

There are many reasons people buy lab grown diamonds but the four most common are cost, environmental concerns, avoiding violence/blood diamonds, and human rights concerns.
Cost – Lab grown diamonds are usually much less expensive (usually at least 75% less) for the exact same grade of diamond. For example, a round natural diamond graded as 1.50 Carat F Color VS2 Clarity at a typical jewelry store usually costs over $18,000. A lab grown diamond (as of the time of this writing) of the same grade – 1.50 Carat F Color VS2 Clarity – only costs around $2,200!
Environmental Concerns – For each carat of natural diamond mined from the earth anywhere from 200-250 tons of ore needs to be sifted through. Much of the natural diamond mining industry in countries around the world is unregulated and with it brings irresponsible diamond mining practices that pollutes water for nearby communities, causes deforestation, and in some cases can cause entire ecosystems to collapse!
Avoiding Violence/Blood Diamonds – In 2006,“Blood Diamond“ showed the world part of the dark side of natural diamond mining. Since that film, more people are aware of the violence, suffering, and exploitation that happens around the world but not much has changed for the people in the diamond mining industry. Workers, their families, and innocent civilians are still being murdered, tortured, and treated unjustly in the name of mining these precious stones.
Human Rights Concerns – Here are some shocking facts: over 1 Million diamond miners in Africa are paid less than $1 per day to mine in dirty, dangerous conditions. Much of the work force is children under the age of 16 – in one mining province in Angola, 46% of diamond miners were under 16! Small mining operations abound and many do not have the proper safety equipment or tools.

No! A Moissanite is a completely different stone that is not made of pure carbon. Moissanite, White Sapphire, Cubic Zirconia (CZ), and other stones are considered “diamond simulants” because they have some similar properties to a diamond but are not made of the same material as a diamond. It is also possible to tell the difference between diamond and diamond simulants with the naked eye.A lab grown diamond is not a simulant because it has the same chemical, physical, and optical properties as a natural diamond.