Are lab grown diamonds real diamonds?

Yes. Lab grown diamonds are chemically, physically, and optically identical to natural diamonds. They are pure crystalline carbon. They test as real diamonds on every standard tester. They are not simulants like cubic zirconia or moissanite, which are entirely different materials.

Do lab grown diamonds look different from natural diamonds?

No. To the naked eye, lab grown and natural diamonds look the same. Even trained gemologists need specialized equipment to distinguish them.

Are lab grown diamonds graded by GIA?

Yes, but as of October 2025, GIA grades lab grown diamonds using a different system than natural diamonds. Lab grown diamonds receive a GIA Laboratory-Grown Diamond Quality Assessment with one of two descriptors: Premium or Standard. The criteria are based on cut, color, clarity, polish, and symmetry. Stones that do not meet the Standard minimum do not receive a GIA assessment.

Why did GIA change how it grades lab grown diamonds?

According to GIA, most lab grown diamonds fall into a very narrow range of color and clarity, and the institute determined that using the same nomenclature originally created for natural diamonds was no longer the clearest way to describe a manufactured product. The new descriptive terms (Premium and Standard) reflect what GIA sees in the lab grown market.

Are lab grown diamonds less expensive?

Generally, yes. A lab grown diamond is typically more accessibly priced than a natural diamond of similar size and quality. We discuss specific pricing during your appointment based on the stones you are considering.

Do lab grown diamonds last as long as natural diamonds?

Yes. Lab grown diamonds have the same hardness (10 on the Mohs scale) and durability as natural diamonds. They are suitable for daily wear in engagement rings and fine jewelry.

Can lab grown diamonds be used in custom jewelry?

Absolutely. Lab grown diamonds are frequently used in custom jewelry design because they offer flexibility in size and budget. They can be the center stone, the accent stones, or both.

Do lab grown diamonds hold their value?

No. Lab grown diamonds do not retain value. Prices have come down consistently over the past decade as production has scaled, and individual stones lose value over time. This is an important consideration if you are thinking about a future upgrade, a trade-in, or passing the piece down. Many clients choose lab grown for the upfront budget flexibility and accept this trade-off, but it is something we want every client to understand clearly before deciding.

Should I choose a lab grown or natural diamond?

That depends on your priorities. If size, budget flexibility, or modern sourcing matters most, lab grown may be the right choice. If origin, rarity, traditional significance, or long-term value retention matters most, a natural diamond may suit you better. We help every client compare both before deciding. There is no wrong answer, only the answer that fits what you are buying for.

Lab Grown Diamonds in Milford, OH | Kirk & Company Jewelers

Lab grown diamonds are real diamonds. They are chemically, physically, and optically identical to natural diamonds. The only difference is how they are formed. Where a natural diamond takes one to three billion years to form in the earth, a lab grown diamond is produced in a controlled environment over weeks or months.

For many of our clients, lab grown diamonds are a thoughtful, modern choice. They allow for a larger or higher-quality stone at a more accessible price point, and they fit seamlessly into custom design.

At Kirk & Company Jewelers, we help clients select natural diamonds the way we help with everything else. Clearly. Calmly. Without pressure. We have been in business since 1991, and we have called Milford, Ohio home since 2007. We are a third-generation, family-owned jewelry store.

We serve clients in Milford, Madeira, Indian Hill, Mason, Loveland, and across the greater Cincinnati area.

A lab grown diamond is a diamond produced in a laboratory using one of two methods:

High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT), which replicates the heat and pressure conditions deep in the earth

Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD), which grows the diamond layer by layer from carbon-rich gasesBoth methods produce real diamonds.

The resulting stone is pure crystalline carbon, the same as a natural diamond. It tests as a diamond on every standard tester. It has the same hardness, the same brilliance, the same fire.

The difference is not in the stone. It is in the origin.

We hear a range of reasons. The most common:

Size for the budget. A lab grown diamond is typically more accessibly priced than a natural diamond of similar size and quality. That means a noticeably larger or higher-quality stone is often achievable within the same budget.

Modern sourcing. Some clients prefer the controlled production of a lab grown stone over the mining process.

Custom design flexibility. Lab grown diamonds are well-suited to larger, statement-making custom pieces where size matters.

Practical fashion jewelry. Some clients save a natural stone for the engagement ring and choose lab grown for studs, bracelets, or stacking rings.

We do not push lab grown over natural, or natural over lab grown. We help you compare both honestly.

This is one of the most important things to understand before buying a lab grown diamond, and it changed recently.

In October 2025, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) launched a new grading system specifically for lab grown diamonds. Lab grown diamonds are no longer graded with the same 4Cs nomenclature used for natural diamonds (D to Z color, IF to I3 clarity). Instead, GIA now uses two descriptive categories:

Premium

Lab grown diamonds with D color, Very Very Slightly Included (VVS) clarity or higher, Excellent polish, Excellent symmetry, and (for round brilliants) an Excellent cut grade.

Standard

Lab grown diamonds with E to J color, Very Slightly Included (VS) clarity, Very Good polish, Very Good symmetry (or Good for fancy shapes), and (for round brilliants) a Very Good cut grade.

Lab grown diamonds that do not meet the Standard criteria do not receive a GIA assessment.

According to GIA, this change reflects the reality that most lab grown diamonds fall into a narrow range of color and clarity, and the institute determined it was no longer appropriate to use the nomenclature created for natural diamonds to describe what is a manufactured product. The grading still gives you a precise sense of quality. It just uses different language than what is used for natural stones.

When you buy a lab grown diamond from us, we walk you through the grading report so you know exactly what the descriptors mean and how the stone will perform in your piece.

Read GIA's announcement on the new lab grown diamond grading certain mountings.

What We Evaluate When We Source Lab Grown Diamonds

The GIA terminology may have changed, but the fundamentals of what makes a good diamond have not. We still evaluate:

Cut and light performance. Cut is still the largest single driver of how a diamond looks. A poorly cut lab grown diamond will look dull, just like a poorly cut natural diamond.

Clarity characteristics. Lab grown diamonds can have inclusions, just like natural ones. We evaluate where they are and whether they are visible to the eye.

Color. Even within the Premium and Standard ranges, there is variation. We choose stones with strong color performance.

Proportions and balance. We look for stones that perform beautifully in real-world light, not just under a jeweler's loupe.

Lab grown diamonds are especially well-suited to custom design. Because the price point is more accessible, clients can:

Choose a larger center stone for the same budget

Add more side stones, melee, or pavé than they otherwise could

Pursue a more elaborate setting without inflating cost

Pair the diamond with colored stones and design with more creative freedom

We see lab grown diamonds most often in:

Engagement rings, particularly when size or design complexity is a priority

Anniversary and milestone pieces

Right-hand rings and fashion rings

Stud earrings, tennis bracelets, and statement pendants

Heirloom redesigns where the original stone is incorporated alongside lab grown accents

A lab grown diamond will wear, age, and care for the same as a natural diamond. That is because, physically, it is a diamond. The Mohs hardness, the brilliance, and the durability are identical.

The differences emerge in two areas:.

Resale value.

The lab grown diamond market is newer. Prices have come down over time as production has scaled. A lab grown diamond purchased today will likely not retain the same percentage of its original value as a natural diamond of similar grade..

Heirloom value.

This is a personal call. Some clients want the diamond to be passed down and feel that origin matters for that intention. Others feel that the meaning of a piece is in the design, the story, and the relationship, not the rock. Both views are valid..

We discuss both during your appointment so you can decide what matters most.

Lab Grown Diamonds

What a Lab Grown Diamond Actually Is

Why Clients Consider Lab Grown Diamonds

How Lab Grown Diamonds Are Graded (Updated October 2025)

What We Evaluate When We Source Lab Grown Diamonds

How Lab Grown Diamonds Pair with Custom Jewelry

Long-Term Considerations

Caring for a Lab Grown Diamond

Our Approach to Lab Grown Diamonds

Service and Support

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