Are lab-grown diamonds on Amazon real?
A lab-grown diamond is a real diamond: the same crystal of carbon as a mined one, with the same hardness and sparkle. The US Federal Trade Commission has called lab-grown stones diamonds since 2018, as long as they are clearly disclosed as lab-grown. What an Amazon listing cannot prove on its own is the grade, or that the stone is diamond rather than moissanite, so buy one with an IGI or GIA report number and check it.
What lab-grown means
Lab diamonds are grown either by high pressure and high temperature (HPHT), recreating the conditions deep in the earth, or by chemical vapour deposition (CVD), building the crystal layer by layer from carbon-rich gas. The result is diamond. Our guide to how lab gems are grown explains both methods.
Lab diamond or moissanite?
Moissanite is a different, cheaper gem that some listings blur with diamond. A thermal diamond tester cannot separate them, because both conduct heat well. A 10x loupe can: moissanite is doubly refractive, so facet edges look doubled when you look through a side facet; diamond never doubles. A laboratory report settles it.
Lab or mined?
You cannot tell by eye or with a home tester. Reputable laboratories identify lab-grown diamonds with spectroscopy and say so on the report, and many laser-inscribe the report number on the girdle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a lab-grown diamond pass a diamond tester?
Yes. It is diamond, so it passes a thermal tester exactly as a mined diamond does.
Do lab diamonds get cloudy or change colour?
No. Diamond does not cloud or fade; grime on the underside is what makes any stone look dull, and cleaning fixes it.
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