Carbon · C · 10

Diamond

Q: Is moissanite a lab diamond?

No. Moissanite is silicon carbide, a different mineral with more rainbow fire and a lower price. See moissanite vs lab diamond.

Diamond is pure carbon in the hardest crystal structure of any gem. Mined diamond formed 150 kilometres down and rode to the surface in volcanic pipes. Lab diamond is the same carbon, grown in days or weeks in a press (HPHT) or from gas (CVD), and only a laboratory can tell them apart. That is why a lab diamond should come with an IGI or GIA report.

From the ground to your hand

The same stone at four moments. Tap a photo of a listing to see it on Amazon.

01 In the ground (step 1 of 4)

A natural diamond crystal: an octahedron, the shape diamond grows in, with a frosted, etched skin.

Real specimen. Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky, CC BY-SA 3.0.
02 Out of the press (step 2 of 4)

Lab diamond crystals straight out of an HPHT press, yellow from nitrogen.

Amazon listing photo. See it on Amazon
03 Cut (step 3 of 4)

A 1 ct round lab-grown diamond with an IGI report.

Amazon listing photo. See it on Amazon
04 Set (step 4 of 4)

IGI-certified lab diamond studs in 14k white gold.

Amazon listing photo. See it on Amazon

Mineral: Diamond (carbon)
Hardness: 10, the hardest
Grown in labs since: 1954 (press); CVD since the 2000s for gems
How to tell lab from mined: Only lab instruments
Famous sources: Botswana, Russia, Canada

Famous diamond in museums

What the finest natural stones look like: real pieces in public collections. The whole gem museum.

The Hope Diamond: 45.52 carats, a deep blue diamond from India, coloured by traces of boron. — **The Hope Diamond**45.52 carats, a deep blue diamond from India, coloured by traces of boron.Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, WashingtonHarry Winston gave it to the Smithsonian in 1958 and sent it by ordinary registered mail.Photo: Smithsonian Institution, Public domain.

**The Hope Diamond**45.52 carats, a deep blue diamond from India, coloured by traces of boron.Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, WashingtonHarry Winston gave it to the Smithsonian in 1958 and sent it by ordinary registered mail.Photo: Smithsonian Institution, Public domain.

The Dresden Green Diamond: About 41 carats, the largest natural green diamond known, set in an 18th-century hat ornament. — **The Dresden Green Diamond**About 41 carats, the largest natural green diamond known, set in an 18th-century hat ornament.Green Vault (Grünes Gewölbe), DresdenIts green colour comes from natural radiation the diamond absorbed underground over millions of years.Photo: ubahnverleih, CC0.

**The Dresden Green Diamond**About 41 carats, the largest natural green diamond known, set in an 18th-century hat ornament.Green Vault (Grünes Gewölbe), DresdenIts green colour comes from natural radiation the diamond absorbed underground over millions of years.Photo: ubahnverleih, CC0.

The Napoleon Diamond Necklace: A necklace of old-mine-cut diamonds Napoleon gave to Empress Marie-Louise in 1811. — **The Napoleon Diamond Necklace**A necklace of old-mine-cut diamonds Napoleon gave to Empress Marie-Louise in 1811.Smithsonian National Museum of Natural HistoryCut by hand two centuries ago, long before the modern brilliant was worked out.Photo: Cliff, CC BY 2.0.

**The Napoleon Diamond Necklace**A necklace of old-mine-cut diamonds Napoleon gave to Empress Marie-Louise in 1811.Smithsonian National Museum of Natural HistoryCut by hand two centuries ago, long before the modern brilliant was worked out.Photo: Cliff, CC BY 2.0.

The Koh-i-Noor (a replica): Today about 105.6 carats, recut in 1852 from a larger, older Indian cut. The real stone is in the British Crown Jewels. — **The Koh-i-Noor (a replica)**Today about 105.6 carats, recut in 1852 from a larger, older Indian cut. The real stone is in the British Crown Jewels.Replica: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, MumbaiMughal emperors, a Persian shah, Afghan rulers and a Sikh maharaja all owned it before it went to Britain in 1849. India and others still ask for it back.Photo: aiva., CC BY 2.0.

**The Koh-i-Noor (a replica)**Today about 105.6 carats, recut in 1852 from a larger, older Indian cut. The real stone is in the British Crown Jewels.Replica: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, MumbaiMughal emperors, a Persian shah, Afghan rulers and a Sikh maharaja all owned it before it went to Britain in 1849. India and others still ask for it back.Photo: aiva., CC BY 2.0.

The Cullinan Diamond (a replica of the rough): About 3,106 carats, the largest gem-quality diamond ever found, from the Premier Mine, South Africa, in 1905. — **The Cullinan Diamond (a replica of the rough)**About 3,106 carats, the largest gem-quality diamond ever found, from the Premier Mine, South Africa, in 1905.Replica: Denver Museum of Nature and ScienceIt was cut into nine major stones; the largest, Cullinan I of about 530 carats, sits in the British royal sceptre.Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0.

The Oppenheimer Diamond: An uncut yellow diamond crystal of about 253.7 carats from South Africa. — **The Oppenheimer Diamond**An uncut yellow diamond crystal of about 253.7 carats from South Africa.Smithsonian National Museum of Natural HistoryLeft uncut so visitors can see what a diamond looks like as it grows: an octahedron with rounded edges.Photo: Alkivar, Public domain.

**The Oppenheimer Diamond**An uncut yellow diamond crystal of about 253.7 carats from South Africa.Smithsonian National Museum of Natural HistoryLeft uncut so visitors can see what a diamond looks like as it grows: an octahedron with rounded edges.Photo: Alkivar, Public domain.

The Regent Diamond: About 140.6 carats, a cushion-cut diamond found in India around 1698. — **The Regent Diamond**About 140.6 carats, a cushion-cut diamond found in India around 1698.Louvre, Apollo Gallery, ParisNapoleon had it set in the hilt of his sword. It is thought to be one of the most perfectly cut old diamonds there is.Photo: Tangopaso, Public domain.

**The Regent Diamond**About 140.6 carats, a cushion-cut diamond found in India around 1698.Louvre, Apollo Gallery, ParisNapoleon had it set in the hilt of his sword. It is thought to be one of the most perfectly cut old diamonds there is.Photo: Tangopaso, Public domain.

The Sancy Diamond: About 55 carats, a pale yellow pear-shaped diamond, probably from India. — **The Sancy Diamond**About 55 carats, a pale yellow pear-shaped diamond, probably from India.Louvre, Apollo Gallery, ParisIt passed through French and English royal hands for centuries and is one of the first big diamonds cut with symmetrical facets.Photo: Tangopaso, Public domain.

**The Sancy Diamond**About 55 carats, a pale yellow pear-shaped diamond, probably from India.Louvre, Apollo Gallery, ParisIt passed through French and English royal hands for centuries and is one of the first big diamonds cut with symmetrical facets.Photo: Tangopaso, Public domain.

The Marie Louise Diadem: A diadem of more than 1,000 old-cut diamonds set with Persian turquoise. Napoleon gave it to Empress Marie-Louise in 1810, set with emeralds. — **The Marie Louise Diadem**A diadem of more than 1,000 old-cut diamonds set with Persian turquoise. Napoleon gave it to Empress Marie-Louise in 1810, set with emeralds.Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, WashingtonIn the 1950s a jeweller took the emeralds out and sold them one by one, and put turquoise in their place.Photo: Cliff from Arlington, Virginia, USA, CC BY 2.0.

The Daria-i-Noor: The Sea of Light, a pale pink diamond of about 182 carats, one of the largest pink diamonds known. — **The Daria-i-Noor**The Sea of Light, a pale pink diamond of about 182 carats, one of the largest pink diamonds known.Iranian National Jewels, Central Bank of Iran, TehranIt came from the same Indian mines as the Koh-i-Noor and was taken to Persia by Nader Shah in 1739.Photo: Alborzagros, Public domain.

A Cartier diamond bandeau: A diamond headband by Cartier from the Jazz Age, worn low across the forehead. — **A Cartier diamond bandeau**A diamond headband by Cartier from the Jazz Age, worn low across the forehead.Cleveland Museum of Art (Jazz Age exhibition)In the 1920s the tall tiara gave way to the bandeau, worn over short bobbed hair.Photo: Tim Evanson from Cleveland Heights, Ohio, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0.

The Crown of Bavaria: The crown of the Kings of Bavaria, made in Paris in 1806 and 1807 by the jeweller Marie-Étienne Nitot with the goldsmiths Leblond and Biennais. — **The Crown of Bavaria**The crown of the Kings of Bavaria, made in Paris in 1806 and 1807 by the jeweller Marie-Étienne Nitot with the goldsmiths Leblond and Biennais.Treasury of the Residenz, MunichBavaria became a kingdom in 1806 with Napoleon’s backing, so the new king ordered his crown from Napoleon’s own jewellers.Photo: Jebulon, CC0.

The Wittelsbach-Graff diamond: A deep blue diamond of 31.06 carats, once in the Bavarian crown jewels, recut by Laurence Graff after he bought it in 2008. — **The Wittelsbach-Graff diamond**A deep blue diamond of 31.06 carats, once in the Bavarian crown jewels, recut by Laurence Graff after he bought it in 2008.Shown at the Smithsonian, WashingtonRecutting it removed chips and made it brighter but cost more than four carats, which angered many historians.Photo: 350z33 (talk)., CC BY-SA 3.0.

Fabergé’s lapis elephants: Elephant figures carved from lapis lazuli with silver, gold, enamel, ivory and diamond details, from the workshop of Carl Fabergé. — **Fabergé’s lapis elephants**Elephant figures carved from lapis lazuli with silver, gold, enamel, ivory and diamond details, from the workshop of Carl Fabergé.American Museum of Natural History, New YorkFabergé’s hardstone animals were small enough to hold, and Russian high society collected them like trading cards.Photo: Hiart, CC0.

A Cartier cigarette case in lapis and turquoise: A cigarette case of gold, lapis lazuli, turquoise, sapphires and diamonds made by Cartier in Paris in 1930. — **A Cartier cigarette case in lapis and turquoise**A cigarette case of gold, lapis lazuli, turquoise, sapphires and diamonds made by Cartier in Paris in 1930.Cartier Collection, GenevaArt Deco loved strong colour pairs, and lapis against turquoise is one of the boldest.Photo: Sailko, CC BY 3.0.

Sultan Abdulhamid I’s emerald turban pendant: A turban ornament of Sultan Abdulhamid I, built around three large emeralds, in the treasury of Topkapı Palace. — **Sultan Abdulhamid I’s emerald turban pendant**A turban ornament of Sultan Abdulhamid I, built around three large emeralds, in the treasury of Topkapı Palace.Topkapı Palace Museum, IstanbulOttoman sultans pinned jewels like this to the front of the turban, so the emeralds sat right at the centre of attention.Photo: Daniel Villafruela, CC BY 3.0.

A Tiffany topaz and diamond necklace: A necklace of topazes and diamonds in gold and platinum, designed by Tiffany & Co., in the gem gallery of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. — **A Tiffany topaz and diamond necklace**A necklace of topazes and diamonds in gold and platinum, designed by Tiffany & Co., in the gem gallery of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.Cleveland Museum of Natural HistoryGolden topaz and white diamond is a classic pairing that jewellers still use today.Photo: Tim Evanson, CC BY-SA 2.0.

A Tiffany pendant with a blue zircon: A pendant necklace by Tiffany & Co. with a large blue zircon in the centre, surrounded by canary and coloured diamonds, demantoid garnets and amethysts, on platinum chains with coloured pearls. — **A Tiffany pendant with a blue zircon**A pendant necklace by Tiffany & Co. with a large blue zircon in the centre, surrounded by canary and coloured diamonds, demantoid garnets and amethysts, on platinum chains with coloured pearls.Walters Art Museum, BaltimoreIt was bought as a wedding present, at a time when Louis Comfort Tiffany was pushing the firm toward bold coloured stones.Photo: Walters Art Museum, Public domain.

Lalique’s peacock pectoral: A pectoral ornament of gold, enamel, opals and diamonds with peacocks, made by René Lalique. — **Lalique’s peacock pectoral**A pectoral ornament of gold, enamel, opals and diamonds with peacocks, made by René Lalique.Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, LisbonLalique used opals for their shifting colours, which suited peacock feathers perfectly.Photo: Sailko, CC BY 3.0.

Mined vs lab-grown diamond

Mined and lab-grown diamond are the same mineral; this is what differs
	Mined	Lab-grown
How it formed	About 150 km down, over a billion years ago in many cases	In a press at 5 to 6 GPa, or from carbon gas in a
Inside	Natural crystals, nitrogen patterns	Metallic flakes (HPHT) or growth layers (CVD)
Treatment	Some laser-drilled, fracture-filled or colour-treated	Some colour-treated after growth
Price	Thousands of dollars for a good 1 ct	A few hundred dollars for a 1 ct with a report
Resale	Some value	Very little, and falling

Treatments. Mined diamonds can be laser-drilled to bleach dark or fracture-filled with glass; both must be disclosed. Many lab diamonds are given a short HPHT treatment after growth to improve colour, which the report will note. All gem treatments explained.

Where natural diamond comes from

Pins mark mining districts, not exact mines. Drag to move, pinch or scroll to zoom, tap a pin to read about it. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

List of every place on the map (6)

Diamond: Jwaneng and Orapa, Botswana. Jwaneng is one of the richest diamond mines by value in the world.
Diamond: Mirny, Yakutia, Russia. Siberian pipe mines; Russia is the largest producer by volume.
Diamond: Ekati and Diavik, Northwest Territories, Canada. Mines beneath sub-Arctic lakes.
Diamond: Kimberley, South Africa. The 1870s rush that gave , the diamond-bearing rock, its name.
Diamond: Catoca, Angola. One of the largest kimberlite mines in the world.
Diamond: Argyle, Western Australia, Australia. Famous for pink diamonds; closed in 2020.

How it is cut

Lab diamond is mostly machine-cut in calibrated sizes, which is why a cut lab stone costs little more than its rough. Fine mined stones are often native-cut to keep weight, then recut by precision cutters. See cuts from easiest to hardest and whether cutting your own is cheaper than buying cut.

What to buy

Checked in stock on October 10, 2026. Photos are the listings' own; prices are rounded.

Our first pick

1 ct round lab-grown diamond with IGI report

about $300

A loose 1 carat to set yourself, with the report number to look up.

See it on Amazon

Also good

Houston Diamond District IGI lab diamond studs, 14k white gold

$750 to $1,000 at 2 ct total

Real diamond studs in solid gold with IGI reports.

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Also good

Amazon Essentials IGI 0.5 ct lab diamond pendant, 14k gold

$250 to $500

A simple solitaire pendant with an IGI report, sold by Amazon.

See it on Amazon

Your kit for diamond

Five tools that let you check what you bought (a loupe, a UV torch, locking tweezers, a gem box and a pocket scale), plus a turntable that spins your stone under the light the way jewellers show one. The full collector's kit.

LookGemOro 10x triplet loupeunder $20

LookDARKBEAM filtered 365 nm UV flashlightabout $10

HandleHonoson locking tweezers, 3 packabout $10

StoreTeensery gem display boxes with clear lids, 10 packabout $9

ShowComXim motorized turntable, adjustable speed and directionabout $15

MeasureGemOro Platinum XP500 pocket scale, 0.01 gabout $40

In short

Diamond grows over millions of years in the earth, or in hours to months in a lab. Both are real diamond; the mined stone is rare and priced for rarity, the lab stone is priced for the cost of growing it. Buy lab to wear and enjoy, check the listing names the mineral, and test it when it arrives.

See our first pick: 1 ct round lab-grown diamond with IGI report

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a lab-grown diamond a real diamond?

Yes. It is carbon in the diamond crystal structure, with the same hardness, sparkle and heat conduction. Only laboratory instruments can separate it from a mined diamond.

How do I know a lab diamond is what the listing says?

Buy one with an IGI or GIA report, look the number up on the lab's own website, match the measurements, and have a jeweller read the girdle inscription inside the return window.

Is moissanite a lab diamond?

No. Moissanite is , a different mineral with more rainbow fire and a lower price. See moissanite vs lab diamond.

Photo credits

diamond-crystal-natural.webp: Robert M. Lavinsky, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Product photos: Amazon listings, via the Amazon Product Advertising (Creators) API.

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