Lab Diamonds vs. Mined Diamonds:
Cost Comparison

Lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds with the same chemical composition, physical properties, and optical characteristics as natural diamonds. The primary difference is their origin: natural diamonds form deep within the Earth over billions of years, while lab-grown diamonds are created in controlled environments using advanced technology.

There are two primary methods of growing diamonds: High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD). Both methods produce genuine diamonds that can be cut and polished into the same beautiful shapes as natural diamonds.

Can you tell the difference between a natural and lab-grown diamond?

To the naked eye, natural and lab-grown diamonds are indistinguishable. Both offer the same brilliance, sparkle, and durability.

The lab-grown center diamonds we offer are laser-inscribed along their girdle (the thin outer edge of the diamond) to identify their laboratory-grown origin. This inscription is invisible to the naked eye but can be viewed under 10× magnification.

Aside from this identifying inscription, distinguishing between natural and lab-grown diamonds requires specialized gemological equipment.

Ultimately, the choice between natural and lab-grown diamonds comes down to personal preference, budget, and what matters most to you. Neither is inherently more beautiful than the other.

One of the biggest differences between natural and lab-grown diamonds is their price. Although they share the same beauty, brilliance, and durability, lab-grown diamonds typically cost significantly less than natural diamonds of comparable size and quality.

Why are natural diamonds more expensive?

Natural diamonds form deep within the Earth over billions of years. Their prices reflect geological rarity, the costs of mining and processing, and market supply & demand. Each natural diamond is unique, and its value is influenced by characteristics such as cut, carat weight, color, and clarity.

Why are lab-grown diamonds more affordable?

Lab-grown diamonds are created using advanced technology that replicates the conditions under which natural diamonds form. As this technology has improved, production has become more efficient and competition among manufacturers has increased, driving prices substantially lower.

For buyers, this means lab-grown diamonds offer the opportunity to choose a larger stone or higher color and clarity grades at a fraction of the cost of a comparable natural diamond.

Will diamond prices continue to change?

Both natural and lab-grown diamond prices fluctuate based on supply and demand. Natural diamond prices have experienced periods of both appreciation and decline, while lab-grown diamond prices have fallen significantly as production technology has advanced.

Neither type of diamond should be purchased with the expectation that its value will increase or remain stable over time.

Ultimately, we encourage clients to focus on what matters most when choosing a diamond: its beauty, cut, and size, rather than its potential future resale value.

Although natural and lab-grown diamonds are evaluated using many of the same characteristics, their prices are determined by somewhat different market forces.

How are natural diamonds priced?

The natural diamond industry has established pricing benchmarks, including the Rapaport Price List, which provides reference prices based on characteristics such as carat weight, color, and clarity.

However, these benchmarks are only a starting point. Actual diamond prices can vary significantly depending on cut quality, proportions, shape, certification, availability, and market demand.

How are lab-grown diamonds priced?

Unlike natural diamonds, lab-grown diamond prices are heavily influenced by manufacturing costs, technological advancements, production capacity, and competition among suppliers.

As diamond-growing technology has become more efficient and production has expanded, lab-grown diamond prices have declined substantially. Prices continue to vary depending on a diamond's size, quality, and individual characteristics.

Why can two diamonds with the same grades have different prices?

Two diamonds with identical carat weight, color, and clarity grades can look surprisingly different. Factors such as cut proportions, light performance, and overall appearance can significantly influence a diamond's beauty and price.

This is why we encourage clients to look beyond the grading report and prioritize how a diamond actually looks. A beautifully cut diamond with slightly lower color or clarity grades may be more visually appealing than a more expensive diamond with higher grades on paper.

At Ken & Dana Design, our goal is to help you find a diamond that offers the best combination of beauty, quality, and value, rather than simply the highest specifications.

Carat weight is one of the biggest factors influencing a diamond's price. Generally, larger diamonds cost more, but the relationship between carat weight and price isn't always proportional.

Why do diamond prices jump at certain carat weights?

In the natural diamond market, prices often increase noticeably at popular carat weights, such as 1.00, 1.50, and 2.00 carats. These are sometimes called magic sizes, because demand for diamonds at or just above these thresholds tends to be higher.

For example, a 2.00-carat diamond may cost significantly more than a comparable 1.90-carat diamond, even though the difference in their appearance is barely noticeable.

This creates an opportunity for savvy buyers to find better value by choosing a diamond just below a popular carat weight.

What are off-size diamonds?

Off-size diamonds are stones that fall between popular carat weight milestones. For example, a 1.80-carat diamond may offer a better value than a 2.00-carat diamond with similar characteristics.

Because the visual difference is often minimal, choosing an off-size diamond can be an excellent way to maximize your budget without noticeably sacrificing size.

Does a higher carat weight always mean a larger-looking diamond?

Not necessarily. Carat measures a diamond's weight, not its visible dimensions. Two diamonds of the same carat weight can look different in size depending on their shape, proportions, and how their weight is distributed.

For example, elongated shapes such as oval, pear, and marquise diamonds often appear larger than round diamonds of the same carat weight because they cover more surface area when viewed from above.

Similarly, a diamond that carries too much weight in its depth may appear smaller from the top than a well-proportioned diamond of the same carat weight.

How can you get the best value for your budget?

We recommend focusing on three factors:

1. Cut and sparkle: A beautifully cut diamond reflects light more effectively and can appear more brilliant.

2. Visible size: Consider the diamond's actual dimensions rather than carat weight alone.

3. Color and clarity: Choose grades that look beautiful to the naked eye without paying a premium for differences that may be difficult to notice.

Ultimately, the goal isn't necessarily to find the diamond with the highest carat weight or grading specifications. It's to find the diamond that looks the most beautiful to you while making the most of your budget.

While carat weight is quite important when determining cost, it may not be as important to you when choosing a diamond you love. Diamond carat weight and size are often used interchangeably, but they are different measurements for a diamond – lab grown or mined. Carat is the measurement of the weight of the diamond. The size refers to how that weight gets distributed in the cut to create a larger or smaller looking diamond.

A heavier carat weight can indicate a bigger looking diamond, but that is not necessarily a given. Depending on how the diamond is cut, a smaller carat diamond can look bigger than a larger carat diamond. Important characteristics to consider for this visual look of a diamond are proportion and dimensions. These will give you a much clearer picture of how big a diamond will look from a ‘face-up’ angle.

The importance of carat weight all comes down to personal preference and how you intend to set the diamond. There are many ways to set a diamond so that it appears larger, including using a thinner band, split shank, or halo setting. And most people are unable to tell a size difference from the look alone unless they are viewing two differently sized diamonds side by side.

In the photo shown, the emerald cut diamond on the left weighs 1.5 carat, whereas the marquise cut diamond on the right weighs 0.75 carat. Substantial savings could be had by going the route of a marquise shaped diamond without sacrificing on look.

Both natural and lab-grown diamonds can be accompanied by grading reports from independent gemological laboratories, such as the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the International Gemological Institute (IGI). These reports provide valuable information about a diamond's characteristics, including its carat weight, color, clarity, and origin.

While grading reports help establish a diamond's identity and quality, they do not determine its resale value.

Do natural diamonds hold their value better than lab-grown diamonds?

Natural diamonds generally have a more established resale market than lab-grown diamonds. However, neither type of diamond is guaranteed to retain its original purchase price.

Both natural and lab-grown diamonds can depreciate over time. While lab-grown diamonds have experienced greater percentage declines in market prices, natural diamonds typically cost considerably more upfront. As a result, a natural diamond may lose more money in absolute dollar terms, even if it retains a higher percentage of its original value.

It's also important to distinguish between a diamond's retail price and its resale value. The amount you could receive when selling a diamond is often substantially lower than what a comparable diamond costs at retail.

Ultimately, we encourage clients to view diamonds as meaningful personal purchases rather than financial investments.

Can I trade in my diamond in the future?

At Ken & Dana Design, our Lifetime Diamond Upgrade Program closed to new purchases effective November 1, 2026, and we do not offer a standard trade-in or buyback program. We continue to honor the original upgrade benefits for eligible natural diamonds purchased before that date, and we're always happy to help you explore options for selecting a new natural diamond

Lab-grown diamonds, rustic diamonds, colored diamonds, gemstones, settings, and other jewelry are not eligible for upgrades, trade-ins, or buybacks.

For complete details, please see our Diamond Upgrade Policy.

Which diamond is the better choice?

We believe an engagement ring should be chosen for its beauty and personal significance, not its potential resale value.

Natural diamonds offer the appeal of geological rarity and billions of years of history. Lab-grown diamonds offer the same beautiful sparkle and durability at a significantly lower price, allowing you to prioritize size, design, or other qualities that matter most to you.

Neither choice is inherently better. The right diamond is the one that reflects your personal preferences, values, and budget.

After all, the true value of an engagement ring is found in what it represents, not what it might sell for someday.