Yes. Both natural and lab-grown diamonds are made of pure carbon in a cubic crystalline structure, making them optically and chemically identical. The sparkle, durability, and elegance you see in a lab-grown diamond are indistinguishable from one formed beneath the earth’s surface.
Lab-grown diamonds are now becoming a popular alternative for many people, since they can have the same beauty and properties as a mined diamond and are often more affordable.
Each diamond begins with a tiny “seed” of carbon. Using advanced technology, the seed is placed into a high-tech chamber—either a plasma reactor (CVD) or a high-pressure, high-temperature press (HPHT). Under carefully controlled conditions of heat, pressure, and carbon supply, the diamond grows layer by layer until it becomes a unique, fully formed stone.
This process mirrors nature, only faster and cleaner.
CVD Stands for Chemical Vapor Deposition
Lab-grown diamonds are diamonds that were grown by scientists in a lab.
They share the same chemical makeup as natural diamonds, and are optically identical.
The biggest differences between natural and lab-created diamonds are how they're made, and how rare they are.
HPHT Stands for High Pressure High Temperature
This method mimics the conditions under which diamonds naturally form.
Large mechanical presses are used to apply extreme pressure and high temperature to carbon in the presence of a diamond seed.
The seeds act as a template for a lattice of carbon to a grow layer by layer over the course of a few days.
How Long Does It Take to Grow a Diamond?
In nature, it takes millions of years for diamonds to form. In a lab, we can grow a one carat stone in about two weeks.
How Do You Make Colored Lab-grown Diamonds?
One of the great advantages of lab-grown diamonds is that they can be made in an array of colors that are very rare when found in nature.
This is achieved by making changes in the gas mix added to the CVD reactor combined with treatments to these stones applied at the end of the synthesis process.
The process sounds simple, but it has taken our scientists thousands of hours to refine the process and create the perfect Dinah Vela shades of light pink and blue every time.
Although Moissanite and diamond simulants may look similar at first glance, they are fundamentally different. Moissanite is a separate gemstone, softer and lower in brilliance, while cubic zirconia is an imitation with no relation to diamonds.
Lab-grown diamonds, by contrast, are true diamonds in every sense—identical in hardness, clarity, and fire to their natural counterparts.
Lab-grown Diamonds vs. Cubic Zirconia
Cubic zirconia was created to be a less expensive alternative to diamonds. It’s chemically completely different, not as hard and lacks the same sparkle. It’s also not considered a gemstone because it can’t be found in nature. It’s made from powdered zirconium and zirconium dioxide, melted together and formed into a stone.
Like mined diamonds, lab-grown diamonds are evaluated according to the 4Cs: Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat weight. Leading institutions such as the GIA and IGI provide grading reports for lab-grown diamonds, noting their origin with full transparency.
At Dinah Vela, we focus on consistent quality across all our stones. Each diamond meets our rigorous standards, eliminating the need for costly third-party certification. However, you are always welcome to seek certification for peace of mind.
One of the greatest advantages of lab-grown diamonds is accessibility. Unlike natural diamonds, whose rarity drives exponential price increases, lab-grown diamonds allow us to price transparently and fairly.
At Dinah Vela, we believe luxury should be beautiful, ethical, and within reach—making it possible for more people to experience the magic of diamonds.
A Dinah Vela Promise
By choosing lab-grown, you choose sustainability, innovation, and brilliance without compromise. Our diamonds are a celebration of love and beauty—crafted for today, designed for forever.
