Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Real Diamonds? Myth vs Reality
Mention lab-grown diamonds at a family gathering in Hyderabad and you'll get mixed reactions. Some people nod. Others raise an eyebrow: "But are they real?" Here's the answer, with science rather than sales talk.
Myth 1: Lab-grown diamonds are fake
Reality: lab-grown diamonds are 100% real diamonds, with the same chemical composition (pure crystallised carbon), physical properties and optical characteristics as mined diamonds. "Fake" applies to simulants like cubic zirconia or glass, which only look like diamonds. Even the GIA classifies lab-grown diamonds as diamonds, not imitations.
Myth 2: They look different
Reality: nobody can tell a lab-grown diamond from a mined one by looking, touching or using standard jeweller's tools. Even experienced gemmologists can't with a loupe. Only specialised spectroscopic equipment in advanced labs can identify a diamond's origin. At a wedding or across the dinner table, they're identical.
Myth 3: They're not as hard or durable
Reality: both score 10 on the Mohs hardness scale, the highest of any mineral. A lab-grown diamond will last generations with the same care as a mined one, and won't cloud, chip or lose brilliance any faster.
Myth 4: They aren't certified
Reality: lab-grown diamonds are routinely certified by labs including GIA and IGI. The report covers cut, colour, clarity and carat, in the same format as a natural diamond certificate. Always buy certified. Every SIYARI diamond carries an IGI certificate you can verify online.
Myth 5: They're only for people who can't afford "real" diamonds
Reality: that idea is out of date. Informed buyers choose lab-grown to get a bigger, better stone for their money, and many Hyderabad buyers now pick lab-grown first, not as a fallback. It's a choice driven by knowledge and values, not budget limits.
Myth 6: They fade or turn yellow over time
Reality: lab-grown diamonds are chemically stable and keep their appearance indefinitely. Yellowing in old jewellery comes from dirt build-up, metal oxidation or a low-quality simulant, never from a real diamond, lab-grown or natural.
The verdict
Lab-grown diamonds are real, beautiful, durable and certified. Most of the myths come from outdated marketing or simple misunderstanding. Next time someone asks whether your diamond is real, the answer is simple: yes. It's IGI-certified and identical in every way to a mined diamond.
Want the full picture? Read what are lab-grown diamonds? and lab-grown vs natural, or book a visit to see one under a loupe at our studio in Somajiguda, Hyderabad.
