Myth 1: Lab-Grown Diamonds Are Not Real Diamonds

This is the most persistent myth—and the most wrong. Lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds in every scientific sense. They share the same crystal structure, the same chemical composition (pure carbon), and the same physical and optical properties as diamonds formed deep within the earth. Under a microscope or even under standard jewelry store lighting, they are indistinguishable from mined diamonds.

The only difference is their origin: one grew over billions of years underground; the other was created in a laboratory over weeks or months. Both are crystallized carbon, and both are classified as diamonds by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Myth 2: Lab-Grown Diamonds Are "Fake" Like Cubic Zirconia

Cubic zirconia (CZ) is a cubic crystalline form of zirconium dioxide—a completely different material that merely resembles diamond. It is much softer, heavier, and optically different. Lab-grown diamonds, by contrast, are made of carbon. They test as diamond on every professional gemological instrument. They are not imitations or simulants; they are diamonds with a different origin story.

Myth 3: Lab-Grown Diamonds Look Different or Are Lower Quality

Lab-grown diamonds are graded on the exact same 4 Cs scale (Cut, Color, Clarity, Carat) by the exact same laboratories (IGI, GIA) as mined diamonds. A VS1, G-color, Excellent cut lab-grown diamond is optically identical to a mined diamond of the same grade. There is no visible difference to the naked eye, and even expert gemologists need specialized equipment to tell them apart.

Myth 4: Lab-Grown Diamonds Will Turn Yellow or Degrade Over Time

Diamonds—whether mined or lab-grown—are the hardest known material on earth. They do not degrade, turn yellow, cloud, or change color over time. Your lab-grown diamond will look the same in 100 years as it does the day you buy it. There is no degradation of the diamond itself, regardless of origin.

Myth 5: Lab-Grown Diamonds Are Only for Budget Buyers

Lab-grown diamonds are chosen by buyers at every budget level—not just those who cannot afford mined diamonds. Many buyers choose lab-grown specifically because they want a larger or higher-quality stone for the same budget, or because they prefer to redirect the savings elsewhere. Some buyers also prefer the idea of a diamond with a known, ethical origin. Value and values often go hand in hand.

Myth 6: The Value of Lab-Grown Diamonds Is Dropping, So Do Not Buy One

It is true that lab-grown diamond prices have decreased as production technology has scaled—this is a normal and healthy market trend. But this does not mean buying a lab-grown diamond is a bad decision. Prices for all consumer goods change over time. You buy a diamond for its beauty, its meaning, and its use—not as a financial investment. And unlike a mined diamond, a lab-grown diamond does not carry the hidden environmental and ethical costs of extraction.

Myth 7: Jewelers Prefer to Sell Mined Diamonds

While some jewelers have historically favored mined diamonds, the industry has shifted dramatically. Leading retailers across the globe now embrace lab-grown diamonds. Many jewelers who once skeptically avoided them now actively recommend them to clients. At Aranc, we have seen first-hand the growing demand for beautiful, ethical diamonds—and we are proud to offer only lab-grown.

Myth 8: Lab-Grown Diamonds Are a New, Untested Technology

Lab-grown diamond technology has been in development since the 1950s, and commercial production has been viable since the 1980s. The processes used today—HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature) and CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition)—are refined and mature. Lab-grown diamonds have been available in jewelry for decades, and gemological laboratories have had the tools to grade and certify them for just as long.

The Bottom Line

Lab-grown diamonds have been subject to misinformation since their commercial debut. The reality is straightforward: they are real diamonds, they are graded by the same standards, they are more affordable, and they are the ethical choice. At Aranc, we believe in transparency—so you can shop with confidence, knowing exactly what you are getting.