Diamond Types: How to Choose Between Natural, Lab-Grown & American Diamonds

Natural vs Lab-Grown vs American Diamonds: Complete Buyer’s Guide

When shopping for diamond jewellery, you’ll come across terms like natural diamonds, lab-grown diamonds, and American diamonds. While they might look similar at first glance, they differ greatly in origin, quality, and value.

In this guide, you’ll learn the key differences, how to identify each type, and how to choose the diamond that best suits your needs.

Types of Diamonds: Natural, Lab-Grown & American 

1️⃣ Natural Diamonds 💎

Natural diamonds form deep under the Earth’s surface over billions of years under extreme heat and pressure. Each diamond is a one-of-a-kind, unique creation of nature, created by natural geological processes, making them rare and highly prized.

Key Features:

• Formed naturally beneath the Earth’s crust

• Pure carbon composition

• Highest resale value

• Expensive due to rarity

• Certified by GIA, IGI, or HRD

• Considered the most prestigious and traditional choice

Natural diamonds are ideal for heirloom jewellery, engagement rings, and investment pieces.

2️⃣ Lab-Grown Diamonds

Lab-grown diamonds are created in advanced laboratories using HPHT (high pressure & temperature) or CVD (chemical vapor deposition) technology that mimics natural formation. They are 100% real diamonds and chemically, physically, and optically identical to natural diamonds — but far more affordable.

Key Features:

• 100% carbon composition, same brilliance, and hardness

• Eco-friendly and ethical (no mining required)

• Cost 30–50% less than natural diamonds

• Certified by IGI or GIA with “lab-grown or synthetic” clearly mentioned

They’re perfect for buyers seeking sustainable luxury without the premium price tag.

3️⃣ American Diamonds (Cubic Zirconia)

The term American diamond usually refers to cubic zirconia (CZ) — a diamond imitation. While it sparkles, it lacks the brilliance, hardness, and value of real diamonds.

Key Features:

• Synthetic crystal (Zirconium dioxide), not a diamond

• Very affordable (often ₹100–₹1000 per piece), but softer, so it scratches easily and dulls over time

• No certification or resale value

• Popular in costume jewellery and budget pieces

Best suited for low-cost fashion jewellery where affordability is key. But they don’t match real diamonds in quality, shine, or durability.

🔍 Comparison Table

Feature ➞ Natural Diamond ➞ Lab-Grown Diamond ➞ American Diamond (CZ)

• Origin ➞ Earth ➞ Lab-created ➞ Lab-created crystal

• Composition ➞ Pure carbon ➞ Pure carbon ➞ Zirconium dioxide ZrO₂

• Brilliance ➞ Unique ➞ Same as natural ➞ Duller over time

• Hardness (Mohs) ➞ 10 ➞ 10 ➞ 8.5

• Price ➞ Highest ➞ 30–50% less ➞ Very low

• Certification ➞ GIA, IGI, HRD ➞ GIA, IGI (lab-grown) ➞ None

• Resale Value ➞ High ➞ Low–Moderate ➞ None

• Ethics ➞ Mined ➞ Eco-friendly ➞ Eco-friendly

🛠 How to Tell Natural vs Lab-Grown Diamonds

With the naked eye, you cannot distinguish between natural and lab-grown diamonds — even jewellers rely on tools.

Ways to Identify:

• Check Certification – GIA or IGI grading reports clearly state if a diamond is lab-grown.

• Laser Inscription – Lab-grown stones are often etched with “lab-grown” or a unique ID.

• UV Light Test – Sometimes shows differences in fluorescence, but not conclusive.

• Professional Testing – Advanced gemological tools, like diamond testers, spectrometers, or lab tests, provide accurate verification.

 

💡 Zewarsthan Tip for Buyers

When buying diamonds:

• Always ask for a certificate.

• Know whether it’s natural, lab-grown, or CZ.

• Avoid sellers who use “American diamond” to imply a real diamond — it’s not.

At Zewarsthan, we provide only transparent, certified diamonds — whether natural or lab-grown — so you can shop with trust.

We help you choose what’s right for you:

• ✨ A timeless natural diamond
• 🌿 A smart, ethical lab-grown diamond
• 💡 Or a budget-friendly fashion piece with CZ

❓ FAQs

Q1: Are lab-grown diamonds real diamonds?
Yes. Lab-grown diamonds have the same chemical, physical, and optical properties as natural diamonds, but are created in a lab.

Q2: How can I tell if a diamond is natural or lab-grown?
The most reliable way is through certification from labs like GIA or IGI, which clearly indicate the diamond’s origin.

Q3: Is an American diamond a real diamond?
No. American diamond is another name for cubic zirconia, a man-made crystal that only looks like a diamond.

Q4: Which is better: natural or lab-grown diamonds?
It depends on your priorities. Natural diamonds have higher resale value, while lab-grown diamonds are more affordable and eco-friendly.

Q5: Why are lab-grown diamonds cheaper than natural diamonds?
They avoid the mining process and have a shorter supply chain, making them 30–50% less expensive.

📝 Key Takeaways From This Post:

• Natural vs lab-grown diamonds
• American diamond vs real diamond
• How to identify a lab-grown diamond
• Types of diamonds in jewellery
• Cubic zirconia vs diamond durability
• Lab-grown vs natural diamond price
• Diamond buying guide India