Diamond Education
Natural vs Lab Grown Diamonds
The differences in origin, price, rarity and value - and how to decide which is right for you
The main differences are how they're created, their rarity and their price.
Fergus James offers both without preference or pressure. Our role is to explain the differences, show you suitable diamonds and help you choose what best fits your priorities and budget.
Key Takeaways
Both Are Real Diamonds
Natural and lab-grown diamonds are both crystallised carbon with essentially the same physical and optical properties. The fundamental difference is their origin.
The Price Difference Is Significant
Lab-grown diamonds typically cost considerably less, allowing you to choose a larger diamond or higher specifications for the same budget.
Neither Is Universally Better
Choose natural for natural origin, rarity and tradition. Choose lab-grown if size, specifications and lower upfront cost matter more to you.
Comparison
Natural vs Lab-Grown Diamonds at a Glance
Natural Diamond
Lab-Grown Diamond
Origin
Formed naturally within the Earth
Created in a controlled laboratory
Formation
Usually billions of years
Normally weeks
Appearance
Diamond
Identical to the unaided eye*
Properties
Crystallised carbon
Crystallised carbon
Grading
Assessed using the 4Cs
Assessed using the 4Cs
FJ certification
Normally GIA
Normally IGI
Price
Higher due to natural rarity
Usually significantly lower
Main appeal
Origin, rarity, romance and tradition
More size/specification for the budget
*When comparing diamonds of equivalent quality.
Neither option is universally better. The right diamond depends on what matters most to you.
Rough prices by Carat Weight
Carat
Lab-Grown Price
Natural Price
0.5ct
$1,500
$2,500
1ct
$2,000
$5,000
1.5ct
$3,000
$10,000
2ct
$3,500
$19,000
2.5ct
$4,000
$35,000
3ct
$4,700
$50,000
4ct
$6,000
$80,000
5ct
$7,000
$135,000
Natural
What Is a
Natural Diamond?
A natural diamond forms deep within the Earth under intense heat and pressure. Most are billions of years old, eventually reaching areas closer to the Earth's surface through geological processes.
Natural diamonds are valued for their:
Natural origin · Rarity · Geological history · Tradition · Romance and symbolism
They also have a more established secondary market than lab-grown diamonds.
For many customers, the appeal is emotional as much as physical - knowing that the diamond formed naturally over an extraordinary period of geological time.
Every Fergus James natural diamond is sourced in accordance with the Kimberley Process and our responsible sourcing requirements.
Lab-Grown
What Is a Lab-Grown
Diamond?
A lab-grown diamond is created in a controlled environment using technology that enables a diamond crystal to grow.
The two main methods are:
HPHT - High Pressure High Temperature
CVD - Chemical Vapour Deposition
Once grown, the rough diamond is cut and polished in much the same way as a natural diamond.
The result is a real diamond. The distinction is its origin, not whether it is a diamond.
Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Real Diamonds?
Yes.
Lab-grown diamonds aren't cubic zirconia, moissanite, glass or another diamond imitation.
Chemical composition · Crystal structure · Hardness · Brilliance · Fire · Optical appearance
The term “lab-grown” describes how the diamond was created. It doesn't mean the diamond is fake.
Can You See the Difference?
Generally, no.
Natural and lab-grown diamonds of comparable cut, colour, clarity and carat weight look essentially identical to the unaided eye.
You can't reliably determine origin simply from a diamond's sparkle, colour or inclusions. Specialist screening and gemological testing are used to distinguish them, and an independent grading report identifies the diamond's origin.
From Our Experience…
The decision between natural and lab-grown usually isn't about which one looks better.
It's about what you value more: natural rarity and origin, or maximising size and specifications for your budget.
During a Fergus James consultation, you can compare both options side by side.
Do They Use the Same 4Cs?
Yes. Natural and lab-grown diamonds can both be assessed using the 4Cs:
Cut - how effectively the diamond interacts with light
Colour - the amount of visible body colour
Clarity - inclusions and surface characteristics
Carat - the diamond's weight
Origin is considered separately.
Two diamonds can therefore have the same shape, cut, colour, clarity and carat weight while having very different prices because one is natural and the other lab-grown.
Price
How Much Less Does a
Lab-Grown Diamond Cost?
Lab-grown diamonds can cost approximately 70–90% less than comparable natural diamonds, although the exact difference changes according to size, shape, specifications and the current market.
That can allow you to choose:
A larger diamond for the same budget
Higher colour or clarity specifications
A more detailed setting
A lower overall purchase price
More budget for other priorities
Rough prices by Carat Weight
Carat
Lab-Grown Price
Natural Price
0.5ct
$1,500
$2,500
1ct
$2,000
$5,000
1.5ct
$3,000
$10,000
2ct
$3,500
$19,000
2.5ct
$4,000
$35,000
3ct
$4,700
$50,000
4ct
$6,000
$80,000
5ct
$7,000
$135,000
From Our Experience…
Some customers choose a lab-grown engagement ring specifically because it allows them to redirect part of their budget towards the wedding, honeymoon or home deposit.
Others simply prefer getting a larger diamond for the same spend.
Neither approach is inherently better - they reflect different priorities.
Why Are Natural Diamonds More Expensive?
Natural diamonds are naturally formed and finite, and their journey from recovery through sorting, cutting and polishing creates a very different supply structure from lab-grown diamonds.
Their price reflects factors including:
Natural rarity · Size and quality · Recovery · Cutting and polishing · Market demand · Established tradition
The higher price doesn't mean a lab-grown diamond is less real. It primarily reflects differences in origin, rarity, production and supply.
Value
Natural vs Lab-Grown:
What About Resale Value?
Natural diamonds generally have a more established secondary market and may retain a higher percentage of their original value than lab-grown diamonds.
Lab-grown diamonds can also have resale value, but their secondary market is less established and prices can vary significantly.
Fergus James Expert Insight
We wouldn't recommend buying either type of diamond based on an assumption of guaranteed future returns.
It's also important to consider actual money lost, not only the percentage retained.
A natural diamond may retain a higher percentage of its purchase price but can still represent a larger monetary loss because its original purchase price was considerably higher.
For most customers, both natural and lab-grown diamonds should primarily be considered jewellery rather than investments.
Why Choose a Lab-Grown Diamond?
A lab-grown diamond may suit you if you particularly value:
More size for your budget · Higher specifications · Lower upfront cost · Greater design flexibility
They're particularly useful for jewellery containing multiple or larger diamonds, where the difference in overall cost can become substantial.
Certification
Diamond Certification:
Natural vs Lab-Grown
Both natural and lab-grown diamonds can be independently graded, but different laboratories are more commonly used for each.
At Fergus James:
Natural diamonds 0.30ct+ → normally GIA certified
Lab-grown diamonds 0.30ct+ → normally IGI certified
Why GIA for Natural and IGI for Lab-Grown?
GIA is regarded as the benchmark for natural diamond grading and is our preferred laboratory for natural diamonds.
IGI is particularly prominent in the lab-grown market and continues to provide individual colour and clarity grades, making its reports useful when comparing lab-grown diamonds.
Since October 2025, GIA has instead used Premium or Standard assessments for qualifying colourless-to-near-colourless lab-grown diamonds under its current service.
What Does Certification Tell You?
A grading report independently records important characteristics including:
Origin · Measurements · Carat · Colour · Clarity · Cut · Polish · Symmetry · Fluorescence
For this comparison, origin is particularly important: the report identifies whether the diamond is natural or laboratory-grown.
Fergus James Expert Insight
The report verifies what you're buying; the individual diamond determines whether we'd recommend it.
Two diamonds with similar grades can still look different in person, which is why certification is one part of our selection process — not the entire decision.
Can Every Fergus James Design Use Either Option?
Yes. Fergus James jewellery can be created using natural or lab-grown diamonds according to your preference and budget.
That includes:
Engagement rings · Wedding and eternity rings · Diamond studs · Hoop earrings · Tennis bracelets · Tennis necklaces · Pendants · Bespoke jewellery
Your diamond curator can search for diamonds that match your preferred origin, shape, carat weight and specifications.
Comparison
Natural or Lab-Grown:
Which Should You Choose?
Choose a natural diamond if natural origin, rarity, geological history and tradition are particularly important to you.
Choose a lab-grown diamond if maximising size, specifications or reducing the upfront cost are your main priorities.
From Our Experience…
Neither answer is right for everyone.
Fergus James offers both without preference towards either option. We'll explain the differences, answer your questions and show you suitable natural and lab-grown diamonds so you can decide which feels right for you.
Production, Warranty & Aftercare
Natural and lab-grown Fergus James jewellery is handcrafted in our Dubai workshop.
Production normally takes 10–14 days, depending on the design and time of year, and orders can often be fast-tracked for tighter deadlines.
Both options receive the same:
Craftsmanship · Quality control · Lifetime warranty · Professional cleaning · Ongoing maintenance · Customer service
The origin of your diamond doesn't change the standard of care applied to the finished piece.