Lab-Grown Diamonds
Some diamonds are formed deep within the earth. Lab-grown diamonds offer a different path to the same timeless beauty. At Kimball's, we work with both natural and lab-grown diamonds, so our goal is not to steer every customer toward one option. Our stylists ensure you understand the difference and why a natural diamond can hold a particular significance when rarity, geological origin and generations of ownership are part of the decision.
Called synthetic diamonds, lab-grown diamonds are created in a controlled laboratory environment. Lab-grown diamonds are made of the same pure carbon and share the same essential properties as natural diamonds. Lab-grown diamonds are synthesised in a lab, so the creation time can range from 1 million years to 2-4 weeks for 1 carat. The difference is in their origin, not their essential composition.
As technology continues to evolve, lab-grown diamonds are becoming more widely available. Their growing supply, paired with rising interest in their price point, has made them a popular choice for those seeking diamond beauty at a different value. Lab-grown diamonds are often priced by carat weight, and as production becomes more efficient, prices have continued to shift.
One of the things that makes lab-grown diamonds especially interesting is the precision of their creation. Their controlled environment allows for careful attention to qualities like color, clarity, shape, and symmetry. The result is a diamond with a remarkably precise appearance, available in a wide variety of cuts, from classic round to emerald, princess, and marquise.
Natural Diamonds
Natural Diamonds are one of the earth's most beautiful creations, taking millions of years to form under the earth's surface. When mined and brought into the sun's light, natural diamonds become a symbolic piece for love and promise.
Natural diamonds are formed by the geological landforms around us and the extremely high heat and pressure deep under the surface. This wonderful process is like no other and creates certain characteristics in the diamonds. These characteristics are what experts look for when determining the grading scale for the diamond such as blemishes, clouds, and pinpoints behind each one is a story of how it was created. Each natural diamond is uniquely itself, separating it from other diamonds and making it stand out. For our experts, those details are part of the beauty. They’re a reminder that no two natural diamonds are exactly alike, and that individuality is something worth celebrating.
“Our natural diamonds have a story that began millions of years ago. While a lab-grown diamond can replicate the beauty and characteristics of a diamond, it can’t replicate the unique journey and history of a natural diamond.” — Michaela, Kimball’s Diamontologist
The difference in origin also contributes to the difference in price. Natural diamonds are limited by what the earth produces, while lab-grown diamonds can be produced in greater quantities as technology advances.
Diamond Grading Scale
Diamond experts look for the 4c’s when grading diamond quality: carat, color, cut, and clarity.
Carat: Carat refers to a diamond’s weight, not its size. While a larger diamond often weighs more, two diamonds of the same carat weight can appear different in size depending on their shape and proportions. It’s one of the first details to consider when finding a diamond that feels right for you.
Color: Most people picture a diamond as a clear, white stone. But when experts evaluate color, they’re looking more closely at the diamond’s natural hue.
The color scale for traditional white diamonds ranges from D, which is colorless, to Z, which has a more noticeable yellow or deep champagne tint. Both natural and lab-grown diamonds can fall across this scale, so neither is automatically a particular color grade. The right choice comes down to the look you love.
Cut: A diamond’s cut is what gives it its sparkle. It refers to how well the diamond’s proportions, symmetry, and polish work together to reflect light.
The cut is different from the shape. Round, oval, emerald, marquise, and many more, describe the diamond’s shape, while cut describes how beautifully that shape brings the stone to life. A well-cut diamond can make every facet feel a little more luminous.
Clarity: Clarity refers to the natural characteristics found inside a diamond, known as inclusions, and those on its surface, known as blemishes. These characteristics form as a diamond develops deep within the earth or, in the case of a lab-grown diamond, during its growth in a laboratory.
Experts examine these details under magnification to determine how they affect the diamond’s appearance. Some are so small that they’re difficult to see, even up close. Clarity is a reminder that every diamond has its own story, and sometimes, the most beautiful details are the ones you can’t see at first glance.
The Difference Is Easier to Understand in Person
We encourage customers to compare diamonds side by side and take the time to understand what they’re seeing. Two diamonds can have the same carat weight and similar grades on paper yet look remarkably different in person. Cut, proportions, clarity characteristics and color all influence how a diamond performs in light, and those differences are much easier to appreciate when you can see the stones together. Our tools and private presentation room in our Knoxville showroom give you a comfortable place to look closely, ask questions and compare the diamonds you’re considering without feeling rushed.
Finding Your Diamond
A diamond has a way of making itself at home in any setting. Whether paired with Italian yellow gold, white gold, or steel, both lab-grown and natural diamonds can bring their own character to a piece of jewelry. But the choice between the two is about more than the diamond itself. It’s about the story you want your jewelry to tell. For a piece that carries a promise, like an engagement ring, the rarity and history of a natural diamond may hold a special meaning. For everyday jewelry, a lab-grown diamond can offer another way to enjoy the beauty of a diamond at a different price point.
“I like my diamonds a little like my favorite things: rare and worth waiting for.” — Michaela, Kimball’s Diamontologist
Both are diamonds, but they represent very different origins. At Kimball's, we believe that distinction matters, particularly when you're choosing a diamond for an engagement ring or another piece meant to be kept for generations. The right diamond is the one that fits your style, your story, and the moments you want to celebrate.
