What Is a Lab-Grown Diamond and How Is It Different from a Simulant?
Shopping for an engagement ring collection or a special piece of fine jewelry is one of the most meaningful purchases you'll ever make. But in today's market, the choices go far beyond simply choosing a cut or a carat weight. Terms like "lab-grown diamond," "simulant," "moissanite," and "cubic zirconia" are everywhere - and if you're not sure what they mean, it's easy to feel overwhelmed before you've even walked through the door of a jeweller.
Here's the good news: understanding these distinctions is simpler than you think, and once you do, you'll be empowered to make a choice that aligns with your values, your budget, and your vision. At 6ix of Diamonds, we work with GTA clients every day who arrive with these exact questions. This guide is designed to give you clear, honest answers so you can shop with confidence.
So let's start at the beginning - what is a lab-grown diamond and how is it different from a simulant? The short answer is that a lab-grown diamond is a real diamond, while a simulant merely looks like one. But the full picture is far more nuanced, and knowing the details could save you thousands of dollars while helping you find a stone you'll cherish for a lifetime.
What Exactly Is a Lab-Grown Diamond?
A lab-grown diamond is a genuine diamond - chemically, physically, and optically identical to a diamond mined from the earth. The only difference is where it was created. Instead of forming over billions of years beneath the earth's crust under extreme heat and pressure, a lab-grown diamond is cultivated in a controlled scientific environment that replicates those exact natural conditions.
There are two primary methods used to grow diamonds in a laboratory:
High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT)
This method mimics the intense geological forces that produce natural diamonds. A small diamond seed is placed in a chamber with carbon-rich material and subjected to pressures exceeding 1.5 million pounds per square inch and temperatures above 1,400°C. Over a period of weeks, carbon atoms crystallize around the seed, forming a rough diamond.
Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD)
In CVD, a diamond seed is placed in a sealed chamber filled with carbon-rich gases. The gases are ionized into plasma using microwave technology, causing carbon atoms to bond to the seed layer by layer - much like 3D printing at an atomic level. CVD diamonds are prized for their purity and are often Type IIa, the rarest and most chemically pure classification of diamond.
Both processes yield diamonds with the same hardness (10 on the Mohs scale), the same refractive index, and the same dazzling brilliance that diamonds are famous for. A gemologist cannot distinguish a lab-grown diamond from a mined one with the naked eye - or even with standard jeweller's tools. Only specialized equipment designed to detect trace growth patterns can tell them apart.
What Is a Diamond Simulant?
A simulant is a material that resembles a diamond in appearance but is fundamentally different in its chemical composition and physical properties. Simulants are not diamonds - they simply look like them at first glance.
The most common diamond simulants include:
- Cubic Zirconia (CZ): Made from zirconium oxide, CZ is the most widely recognized simulant. It's inexpensive, highly refractive, and initially sparkly - but it's much softer (8.5 on the Mohs scale), prone to scratching, and tends to cloud over time. CZ has no resale value.
- Moissanite: Originally discovered in meteorites and now lab-created from silicon carbide, moissanite is harder than CZ and has exceptional brilliance - actually more fire than a diamond. However, its optical properties are different: it has a double refractive index, which can produce a rainbow-like sparkle that some find beautiful, but that trained eyes can identify as distinct from a diamond.
- White Sapphire: A natural gemstone, but not a diamond. White sapphires lack the brilliance and fire of diamonds and tend to appear glassy rather than radiant.
- Synthetic Garnet (YAG/GGG): Rare in modern jewelry, these older simulants are easily distinguishable from diamonds due to their lower refractive index.
The critical distinction: simulants imitate diamonds. Lab-grown diamonds are diamonds.
Why Certification Matters: IGI and GIA Grading
One of the most important things to understand when purchasing a diamond - lab-grown or mined - is the role of independent certification. Reputable grading reports from organizations like the International Gemological Institute (IGI) and the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) are your guarantee that a diamond has been professionally assessed for its 4Cs: Cut, Colour, Clarity, and Carat weight.
At 6ix of Diamonds, every lab-grown diamond we offer comes with an IGI or GIA certificate. This means:
- Transparency: You know exactly what you're buying - no guesswork, no inflated claims.
- Consistency: Grading standards are internationally recognized and respected.
- Resale confidence: A certified stone carries documented value.
- Peace of mind: Your investment is verified by experts with no stake in the sale.
Simulants like moissanite and CZ are not graded on the same diamond scale - because they aren't diamonds. Some moissanite retailers issue their own certificates, but these are not equivalent to IGI or GIA diamond reports. Always ask to see independent certification before making a purchase.
The Cost Difference: Why Lab-Grown Diamonds Are a Game-Changer
Here's where things get particularly exciting for today's jewelry shopper. Lab-grown diamonds typically cost 60 to 80% less than their mined counterparts of equivalent quality. That's not a sale price - it's the market reality, driven by a more efficient and transparent supply chain.
What does that mean in practice? A stunning 2-carat, VS1 clarity, F colour, excellent-cut lab-grown diamond that might retail for $4,000-$6,000 could cost $20,000 or more as a mined stone. That difference can go toward a more elaborate setting, additional jewelry pieces, or simply staying within a smarter budget without compromising on quality.
For GTA couples planning an engagement, this opens up incredible possibilities. You can explore our collection of engagement rings featuring certified lab-grown diamonds in a range of cuts and settings - from classic solitaires to elaborate halo designs - at price points that make the choice feel luxurious, not limiting.
And it doesn't stop at rings. The same savings extend beautifully to [diamond necklaces](/category/diamond necklaces), [diamond earrings](/category/diamond earrings), and diamond bracelets, making it easier than ever to build a coordinated fine jewelry wardrobe.
Ethical Sourcing and Environmental Considerations
Beyond the financial advantages, many of our clients choose lab-grown diamonds because of their values. Traditional diamond mining has a complex history - one that includes environmental disruption, significant carbon emissions, and in some regions, ongoing concerns about labor practices.
Lab-grown diamonds sidestep these concerns entirely:
- No mining: No land is excavated, no ecosystems disturbed.
- Conflict-free: 100% of the time. Lab-grown diamonds have no connection to conflict zones.
- Traceable origin: You know exactly where your stone came from and how it was made.
- Reduced carbon footprint: While lab production does require energy, many facilities are transitioning to renewable sources, and the overall footprint is significantly lower than large-scale mining operations.
For the 25-45 demographic we serve across Toronto and the GTA, ethical consumption is not an afterthought - it's a priority. Choosing a lab-grown diamond is a way to say that luxury and conscience are not mutually exclusive.
How to Choose: Lab-Grown Diamond vs. Simulant for Your Jewelry
If you're still weighing your options, here's a simple framework to guide your decision:
Choose a lab-grown diamond if:
- You want a real diamond with documented certification
- Long-term durability and wearability matter to you (diamonds are the hardest natural material on earth)
- You value ethical sourcing without sacrificing quality
- You want something with intrinsic and recognized gemological value
- You're purchasing an engagement ring or heirloom piece meant to last generations
A simulant might make sense if:
- You're buying a costume or fashion piece with no expectation of longevity
- Budget is extremely constrained and the piece is purely aesthetic
- You explicitly prefer the optical characteristics of moissanite's fire
For anything you plan to wear daily, gift to someone you love, or pass down as an heirloom, a certified lab-grown diamond is the clear choice - delivering the beauty, durability, and prestige of a diamond at a fraction of the price.
If you're ready to explore what's possible, build your own ring using our online customization tool, or visit us at our Toronto showroom where our team can walk you through every option in person.
Visit Our Toronto Showroom or Book a Consultation
At 6ix of Diamonds, we believe that buying a diamond should feel exciting, not confusing. Our Toronto showroom is designed to give you a personalized, pressure-free experience where you can view certified lab-grown diamonds side by side, ask every question on your mind, and find the perfect stone for your piece.
Whether you're envisioning a classic solitaire engagement ring, a sophisticated tennis bracelet collection, or a completely bespoke creation through our custom jewelry design service, our team is here to bring your vision to life - with complete transparency, genuine expertise, and the stunning value that lab-grown diamonds make possible.
Book a consultation today and discover why so many GTA couples are choosing 6ix of Diamonds for one of life's most important purchases.