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Lab Grown vs Natural Diamonds: Can You See the Difference? Expert Guide to Appearance & Identification​
 

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Pic: The laser inscription on a lab-grown diamond’s girdle, with the text “LABGROWN”

A magnified view of a lab grown diamond girdle that shows laser engravings on the diamond girdle that read "LABGROWN IGI LG523205" "

1. Different laser codes

The first way to distinguish natural diamonds from lab grown diamonds is by the “identity card” on each diamond – the laser girdle number.

 

Since it is difficult to distinguish between lab grown diamonds and natural diamonds with the naked eye, in order to protect consumers and the natural diamond industry, the words "Lab Grown" will be engraved on the waist code of laboratory diamonds. However, this waist code can only be seen with a magnifying instrument and cannot be seen with the naked eye, so it does not affect the visual appearance.

 

Each RAGAZZA diamond comes with a diamond certificate from the international appraisal institute GIA or IGI and a laser girdle number.

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2. The flaws of artificial features

Another difference noticeable difference under the magnifier between lab grown diamonds and natural diamonds is the difference between their inclusions. The formation of both lab-grown diamonds and natural diamonds involves a certain degree of randomness. Therefore, most diamonds, contain impurities except for those very few diamonds which could be graded flawless,.
 

When comparing the flaws and inclusions of natural diamond with those of a lab-grown diamond you will notice that the inclusions in a lab grown diamond would look neater. For example, there would be perfectly round spots, tidy cracks, and evenly dispersed impurities. That is why, if you are looking for a diamond with a relatively low clarity (below SI1, for example), you could check if the inclusions are too neat, or have the diamond examined by our diamond professionals.

 
As for diamonds with clarity of or above VS1, since it only contains some trivial flaws, its appearance would be barely affected, regardless of whether it is a lab-grown or natural.

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At RAGAZZA we offer you the ability to see a magnified view of Diamonds which you want to buy all you have to do is navigate to the Diamond Selector in the RAGAZZA website and choose a diamond then you will have the ability to have a 360 degrees zoomed view of the selected diamond.

A lab grown diamond that shows defects and inclusions that were a result from the process of creating the lab grown diamond
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Pic: H grade color HPHT lab-grown diamond with blue tone (IGI)

a side view of a round cut diamond with the pointy end pointing to the right and the diamond has a hint of blue color because it is a lab grown diamond made using the HPHT method also known as the high pressure hight temprature method and on the right side of the diamond image there are writings that detail the characteristics of the diamond and there is a blue frame highlighting a comment mentioning that the diamond has a faint blue color and this image is a section of a diamond certificate

Pic: H grade color HPHT lab-grown diamond without blue tone (IGI)

a side view of a round cut diamond with the pointy end pointing to the right and this diamond is a lab grown diamond made using the HPHT method also known as the high pressure hight temprature method and on the right side of the diamond image there are writings that detail the characteristics of the diamond and this image is a section of a diamond certificate

3. Unnatural blues

Lab grown diamonds created through the HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature) method may contain a slight blue color tone (also called blue tinge) because of the chemical boron that is used during production of lab grown diamonds. On the other hand, natural diamonds would usually contain a yellow tone because nitrogen is present during the formation of natural diamonds deep within the earth's mantle.

 

The blue tone of lab grown diamonds can be spotted with the naked eye; and since it is rare for natural diamonds to contain a blue color tone, this characteristic can be used to differentiate between natural and lab grown diamonds.


However, some customers prefer this blue color tone as it looks lighter than the yellow tone and the cold color hue seems to enhance the uniqueness of the diamond for them.


One thing to note though, is that the said blue tone only appears in a small amount of HPHT lab grown diamonds. As an example, if a diamond of color grade G or below has a blue color tone, the diamond certificate of this diamond would have a comment that mentions that that diamond has a “Blue nuance” or “Faint Blue”; but for diamonds of color grade F or above, no such indication would be shown on the certificate even if the blue color tone is present.


That is why we advise people who wish to buy lab grown diamonds and want to avoid diamonds with blue color tone, would be to avoid HPHT lab grown diamonds that are graded E to F on the color graded range (D color is completely colorless, so no blue tone could be seen), or to consult our diamond professionals before purchase.

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Consult with RAGAZZA diamond experts or make a reservation to visit our store.

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4. Fancy Colored Diamonds with Unnaturally Vivid Color

Pic: Fancy color lab-grown diamond with vivid color

Pic: Natural fancy color diamond

Lab grown diamonds come in different verities of color Other than white, and the term used in the diamond industry for colored diamonds is "fancy color diamonds". But when compared with natural fancy colored diamonds, the color of the fancy colored lab grown diamonds would be more vivid and more intense color.


So, if you are planning on buying fancy colored lab grown diamonds, we advise you to search online first for diamonds that have colors that are similar to the color of natural fancy colored diamonds. After that you can pick a fancy colored lab grown diamond that appears to be more like the natural diamonds. Because if the color is too intense the diamond may look unnatural when compared to natural colored diamonds.

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At RAGAZZA we help you Compare natural colored diamonds and lab grown colored diamonds through RAGAZZA's Diamond Selector.

four colored lab grown diamonds also know as fancy colored lab grown diamonds showing four different cuts and four different colors top left is a princess cut fancy colored pink lab grown diamond the top right is a cushion cut blue fancy colored diamond bottom left is a pear shaped cut yellow colored lab grown diamond and the bottom right is a emeral cut green colored lab grown diamond the colors of lab grown diamonds are more intense than natural grown diamonds you can find similar colored fancy colored lab grown diamonds at RAGAZZA DIAMONDS that have branches in Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Macau, and Taipei.
four natural colored diamonds also called fancy colored natural diamonds that have four different cuts and colors the top left is an oval cut natural pink colored diamond the top right is an asscher cut natural blue colored diamond the bottom left is a pear shaped cut natural yelllow colored diamond the bottom right is a cushion cut natural green colored diamond and the color of the natural colored diamonds is less intense than fancy colored lab grown diamonds. You can find similar fancy colored natural diamonds at RAGAZZA DIAMONDS that have branches in Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Macau, and Taipei.
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silver jewelry.jpg

5. Low-quality jewelry making

Ultimately, whether a diamond can show its most beautiful appearance depends on the skill and expertise of the jewellery craftsman. The quality, luster and weight of the metal used to set and inlay the diamond greatly affect the overall texture and beauty of the lab grown diamond.

 

In order to increase the value of natural diamonds, some foreign diamond brands currently use lower-quality metals (such as pure silver plated with gold) to embed laboratory diamonds, or match them with inferior quality companion stones. However, poor-quality metals will oxidize and rust over time, causing the edges to darken or even turn brown, damaging the overall appearance of the diamond.

 

To highlight the crystal clearness of lab grown diamonds and make them shine like natural diamonds, we recommend that consumers choose jewelry merchants who specialize in gold and platinum. Only high-end jewelry can present the texture of natural diamonds.

 

Check out RAGAZZA's stunning collection of lab grown diamond jewellery.

Polished diamonds on table
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  • When can I receive or pick up the jewelry after payment?
    Depending on inventory, some ready-made products can be picked up in the store on the same day or shipped within 3 working days (logistics details) , while products that are not in stock take 3 to 4 weeks to produce. Shipping time in overseas areas (outside of Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and Malaysia) is generally 10 to 56 days (international logistics information click here). If you need to check the stock or expedite production, please click here to contact us.
  • Do I need to pay tax for the product?
    Hong Kong, Macau, and Malaysia are tax-free, while Taiwan incurs a tax of 5% of the total amount. For tax information regarding other countries/regions, the actual amount will be notified by the local courier company upon package arrival at the recipient's country/region, and taxes will be collected directly from you. For enquiries regarding tax amounts, you can refer to the third-party tax estimation calculator SimplyDuty, but please be aware that the actual amount will be based on the calculation at the time of collection in the local area. If you have any questions, please contact our customer service. (Note: International order will be imported from Hong Kong)
  • Is there any maintenance or return service?
    Products purchased from RAGAZZA enjoy a lifetime maintenance (click here for after-sales service details); any product can be replaced unconditionally within 7 days since the date you received the product (except for customized products); if the product does not match the product description, you can return the product and receive a full refund. However, we do not refund in some cases (click here for the return policy).
  • What is the difference between platinum, 18K gold and 925 silver?"
    18K white gold (AU750) 18K white gold is made up of 75% precious metal "gold" plus 25% other white metals, making it a silver-white combination. It is a common material for high-end jewelry. 18K gold is characterized by its strength and durability, and is suitable for long-term wear. We recommend customers to choose 18K gold. Platinum (PT950) PT950 is composed of 95% precious metal "Platinum" plus 5% other hard metals. The natural silver white color is extremely durable and will not oxidize, making it the most ideal high-grade material. Platinum is heavy and hard. It is suitable for long-term wear. If you perfer PT950 for your jewelry, please contact us. Sterling Silver (S925) S925 sterling silver is a more common silver-white precious metal. Because it is not very hard and can oxidize easily, other white metals is plated on the surface of pure silver to make it harder to oxidize. However, frequent cleaning is still needed to maintain its shine.
  • How to know the ring size?
    Please refer to the measurement methods or request a ring size measurer (click here).
  • Can the size be changed?
    We can replace it once for free whenever you have the need.
  • Will lab-grown gems become dim after wearing for a long time?
    Lab grown gems will never become murky, and the inside will never become turbid, so any dirt you see is on the surface and can be removed by cleaning. Click here for cleaning methods.
  • Can lab grown gemstone be distinguished from natural gemstone by eyes?
    Lab grown gemstones have the same appearance, refractive index, hardness and physical composition as natural gemstones. It is almost impossible to distinguish them by naked eyes.

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