Are Lab Grown Diamonds Real And Are They Worth It in India?

If you’ve been browsing diamond jewellery lately, you’ve probably paused at one question:

Are lab grown diamonds real?

Because the internet is loud. Some people call them “fake”. Some say “they don’t last”. Others wonder, “Will anyone know?” And the biggest doubt of all: are lab grown diamonds worth it in India, especially when jewellery is such an emotional purchase?

Let’s simplify it, without hype and without jargon.

First things first: are lab grown diamonds real?

Yes. Lab grown diamonds are real diamonds. They are not glass, not zircon, not “diamond-like”.

A diamond is defined by what it is made of and how it’s structured. Lab grown diamonds have the same core properties as mined diamonds:

• Same material (carbon)
  
  

• Same crystal structure
  
  

• Same hardness and durability
  
  

• Same sparkle behaviour (because sparkle comes from cut + light performance)
  
  

The difference is where they are formed:

• Mined diamonds form under the earth over a long time.
  
  

• Lab diamonds are grown in a controlled lab environment that recreates those conditions.
  
  

So if your doubt is “are they fake?” the clean answer is: no.

Lab diamonds vs real diamonds: what’s the real difference?

You’ll often see phrases like “lab diamonds vs real diamonds” or “lab grown diamonds vs real” online. The wording itself creates confusion, because it implies lab diamonds aren’t “real”.

A better comparison is:

Lab-grown diamonds vs mined diamonds.

Here’s the practical difference for a buyer:

• Origin: lab vs earth
  
  

• Price: lab is usually lower for similar specs
  
  

• Supply chain: lab can be more traceable
  
  

• Resale/upgrade market: mined still has wider traditional acceptance (though this is changing)
  
  

In terms of how they look on your hand, how they sparkle, and how they wear over time, the experience is extremely similar

“Will people know it’s lab grown?”

This is one of the most common worries.

In normal wear, no one can tell by looking. A lab grown diamond and a mined diamond of the same cut and quality look the same to the naked eye.

The only way to reliably differentiate is with specialised testing equipment used by gem labs. That’s why certification matters (we’ll come to that).

What people will notice is:

• The design
  
  

• The sparkle (cut quality)
  
  

• How well it suits you
  
  

• Whether it looks premium and well-made
  
  

If you choose a beautiful piece and it’s crafted well, nobody is doing detective work at a dinner table.

“Do lab grown diamonds last?”

Yes. If it’s a diamond, it lasts.

A diamond’s durability comes from its hardness and structure. Lab grown diamonds have the same hardness as mined diamonds. That means:

• They don’t get scratched easily in daily wear
  
  

• They hold up well over years
  
  

• They don’t “fade” or lose sparkle on their own
  
  

What actually impacts longevity is not whether the diamond is lab-grown or mined, but these real-world factors:

• The setting (prongs, bezel, halo quality)
  
  

• The metal (14K/18K gold and good finishing)
  
  

• The way you wear it (gym, travel, everyday chores)
  
  

• Regular cleaning and basic care
  
  

So the better question is: “Is the jewellery made well?” not “Is the diamond strong enough?”.

Sparkle: does a lab diamond shine like a mined one?

Sparkle isn’t magic. It’s physics. A diamond’s sparkle depends mostly on:

• Cut quality (how well it returns light)
  
  

• Proportions (depth, table, angles)
  
  

• Clarity (how clean it is)
  
  

• Polish and symmetry
  
  

So if someone compares two diamonds and says “this one sparkles more”, that’s usually a cut conversation, not a lab-vs-mined conversation.

If you’re shopping in India, a simple tip: don’t obsess only over carat. Ask about cut, and look at videos in good lighting.

Certification: how do you know what you’re buying?

This is where buyers should be strict.

Whether you buy mined or lab, you deserve clear specs:

• Carat
  
  

• Colour
  
  

• Clarity
  
  

• Cut
  
  

• Certification number (for the stone)
  
  

For lab grown diamonds in India, certification is commonly offered by well-known gem labs like IGI (among others). Certification gives you:

• Confidence that it’s a diamond (not a lookalike)
  
  

• Transparency on quality
  
  

• A way to compare pricing across options
  
  

If you’re evaluating lab grown diamonds vs real diamonds, certification makes the comparison fair, because you’re comparing like-for-like.

Are lab grown diamonds cheaper?

Usually, yes.

If your question is “are lab grown diamonds cheaper”, the honest answer is: for the same visible size and similar quality, lab grown diamonds typically cost less than mined diamonds.

This is exactly why many Indian buyers are choosing them:

• You can get a bigger-looking diamond for the same budget
  
  

• Or you can get better specs (cut/clarity) within the same spend
  
  

• Or you can put money into design, gold weight, and craftsmanship instead of only the stone
  
  

But “cheaper” shouldn’t mean “compromise”. It should mean better value for what you want.

Are lab grown diamonds worth it in India?

This depends on what “worth it” means to you.

Lab grown diamonds are worth it if you care about:

• Everyday wear and confidence (without feeling you overpaid)
  
  

• A bigger or better-looking diamond in your budget
  
  

• Clear specs, transparency, and modern buying behaviour
  
  

• Jewellery that you’ll actually wear, not lock away
  
  

You may not find them worth it if your priority is:

• Traditional resale expectations
  
  

• Buying purely for long-term asset value
  
  

• Family preferences that are very mined-diamond focused
  
  

A practical way to decide:
If your heart wants diamonds for how they look, feel, and fit into your life, lab grown is often a smart buy.
If your heart wants a legacy purchase tied strongly to tradition, mined may still feel “right” for you.

Both choices are valid. The mistake is buying something you can’t emotionally stand behind.

Myths vs Facts

Myth: Lab grown diamonds are fake.
Fact: They are real diamonds, just grown in a lab.

Myth: People can easily tell.
Fact: Not by normal viewing. Proper identification needs lab testing.

Myth: They don’t last.
Fact: Diamonds (lab or mined) are highly durable. Settings and care matter more.

Myth: Lab diamonds don’t sparkle.
Fact: Sparkle depends on cut and quality, not where the diamond was formed.

Myth: Cheaper means low quality.
Fact: Lab diamonds can be high quality. Price difference is largely about origin and supply chain.

What Joara does differently

At Joara, we treat lab grown diamonds like what they are: fine jewellery, not a “budget alternative”.

That means:

• IGI-certified lab-grown diamonds
  
  

• BIS-hallmarked gold
  
  

• Clear specs in simple language (so you know what you’re paying for)
  
  

• Designs meant for real life: work, dinners, travel, celebrations
  
  

If you’re still unsure whether lab diamonds vs real diamonds is the right choice for you, think of it this way:

The “real” part isn’t only the diamond.
It’s whether the purchase feels honest, wearable, and truly yours.

If you want, I can also write a short “quick decision checklist” you can add at the end of this blog (5 questions that help a buyer decide in under 30 seconds)

👉 Explore Lab Grown Diamond Jewellery at Joara Diamonds