You've probably heard that lab grown diamonds are "cheaper." But cheaper by how much? And does cheaper mean worse?

Here are the actual numbers — and what they mean for anyone buying diamond jewelry right now.

The Price Gap Is Bigger Than You Think

The lab grown diamond vs. mined diamond price difference isn't 10 or 20 percent. It's 60 to 80 percent for comparable stones.

Real example: a 1ct round E VS1 lab grown diamond runs $800–$1,200 at most online retailers. The mined equivalent — same cut, same grade, same certification — starts around $4,000 and typically goes higher.

A 2ct round? The gap widens. Lab grown: $1,500–$2,500. Mined: $8,000–$16,000+.

For everyday jewelry — studs, tennis chains, pendants — that gap is significant. A pair of 0.5ct lab grown diamond studs that costs $400–$600 would run $1,500–$2,500 in mined stones. A 3ct tennis chain in lab grown diamonds at $900–$1,400 would cost $5,000+ in mined.

The math isn't subtle.

Why Lab Diamonds Cost Less (It's Economics, Not Quality)

The most common assumption: lab grown diamonds cost less because they're lower quality. That's not it.

The reason is supply chain economics.

Mined diamonds have a constrained, controlled supply. De Beers and a small number of major mining operations have managed that supply carefully for decades. Controlled scarcity keeps prices high.

Lab grown diamonds don't have that constraint. They're grown in controlled environments using two processes: high pressure, high temperature (HPHT) or chemical vapor deposition (CVD). As the technology has matured and production has scaled, costs have dropped significantly. A stone that cost thousands to produce in 2018 costs a fraction of that now.

More supply, lower costs, lower prices. That's the whole story. There's no catch hidden in the economics.

Are Lab Diamonds Real Diamonds?

Yes — and this isn't marketing language. It's chemistry.

Lab grown diamonds have the same carbon crystal structure as mined diamonds. Same hardness (10 on the Mohs scale). Same refractive index. Same thermal conductivity. They sparkle the same way because light behaves identically inside them.

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the International Gemological Institute (IGI) — the two most respected diamond grading labs in the world — both certify lab grown diamonds using the same 4C grading system as mined: cut, color, clarity, and carat. An IGI-certified lab grown diamond goes through the same physical inspection and receives the same grade sheet.

The only difference a gemologist finds is the growth method, which requires specialized equipment to detect. You can't see it. The person across from you can't see it either.

Learn more about how we source and certify our stones →

The Resale Value Question — Honest Answer

Lab grown diamonds don't hold value the way rare collectibles do. Their resale market is thin, and prices will likely continue declining as production scales further.

Here's what most articles skip: mined diamonds also don't hold value well for retail buyers.

If you buy a 1ct mined diamond ring for $5,000 retail, you're unlikely to recover $5,000 if you sell it three years later. The retail markup on mined diamonds is substantial — and the resale market discounts heavily. Often 20–40% below purchase price, immediately.

For everyday jewelry — studs, chains, pendants — the right question isn't "does this hold value?" You're not buying a commodity investment. You're buying something you'll wear. The right question is: did I pay a fair price for what I got?

For engagement rings, the conversation shifts slightly. Some buyers place symbolic weight on rarity or on something that "holds its value" in a tangible sense. That's a personal choice, not a wrong one. But the economics are worth understanding clearly before you decide.

Will the Price Gap Shrink?

Probably. Lab grown diamond prices have fallen roughly 70–80% since 2020 as production has scaled. That trend is likely to continue.

This is worth knowing. But it shouldn't drive the whole decision. The gap today is 60–80%. Even if it narrows to 40–50% over the next decade, you're still getting substantially more stone for your money right now. Waiting for prices to fall further is like waiting for anything in technology to get cheaper — possible, but you're not wearing one in the meantime.

The real question isn't "will prices change?" It's: what do I want today, and what's a fair price for it?

For Everyday Jewelry: The Case Is Clear

For diamond studs, tennis chains, pendants, and pieces you'll wear daily, the math lands squarely on lab grown.

You get the same stone — same IGI certification, same 4C grades, same sparkle — at 60–80% less. That gap lets you buy a better stone at your existing budget, buy more than one piece, or simply not overpay for something you wear every day.

That's what Lihara is built for: pieces you actually wear. Studs for every morning. Tennis chains that work from desk to weekend. Pieces that don't live in a drawer because they're too expensive to risk.

For Engagement Rings: A More Nuanced Take

Lihara focuses on everyday jewelry, not bridal — so take this for what it is.

The savings on lab grown engagement diamonds are identical: 60–80% less for the same stone, same cut, same grading. What changes is the symbolic conversation. Some people feel strongly that rarity matters for an engagement ring. Others don't. Neither is wrong.

What matters is that you understand what you're buying and what you're paying for. If you want a 2ct stone and your budget is $5,000, lab grown gets you there. Mined doesn't.

The Bottom Line

The lab grown vs. mined diamond price difference is 60–80%, driven by supply chain economics — not quality. Lab grown diamonds are chemically and optically identical to mined diamonds, confirmed by independent IGI and GIA certification. The resale market is thin, but so is the retail resale market for mined stones. And for everyday pieces, resale value was never the point.

You have the numbers now. The decision is straightforward.

See Lihara's lab diamond prices — same IGI certification, no retail markup.

→ Shop Lab Diamond Studs → Shop Lab Diamond Tennis Chains → Compare Our Prices → Learn About Our Stones