Few questions in jewellery generate more heat than this one. Spend ten minutes reading about it online and you'll find natural diamond advocates warning darkly about resale value, and lab diamond proponents decrying the traditional industry's ethics. Neither side is entirely wrong. Neither is entirely right.
We work with both. Here's what we actually think.
What is a Lab Grown Diamond?
A lab grown diamond is a real diamond. It has the same chemical composition as a natural diamond — pure carbon in a crystalline structure — the same hardness (10 on the Mohs scale), the same optical properties, and the same range of cut, colour, and clarity grades.
The difference is origin. Natural diamonds form over billions of years under extreme heat and pressure deep within the earth. Lab grown diamonds are created in controlled environments — either through High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) processes or Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) — over weeks or months.
A gemologist with a standard loupe cannot tell them apart. Specialist equipment is required to distinguish them, and even then, it's identifying growth characteristics, not quality differences.
The Case for Lab Grown Diamonds
Price. This is the primary driver, and it's significant. Lab grown diamonds currently cost 40–70% less than natural diamonds of comparable quality. A 1.5ct lab grown diamond of excellent cut, G colour, and VS1 clarity might cost $2,500–$4,000 AUD. The natural equivalent would be $12,000–$18,000. That's a real difference — and it means a lab grown diamond allows you to prioritise size, cut quality, or both, at a fraction of the cost.
Ethics and traceability. Lab grown diamonds have no mining footprint. For clients who are concerned about the environmental or social impact of diamond mining, lab grown is a clear answer. The supply chain is short and transparent.
Quality consistency. Because lab grown diamonds are produced in controlled environments, they tend to have fewer inclusions and more consistent colour than natural diamonds at comparable price points. You get more diamond for your money in measurable ways.
The Case for Natural Diamonds
Rarity and provenance. A natural diamond took billions of years to form and made a journey from the earth's mantle to your finger that is, objectively, extraordinary. That provenance matters to some people — not as a marketing concept, but as something genuinely meaningful. The object is ancient in a way that no manufactured product can replicate.
Resale value. Natural diamonds hold their value better than lab grown diamonds, which have depreciated significantly as production has scaled and prices have fallen. If you ever need to sell or upgrade, a natural diamond is a more liquid asset. Lab grown diamonds, as of 2026, have limited secondary market value.
Emotional resonance. This is subjective, but real. For some clients, knowing their diamond is natural — that it existed in the earth long before they were born — adds a dimension of meaning that matters to them. We don't dismiss this.
What We've Observed at Laher
The clients who choose lab grown diamonds at Laher tend to prioritise size and cut quality. They want a visually impressive stone, they're not concerned with provenance, and they'd rather spend the savings on the setting, a holiday, or a house deposit. This is a completely reasonable position.
The clients who choose natural diamonds tend to feel strongly about the object itself. They want something irreplaceable — not in a sentimental cliché way, but in a literal sense. A natural diamond cannot be reproduced. That matters to them.
We've also noticed that clients choosing coloured stones — Australian sapphires, for instance — often don't face this question at all. Sapphires aren't lab grown at any meaningful quality level for centre stones, so the question simply doesn't arise.
What About Natural Coloured Diamonds?
Champagne, cognac, and yellow diamonds occupy an interesting middle ground. Natural coloured diamonds are significantly less expensive than white diamonds of comparable size — a natural champagne diamond of 1ct can cost $3,000–$7,000, compared to $8,000–$15,000 for a comparable white stone.
They're also genuinely beautiful. We work with champagne and cognac diamonds regularly at Laher, and they pair particularly well with yellow gold settings and alongside Australian sapphires in cluster designs.
If you're drawn to diamonds but not to the idea of a white stone, this is a category worth exploring.
Our Honest Recommendation
There is no universally correct answer. The right choice depends on what you value — and those values are yours, not ours to prescribe.
What we'd suggest: come in and see both. A lab grown diamond and a natural diamond of comparable quality look identical to the naked eye. What you'll be comparing is how you feel about each, knowing what you know about where it came from. That feeling will tell you more than any article can.
If budget is the primary consideration, lab grown gives you considerably more for your money. If provenance and long-term value matter, natural is worth the premium. If you're drawn to colour and character over brilliance, an Australian sapphire sidesteps the question entirely.
We're happy to talk through any of it.
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Laher is a bespoke jewellery studio in Surry Hills, Sydney. We design and handcraft engagement rings and fine jewellery using Australian sapphires and unique coloured diamonds.