WHAT ARE LAB-GROWN DIAMONDS?
Our jewellery is crafted exclusively with lab-grown diamonds—real diamonds created using cutting-edge technology. These aren’t simulants or imitations. Lab-grown diamonds are chemically and physically diamond, made from carbon, just like those formed deep in the earth.
But while natural diamonds take millions of years to form, lab-grown diamonds are produced in a matter of weeks. They’re also increasingly used in high-tech industries, from semiconductors to industrial cutting tools—the kind that can slice through concrete. That tells you something about their strength.
Still, our focus is firmly on the gem-quality diamonds used in fine jewellery. And not just any lab-grown diamonds—only those produced using clean, renewable energy. They exist. And we use them. Because we can, and because we should.
HOW DO LAB-GROWN AND NATURAL DIAMONDS COMPARE?
To the eye, they look the same. They share the same brilliance, hardness, and beauty. But at a molecular level, they’re different.
Lab-grown diamonds are created quickly in manufacturing facilities. Natural diamonds formed over billions of years under extreme conditions deep beneath the Earth’s crust. Their internal crystal structure differs slightly, and that’s why machines have been developed to detect the difference.
If they were truly identical, those machines wouldn’t exist.
Here’s a wonderful explainer about the difference between natural and lab-grown diamonds from our friends at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).
CLEANER TECHNOLOGY = BETTER DIAMONDS
There are two main methods of producing lab-grown diamonds:
At De Vere Brilliance, we use CVD-grown diamonds. This method allows for renewable energy use, produces a purer diamond, and results in a lower carbon footprint. Yes, the process still requires high-purity methane (a fossil fuel), but the environmental impact is significantly reduced when powered by clean energy.
It’s better for the planet—and it creates a more beautiful diamond.
Our friends at the International Gemological Institute (IGI) explain the HPHT and CVD processes in the video below, as well as the formation of natural diamonds for a comparison.
THE ETHICAL QUESTION: NOT ALL LAB-GROWN DIAMONDS ARE EQUAL
Most of the world’s lab-grown diamonds are produced in India and China—countries where energy is largely coal-powered. That coal is cheap, but it comes at a cost: a heavy carbon footprint.
So while lab-grown diamonds may sound environmentally friendly, the reality is nuanced. Many of them are not. That’s why we’re committed to sourcing only from producers that use solar, wind, or hydroelectric power, or producers that use Renewable Energy Credits. It’s the cleaner choice—and the right one.
At De Vere Brilliance, we source Sustainability Rated Diamonds that conform to the SCS Global Services SCS-007 Certification.
Don’t take our word for it, let SCS Global Services themselves explain it, in the fascinating video below.
DRIVING CHANGE, TOGETHER
We are part of a growing movement working to reshape the future of both the lab-grown and natural diamond industries. It’s not easy. But we believe in progress, in responsibility, and in transparency.
Both industries have work to do. Both are accountable. And both can change—for the better.
And we’re here to make sure they do.
