Search "are lab-grown diamonds real?" and you will find plenty of confusion. Here are the seven myths we hear most often, and the facts.

Myth 1: "Lab-grown diamonds are fake"

Fact: a laboratory-grown diamond is a real diamond, made of pure carbon in a diamond crystal structure. It has the same chemical composition, hardness and optical properties as a mined diamond. Only its origin is different.

Myth 2: "They are just cubic zirconia or moissanite"

Fact: cubic zirconia is zirconium dioxide and moissanite is silicon carbide. Both are different materials that imitate diamond. A lab-grown diamond *is* diamond. See our comparison of lab-grown, moissanite and CZ.

Myth 3: "A jeweller can tell by looking"

Fact: no one can tell a lab-grown diamond from a mined one with the naked eye or a basic loupe. Laboratories use specialised instruments to identify origin, which is why grading reports matter.

Myth 4: "They get cloudy or lose their sparkle"

Fact: a diamond doesn't change over time. Any diamond, mined or lab-grown, can look dull when it is dirty from lotion, soap or skin oils. A quick clean restores it. If a stone genuinely looks hazy, that is a quality issue (clarity or treatment), which a good grading report will reveal before you buy.

Myth 5: "They are not durable enough for everyday wear"

Fact: lab-grown diamonds score 10 on the Mohs scale, just like mined diamonds, and are perfectly suited to engagement rings and daily wear.

Myth 6: "All lab-grown diamonds are the same quality"

Fact: like mined diamonds, they vary widely in cut, colour and clarity. Two one-carat lab-grown diamonds can look very different. Always compare the 4Cs.

Myth 7: "They aren't certified"

Fact: major independent labs such as IGI and GIA grade laboratory-grown diamonds, and the report states the origin clearly. Read our certificate guide.

The honest bottom line

A laboratory-grown diamond gives you everything a diamond should: brilliance, durability and beauty, at a far lower price. The one thing it doesn't offer is geological rarity. If rarity matters most to you, choose a natural diamond. If you want the most diamond for your budget, lab-grown is hard to beat.

Questions? Ask our team in Surat.