A lab grown diamond is a diamond. Same crystallised carbon, same 10 on the Mohs scale, same fire and brilliance, graded on the same 4Cs by the same laboratories. The only difference is that it took a few weeks in a reactor rather than a few billion years underground, and that difference is what puts a two carat stone within reach of a normal budget.
Every lab grown diamond we set is IGI certified. Every ring is made in our Melbourne studio rather than ordered in finished from an overseas catalogue, which means we can build to your design, change it before it is finished, and stand behind it afterwards.
Lab diamond designs start at AU$1,350 and move with carat, colour, clarity and metal rather than with a brand markup.
What we would tell you if you were sitting in the studio
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Buy cut before you buy carat. A well cut 1.5ct stone outperforms a poorly cut 2ct every time, and the difference is visible across a room.
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In a round or oval, drop to a G or H colour and VS2 clarity. You will not see it, and the saving goes into size or setting.
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In an emerald or asscher cut, do the opposite. Step cuts hide nothing, so clarity is where your money should go.
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Ask for the IGI number before you commit, on any ring, from anyone. Then look it up yourself.
Why our lab diamonds are IGI certified
IGI is the dominant laboratory for lab grown stones worldwide. You get the certificate with the ring, and the report number is laser inscribed on the girdle so you can verify it yourself at any time. That inscription is the practical proof of origin, because nothing else distinguishes a lab grown diamond from a mined one without laboratory equipment. A standard diamond tester reads both as diamond, for the simple reason that both are diamond.
Lab grown diamond or moissanite?
We make both and we have no preference between them. A lab grown diamond is a diamond, at a fraction of the price of a mined stone at the same specification. Moissanite is a different stone with more fire, slightly lower hardness at 9.25 on the Mohs scale, and a lower price again at every size.
If you have not decided, read the honest comparison, or browse the moissanite engagement rings we make in the same studio.
What comes with every ring
- IGI certificate for the centre stone
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Lifetime warranty covering craftsmanship and the optical properties of the stone
- One free resize within three months of purchase, up to four sizes either way, or two sizes on a pavé ring
- A free ring sizer sent before we cast, so the fit is right the first time
- Carbon offset delivery, Australia wide, insured and signature required
- Made in our Southbank studio
Where to go next
By shape: oval, round, pear, emerald, elongated cushion, radiant, marquise
By setting: solitaire, halo, hidden halo, bezel, toi et moi, three stone, east west
Frequently asked questions about lab grown diamond engagement rings
Are lab grown diamonds real diamonds?
Yes. A lab grown diamond is chemically, physically and optically identical to a mined diamond. Both are crystallised carbon, both grade 10 on the Mohs hardness scale, and both are graded on the same 4Cs. The International Gemological Institute certifies both. The only way to tell them apart is with specialist equipment that reads growth patterns, which is why every certified lab diamond is laser inscribed on the girdle.
How much do lab grown diamond engagement rings cost in Australia?
Our lab diamond designs start at AU$1,350. Price is driven by carat weight first, then cut quality, then colour and clarity, then the metal and setting. A lab grown diamond typically costs a fraction of a mined stone of the same specification, which is why lab diamond buyers usually end up with a larger or better cut stone for the same money.
Do lab grown diamonds hold their value?
Honestly, not in the way people hope, and neither do mined diamonds. Retail jewellery of any kind sells for well below its purchase price on the secondary market, and lab grown diamond prices have fallen as production has scaled. If you are buying an engagement ring as an investment, you are buying the wrong asset. If you are buying it to wear every day for fifty years, a lab diamond gives you more stone, more certification and less compromise for the same budget.
Can you tell the difference between a lab grown and a mined diamond?
Not by eye, and not with a standard jeweller's loupe. Even a diamond tester reads both as diamond, because both are diamond. Distinguishing them requires laboratory equipment that detects the growth structure. This is also why the girdle inscription matters, since it is the practical proof of origin.
What certification do your lab grown diamonds come with?
Every lab grown diamond we set is certified by IGI, the International Gemological Institute. You get the certificate with the ring, and the report number is laser inscribed on the stone so you can verify it yourself on the IGI website at any time.
What does the warranty actually cover?
Craftsmanship, meaning manufacturing faults such as an unstable setting or a flawed metal finish, and the optical properties of the stone for life. It does not cover normal wear such as scratches on the metal, damage from misuse, or a lost stone. The full terms are on our warranty page, and it is worth reading before you buy from anyone, including us.
What if the size is wrong?
You get one free resize within three months of purchase, up to four sizes up or down, or two sizes on a pavé ring. After that, resizing starts at $80 depending on the metal. We send a free ring sizer before we cast anything, which is the better way to avoid the problem in the first place.
Do you ship outside Melbourne?
Yes, Australia wide, carbon offset, insured and signature required. We run design consultations by video call and send renders at every stage.
