A Modern Australian Take on Lab Grown Diamonds

As a lifestyle journalist based in Australia, I’ve covered everything from slow fashion to ethical travel, from vintage watches to the strange psychology of luxury spending. Diamonds? They always felt… fixed. Traditional. A bit untouchable. You either bought one, or you didn’t ask too many questions about where it came from.

Then, a few years back, a close mate rang me, buzzing with excitement. He’d just proposed. No mining story. No guilt. No eye-watering markup. He’d decided to buy lab grown diamonds, and he wanted to tell me why.

That conversation sent me down a rabbit hole I didn’t expect — one that completely changed how I see modern jewellery, value, and even love itself.

So, if you’ve been quietly wondering whether lab grown diamonds are “the real deal”, or whether buying one is a compromise, or a clever move, pull up a chair. There’s a lot more to this story than shiny stones.

Table of Contents

The diamond conversation has changed — quietly, but completely

For decades, diamonds were wrapped in myth. Scarcity. Forever. Status. You were told a diamond was valuable because it was rare, and rare because it came from the earth. End of discussion.

But here’s the thing most people don’t realise: natural diamonds aren’t actually that rare. The supply is tightly controlled, the pricing carefully managed. That doesn’t make them bad — it just means the story we were sold was incomplete.

Lab grown diamonds slipped into the market almost unnoticed at first. They weren’t flashy. They didn’t come with a big advertising push. They just… existed. And over time, jewellers, gemologists, and customers started paying attention.

Now? They’re everywhere. Engagement rings. Earrings. Tennis bracelets. Even high-end fashion houses are embracing them.

And once you understand what they are — and what they aren’t — it’s hard to ignore the appeal.

What lab grown diamonds actually are (and what they’re not)

Let’s clear up the biggest misconception straight away.

Lab grown diamonds are real diamonds.

Not simulants. Not cubic zirconia. Not moissanite. We’re talking about diamonds with the same chemical composition, crystal structure, and optical properties as mined diamonds. The same sparkle. The same hardness. The same fire.

The only difference is their origin.

Instead of forming deep underground over billions of years, lab grown diamonds are created in highly controlled environments using advanced technology that replicates natural conditions. It’s science, not smoke and mirrors.

Even professional gemologists need specialised equipment to tell them apart.

That alone surprised me.

Why Australians are warming to lab grown diamonds

Australians, by nature, are practical. We like quality, but we don’t love being taken for a ride. There’s a strong streak of fairness here — ethical sourcing matters, but so does value for money.

Lab grown diamonds sit right in that sweet spot.

They offer:

Transparency about origin
Fewer environmental concerns
No links to conflict mining
Better value per carat

And perhaps most importantly, they give buyers choice. Real choice, not the illusion of it.

I’ve spoken to couples who redirected the savings into their honeymoon. Others upgraded the size or clarity of their stone. One woman I interviewed opted for custom design because suddenly, it was affordable.

You don’t lose romance. You gain options.

The emotional side: does it still feel special?

This was my biggest question, honestly.

Diamonds are emotional purchases. They mark moments — proposals, anniversaries, milestones you don’t forget. There’s a worry that choosing a lab grown stone somehow cheapens the meaning.

But every person I interviewed said the opposite.

One groom told me, “What makes it special is the decision. The promise. Not whether the stone came out of the ground.”

Another woman laughed and said, “If anything, it feels better knowing it aligns with our values.”

That stuck with me.

Value, without the awkward conversations

Let’s talk money — because everyone thinks about it, even if they don’t say it out loud.

Lab grown diamonds typically cost 30–50% less than their mined counterparts of the same quality. Sometimes more. That’s not a minor difference.

But here’s what I found interesting: people weren’t just chasing a bargain.

They liked knowing where their money was going. They liked avoiding inflated markups. They liked that the price reflected the stone, not the supply chain politics behind it.

One jeweller I spoke to said customers now walk in informed. They ask about growth methods. Certifications. Energy use. Ten years ago, that would’ve been unheard of.

Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword here

Mining is invasive. That’s not controversial — it’s factual. Large-scale extraction impacts land, water, and local communities. Some operations are responsible. Others, less so.

Lab grown diamonds significantly reduce many of those concerns. While they still require energy, especially in the growth phase, advancements are moving quickly toward renewable-powered facilities.

You might not know this, but some producers now operate entirely on green energy. That matters to a generation that’s grown up questioning where things come from.

Choosing lab grown diamonds isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being conscious.

Buying smarter doesn’t mean buying less beautifully

There’s a misconception that lab grown diamonds lack variety or craftsmanship. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

In fact, because they’re more accessible, designers have become bolder.

You’ll see:

Intricate custom settings
Larger centre stones without inflated budgets
Creative cuts that were once too risky or expensive

This is where things get genuinely exciting. Jewellery feels personal again.

If you’re researching where to start, I came across this resource while interviewing jewellers in Europe — it’s a solid place to buy lab grown diamonds if you want to understand customisation options without the sales pressure. Worth a look if you’re comparing.

Are lab grown diamonds a good investment?

This is where opinions split, and I’ll be upfront about it.

Diamonds — lab grown or mined — aren’t traditional investments like property or shares. They’re emotional assets first. If resale value is your main concern, you should know that lab grown diamonds don’t currently hold value the same way mined diamonds do on the secondary market.

But that’s changing.

As acceptance grows, so does demand. Some industry analysts believe the resale gap will narrow over time, especially as younger buyers prioritise ethics and transparency.

Still, my advice? Buy for love, not for flipping.

Certification still matters (don’t skip this part)

One thing that hasn’t changed: quality grading is essential.

Reputable lab grown diamonds are certified by the same bodies that grade mined stones, like IGI or GIA. The 4Cs still apply — cut, colour, clarity, carat.

Don’t assume all lab grown diamonds are equal. They’re not.

Ask questions. Request certificates. A good seller will welcome it.

If you want a broader consumer-focused breakdown, this guide on lab grown diamonds does a decent job explaining what to look for without drowning you in gemology jargon.

The future feels… lighter

Covering this topic changed how I think about luxury.

There’s a shift happening — away from “because it’s always been done this way” and toward “because it makes sense now”. Lab grown diamonds sit right at that crossroads of tradition and innovation.

They’re not about rejecting the past. They’re about rethinking it.

And maybe that’s why they resonate. They reflect how we live today — informed, values-driven, practical, but still deeply sentimental.