The Science & the Story
Lab-Grown Diamonds
The same carbon. The same brilliance. A completely different price — because we cut out everything that wasn't the diamond.
A real diamond. Grown, not mined.
A lab-grown diamond is created in a controlled environment that replicates the extreme heat and pressure found deep within the earth. The result is a crystal with identical chemical composition, crystal structure, optical properties, and hardness to a mined diamond.
Both are pure carbon. Both are graded by independent gemological laboratories using the same 4Cs system. Both come with a certificate. The only meaningful difference is where they came from — and how much they cost.
The Federal Trade Commission defines a diamond as a mineral consisting essentially of pure carbon crystallised in the isometric system. Lab-grown diamonds meet this definition. They are not simulants. They are not imitations. They are diamonds.
same as mined
for same quality
every stone
no earth disturbed
How they're grown
High Pressure, High Temperature
HPHT replicates the conditions that created diamonds naturally — extreme pressure (around 1.5 million PSI) and extreme heat (around 1,400°C). A small diamond seed is placed in a carbon-rich environment, and under these conditions, carbon atoms crystallise around the seed over several weeks.
HPHT diamonds are often noted for their exceptional colour, producing many of the highest-grade white and fancy-colour stones available. This is the older of the two processes, first developed in the 1950s.
Chemical Vapour Deposition
CVD uses a hydrocarbon gas mixture (typically methane) in a vacuum chamber. The gas is activated by microwave energy, causing carbon atoms to break free and deposit layer by layer onto a diamond seed plate. The diamond grows atom by atom, like a crystal being built from scratch.
CVD is the dominant modern process and is particularly effective at producing large, gem-quality stones with excellent clarity. Most of the lab-grown diamonds we work with are CVD grown.
The 4Cs
Every diamond — mined or lab-grown — is graded using the same universal system developed by the Gemological Institute of America. These four criteria determine quality and price.
Cut
Cut refers to how well a diamond's facets interact with light — its proportions, symmetry, and polish. A well-cut diamond will appear brilliant and lively. A poorly cut diamond will appear dull regardless of its other qualities. Cut is the single biggest driver of a diamond's visual impact.
We recommend: Excellent or Very Good
Colour
The GIA colour scale runs from D (completely colourless) to Z (visibly yellow or brown). Most people cannot distinguish between D and G with the naked eye once a stone is set. Lab-grown diamonds tend to reach the higher end of the colour scale more consistently than mined stones.
We recommend: E / F for near-colourless beauty
Clarity
Clarity measures the presence of internal inclusions or external blemishes. The scale runs from Flawless (FL) down through VVS, VS, SI, and I grades. Most inclusions in VS and above grades are invisible to the naked eye and require 10× magnification to detect.
We recommend: VS1 / VS2 — eye-clean and great value
Carat
Carat is a unit of weight (1ct = 0.2 grams), not size. Because different shapes have different depth profiles, a 2ct oval will appear larger face-up than a 2ct round of the same weight. Lab-grown diamonds allow you to reach higher carat weights for the same budget as a mined stone.
Popular at Paola & Co: 2ct–3ct oval
Every stone is IGI certified
The International Gemological Institute is one of the world's largest independent diamond grading laboratories. Every Paola & Co stone is examined and graded by IGI before it ever reaches you.
Your certificate carries a unique reference number you can verify independently on the IGI website at any time. What we tell you is on the stone is what the certificate says. No exceptions.
- Independent grading Your stone is assessed by trained IGI gemologists with no commercial relationship to Paola & Co.
- Full 4Cs documentation Cut, colour, clarity, and carat weight are all documented with precision on a numbered certificate.
- Lab-grown confirmation The certificate explicitly identifies the stone as lab-grown — there is full transparency on origin.
- Verifiable online Look up your certificate number on the IGI website at any time to confirm the grading independently.
- Shipped with your ring The physical IGI certificate arrives in your Paola & Co presentation box with your finished ring.
The same diamond. A better price.
The stone is identical. The grading is identical. What changes is the supply chain — and how much of your money goes toward the diamond versus the building it was sold in.
| Mined diamond (retail jeweller) |
Paola & Co lab-grown |
|
|---|---|---|
| Pure carbon crystal structure | ✓ | ✓ |
| IGI / GIA certified | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mohs 10 hardness | ✓ | ✓ |
| 18k gold setting | ✓ | ✓ |
| Retail showroom markup | ✓ | ✗ |
| Multi-layer wholesale margin | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mining and extraction costs | ✓ | ✗ |
| 3D render before crafting | ✗ | ✓ |
| Direct from maker — no middlemen | ✗ | ✓ |
Design your ring today
Choose your stone, choose your setting, and receive a detailed quote within 24 hours. No obligation.