Chemical Vapor Deposition
A thin diamond “seed” is placed in a chamber of carbon-rich gas. The gas is broken down, and carbon builds up on the seed layer by layer until a rough diamond forms.
Lab-grown diamonds & certificates
Real diamonds,
grown above ground.
What lab-grown means, the standard every AIOVO center diamond meets, and how to check your IGI certificate yourself.
01 · What it is
A real diamond, with a different origin.
A lab-grown diamond is made of carbon atoms arranged in the same crystal structure as a mined diamond, so it has the same hardness, the same fire and the same sparkle. Only where it forms is different.
Where it forms
Mined
Deep in the earth, over billions of years
Lab-grown
In a controlled lab, over a few weeks
Same carbon, same crystal structure. The rough stone is then cut and polished by hand, exactly like a mined diamond.
Not a lookalike
Moissanite and cubic zirconia are different materials that imitate a diamond. A lab-grown diamond is one.
| Lab-grown diamond | Diamond (carbon) |
|---|---|
| Moissanite | Silicon carbide |
| Cubic zirconia | Zirconium dioxide |
02 · How it’s made
Two ways to grow a diamond.
Both methods produce real diamond. Either way, the rough stone is then cut and polished by hand, exactly like a mined diamond.
High Pressure, High Temperature
Carbon is exposed to the kind of intense heat and pressure found deep underground, and it crystallizes into diamond.
The IGI report on this page is for an HPHT-grown diamond03 · Our standard
The minimum for every center diamond.
Every center diamond in our ring collection meets the same minimum standard. Accent and side stones are chosen to complement it, but they aren’t graded individually.
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ColorD–FColorlessColorlessThe top of the D-to-Z color scale
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ClarityVVS2+VVS2 or higherVVS2 or higherVVS2, VVS1, IF or FL
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CutExcellentExcellent cutReturns light wellProportions that return light well
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CertificateIGIIndependent grading reportCenter diamonds 1 ct and aboveFor center diamonds 1 ct and above
New to color and clarity grades?Read our 4Cs guide
04 · Your IGI certificate
Read a real IGI report, field by field.
IGI, the International Gemological Institute, is one of the world’s largest independent diamond grading labs. Every AIOVO center diamond of 1 ct and above comes with an IGI report. This one is real.
Electronic copy · IGI report LG696553639Electronic copy · LG696553639
View the full report
Full report
(opens in a new tab)
Select a field
What each part of the report tells you
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Your stone’s ID. It’s what you enter on igi.org to pull up this report, and the same number is laser-inscribed on the diamond itself.
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The diamond’s origin, stated plainly near the top of the report. It’s the first line to check.
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The outline and cutting style, then the size in millimeters: smallest and largest diameter, then depth. Two stones of the same weight can measure differently.
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The 4Cs: carat weight, color, clarity and cut. This stone sits inside the AIOVO standard of D–F color, VVS2 or higher clarity and an Excellent cut.
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Polish and symmetry grade how finely the facets are finished and aligned. Fluorescence is how strongly a diamond glows under ultraviolet light; None means none was observed.
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The report number, laser-inscribed on the girdle, the diamond’s outer edge. It’s invisible to the naked eye, but any jeweler can read it with a loupe.
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“As Grown” means IGI found no indication of treatment after growth. HPHT is how the diamond was grown. Type II diamonds contain little or no nitrogen.
Field 1 of 7
Report number
LG696553639
Your stone’s ID. It’s what you enter on igi.org to pull up this report, and the same number is laser-inscribed on the diamond itself.
Description
Laboratory Grown Diamond
The diamond’s origin, stated plainly near the top of the report. It’s the first line to check.
Shape & measurements
Round brilliant · 6.51–6.56 × 4.07 mm
The outline and cutting style, then the size in millimeters: smallest and largest diameter, then depth. Two stones of the same weight can measure differently.
Grading results
1.05 ct · E · VVS2 · Excellent
The 4Cs: carat weight, color, clarity and cut. This stone sits inside the AIOVO standard of D–F color, VVS2 or higher clarity and an Excellent cut.
Polish, symmetry, fluorescence
Excellent · Excellent · None
Polish and symmetry grade how finely the facets are finished and aligned. Fluorescence is how strongly a diamond glows under ultraviolet light; None means none was observed.
Inscription
LG696553639
The report number, laser-inscribed on the girdle, the diamond’s outer edge. It’s invisible to the naked eye, but any jeweler can read it with a loupe.
Comments
As Grown · HPHT · Type II
“As Grown” means IGI found no indication of treatment after growth. HPHT is how the diamond was grown. Type II diamonds contain little or no nitrogen.
This diamond vs. the AIOVO standard
This diamond vs. our standard
- Color E Standard: D–F Std: D–F
- Clarity VVS2 Standard: VVS2 or higher Std: VVS2+
- Cut Excellent Standard: Excellent Std: Excellent
Field 1 of 7
Verify it yourself
Check the report against IGI’s own records.
- Find the report number on your certificate.
- Enter it on the report verification page at igi.org.
- The details online should match your certificate exactly.
The number is on the diamond, too.
Every certified diamond has its report number laser-inscribed on its girdle, the outer edge. It’s too small to see without magnification, but any jeweler can check it with a loupe.
05 · Lab-grown vs. mined
What’s the same, and what’s different.
The same material, graded the same way. The differences are where the diamond comes from, what it costs, and how it holds value.
| Compared | Lab-grown | Mined |
|---|---|---|
| The same | ||
| Material | Diamond: carbon in diamond’s crystal structure | |
| Hardness | 10 on the Mohs hardness scale | |
| Brilliance & fire | The same brilliance and fire | |
| Grading | The same 4Cs, by the same independent labs | |
| Different | ||
| Origin | Grown in a lab, in weeks | Formed in the earth, over billions of years |
| Price | Typically far less for the same size and quality | Typically more for the same size and quality |
| Resale value | Lab-grown diamonds generally have limited resale value. We recommend choosing one because you love it, not as an investment. | |
| Telling them apart | Not by looking. Specialist equipment can tell them apart, and your IGI report states the origin clearly. | |
The same
- Material
- Diamond: carbon in diamond’s crystal structure
- Hardness
- 10 on the Mohs hardness scale
- Brilliance & fire
- The same brilliance and fire
- Grading
- The same 4Cs, by the same independent labs
Different
- Origin
- Lab-grown Grown in a lab, in weeks Mined Formed in the earth, over billions of years
- Price
- Lab-grown Typically far less for the same size and quality Mined Typically more for the same size and quality
- Resale value
- Lab-grown diamonds generally have limited resale value. We recommend choosing one because you love it, not as an investment.
- Telling them apart
- Not by looking. Specialist equipment can tell them apart, and your IGI report states the origin clearly.
A note on sustainability
Lab-grown diamonds aren’t mined, but growing them takes a lot of energy, and not all of that energy comes from renewable sources. That’s why we don’t call our diamonds “eco-friendly” or “sustainable.” If we ever make an environmental claim, we’ll back it with information you can verify.
FAQ
Questions, answered.
Have a question about a specific stone or its report? We’re happy to help.
Ask us about a stoneYes. It has the same chemical, physical and optical properties as a mined diamond. What differs is its origin, which is why we always describe our stones as lab-grown.
Not by looking. Gemologists can identify it with specialist equipment, and your IGI report states it clearly.
No. It’s diamond, so it won’t cloud or wear down with everyday wear. Like any diamond, it can pick up oils and lotion. Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush bring the sparkle right back.
Lab-grown diamonds generally have limited resale value, so we recommend choosing one because you love it, not as an investment. The upside is that your budget goes further: you can choose a larger or higher-grade stone than you could with a mined diamond.
Find a diamond you’ll love.
Explore lab-grown diamond rings, or ask us about a specific stone and its IGI report.