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It took me years of debating whether or not to use diamonds in my designs. I loved the look and sparkle, but I had questions before I felt comfortable adding them to CMD jewelry. Where would I source them? What exactly was I buying? How were they different from mined diamonds? And did diamonds even feel like CMD?
Eventually, I found my answer in lab grown diamonds. We've been using them in our designs for years now, but I still get questions about what "lab grown" actually means. Are they real diamonds? Are they the same as mined diamonds? Are they a good choice for an engagement ring or another piece you plan to wear for decades? Let's get into it.
This is probably the biggest misconception I hear. A lab grown diamond isn't cubic zirconia, moissanite or a diamond imitation. It's a diamond that was created in a controlled laboratory environment rather than formed naturally beneath the earth.
Lab grown and naturally mined diamonds have essentially the same chemical, physical and optical properties. Both are made of crystallized carbon, both have the hardness we associate with diamonds and both give you that unmistakable diamond sparkle. The difference is how and where they formed.
There are subtle differences in their growth structures that trained gemologists can identify with specialized equipment, which is why a lab grown diamond should always be clearly identified as such. To the person looking at your ring on your hand, though, you're looking at a diamond.
There are two primary methods used to grow diamonds: Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) and High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT). Both recreate conditions that allow carbon to develop into diamond crystal, but they get there in different ways.
With CVD, a thin diamond seed is placed inside a chamber containing carbon-rich gas. Carbon atoms gradually build onto that seed, growing the diamond layer by layer. HPHT uses extremely high pressure and temperature to grow a diamond around a small diamond seed. Once grown, lab grown diamonds are cut and polished just as mined diamonds are.
For me, choosing lab grown diamonds came down to having another option. I can get the beauty, durability and sparkle I want in a diamond while offering clients more flexibility in what their budget can accomplish.
Lab grown diamonds generally cost less than comparable mined diamonds, although prices vary considerably based on the stone and the market. That difference can mean putting more of your budget toward size, cut, clarity, the setting itself or simply keeping the entire piece within a number that feels comfortable to you.
They're especially useful in the kind of work we do at CMD because there isn't one "right" diamond for every project. Sometimes we're designing an entirely new Special Occasion piece. Other times, we're working on a Reconstruction project and combining stones someone already owns with new diamonds to create the right composition. Having options gives us more room to design around the person rather than forcing the person to design around the materials.
I don't think there's one answer that works for everyone. Some people love the rarity, geological history and natural origin of a mined diamond. Others prefer what a lab grown diamond allows them to do with their budget. And if you already own a diamond with personal or family significance, reusing that stone in a new design may make far more sense than buying either one.
What matters to me is that you understand what you're choosing and why. Jewelry this personal should reflect your priorities, whether that's history, budget, size, sentiment, design or some combination of all five.
If you're dreaming about a diamond ring, rebuilding a piece you already own or simply aren't sure what type of stone makes sense for your project, that's exactly the kind of conversation we can have together. Book a complimentary consultation and we'll talk through the possibilities.
With love,
Colleen
© Colleen Mauer Designs. All rights reserved.
Published: February 4, 2022
Updated: August 21, 2026
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