Diamond Alternatives

A diamond is the world’s most enduring symbol of love. Whether you’re celebrating a milestone anniversary or making an everyday moment sparkle, there are now more ways than ever to find the diamond that tells your unique story. Today, lab-grown diamonds and diamond alternatives are growing in popularity as more affordable options to natural diamonds.

Learn more about how lab-grown diamonds compare to natural diamonds and explore some of the most popular diamond alternatives, so you can find the diamond option that’s right for you.

What Are Lab-Grown Diamonds: Core Differences Between Natural vs. Lab-Grown

Lab-grown diamonds (also referred to as engineered, man-made, or lab-created diamonds) possess the same optical, chemical, and physical properties as a natural diamond. Natural vs. lab-grown diamonds are virtually indistinguishable to the untrained eye. What sets them apart, however, are their origin and the time they took to form.

Natural diamonds are formed over billions of years deep below the earth’s surface, under extreme pressure and high temperature. They rise and become accessible by volcanic eruption.

SHOP NATURAL DIAMONDS

Lab-grown diamonds are produced in a lab within weeks or months, using specialized technology that mimics the extreme heat and pressure of a natural diamond’s growing environment.

SHOP LAB-GROWN DIAMONDS

Comparing Natural vs. Lab-Grown Diamonds

Find out how natural diamonds vs. lab-grown diamonds compare, so you can decide which option is right for you.

KAY Diamond Comparison	Natural Diamonds	Lab-Grown Diamonds
Is it a Diamond?	Yes	Yes
Primary Chemical Composition	Carbon	Carbon
Source	The Earth	A Laboratory
Time to Create	1 to 3 Billion Years	Several Weeks to Months
Supply/Rarity	Finite and Rare	Unknown at this Time
Independently Certified	Yes*	Yes*
100% Conflict-Free	Yes	Yes
KAY Responsible Sourcing Commitment	Yes	Yes
Industry Sourcing Standards Established	Yes	In Development
Included in the Lifetime Diamond Commitment	Yes	Yes
Eligible for Trade-In	Yes	Yes
Price Comparison (of comparable quality and size)	$$$	$$
*Select styles & carat weights

Shop KAY with Confidence

Whether natural or lab-created, all of our diamonds are 100% conflict-free. Each is transformed by our experts, who map, cut, and polish the diamond from its rough form to bring to life the precious stone’s unique sparkle, fire, and brilliance.

Exploring Diamond Alternatives

While diamond alternatives (also known as diamond simulants) are made to look like the real deal, they have very different chemical and physical properties. As their name implies, simulant diamonds merely imitate the appearance of a diamond, and generally do not possess the same level of brilliance or durability as natural or lab-created diamonds. However, diamond alternatives are an excellent budget-friendly option.

White Sapphire Vs. Diamonds

White sapphire is available in natural and lab-grown varieties. Natural white sapphires are typically more expensive than lab-grown stones, but they can look milkier and have visible inclusions.  Lab-grown white sapphires  are clearer and more affordable than their natural counterparts. White sapphires are very durable, but they are not nearly as brilliant, fiery, or sparkly as a diamond.

EXPLORE LAB-GROWN WHITE SAPPHIRES

Cubic Zirconia (CZ) Vs. Diamonds

Cubic zirconia is probably the most commonly known diamond alternative. CZ is often found in children’s and costume jewelry, but it is sometimes used in placeholder and lower quality engagement rings. It is an artificially produced version of the element zircon. Colorless CZ is common, but its brilliance is easily diminished when it gets dirty. It weighs almost twice as much as a diamond, and, like moissanite, has a lot of fire. It is often cut with larger facets to make the fire less noticeable, but those large facets can also make it look more artificial. CZ has good hardness, but it scratches more easily than a diamond.

EXPLORE CUBIC ZIRCONIA

Moissanite Vs. Diamonds

Moissanite is a silicon carbide crystal that’s made in a lab. It is extremely hard, but still more likely to scratch than a diamond. It has a lot of fire—a rainbow effect seen when light hits the stone—but moissanite lacks the brilliance and sparkle of a diamond. This rainbow effect can also make it look more artificial. Many moissanites are colorless, but it is more susceptible to color changes from heat. The color likely won’t hold up as well as a diamond over time. KAY does not offer moissanite products at this time.