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A natural diamond is a diamond formed within the Earth through geological processes rather than produced in a laboratory. It is made almost entirely of carbon and has the hardness, brilliance and optical properties associated with diamond.
Natural and lab-grown diamonds are both real diamonds. The main difference is their origin: natural diamonds form in the Earth, while lab-grown diamonds are created under controlled conditions.
Natural diamonds form deep within the Earth’s mantle, where carbon is exposed to intense heat and pressure. They are later carried closer to the surface through volcanic activity and can become enclosed in rocks such as kimberlite.
The diamonds used in jewellery formed over extremely long geological timescales before being mined, cut and polished.
Most natural diamonds are between approximately one and three billion years old, although their exact age varies.
Their geological age and natural origin are among the main characteristics that distinguish them from lab-grown diamonds, which are created over a much shorter period.
Natural diamonds require unusual geological conditions to form, and only a proportion of mined diamonds are suitable for use in fine jewellery.
Rarity varies considerably between individual stones. Large diamonds, exceptional combinations of colour and clarity, unusual shapes and naturally coloured diamonds can be significantly rarer than more commonly available qualities.
Inclusions are internal characteristics within a diamond, while blemishes are features found on its surface. They may form naturally as the diamond develops or arise during cutting and polishing.
Common inclusions include tiny crystals, feathers, clouds and internal growth patterns. Blemishes can include small scratches, extra facets or surface marks.
These characteristics are considered when determining a diamond’s clarity grade. Many are microscopic and cannot be seen without magnification, so a diamond does not need to be flawless to appear completely clean to the unaided eye.
Natural diamonds form within the Earth, while lab-grown diamonds are created using specialised technology in a controlled environment.
Both are made of crystallised carbon and have essentially the same chemical, physical and optical properties. They can have the same shapes, colour grades, clarity grades and grading reports.
The main differences are their origin, price, availability and secondary-market characteristics. Lab-grown diamonds generally allow buyers to choose a larger or higher-grade stone for the same budget, while natural diamonds are valued for their geological origin and relative scarcity.
A natural and a lab-grown diamond of comparable quality will usually look the same to the unaided eye.
Even an experienced jeweller cannot reliably identify every lab-grown diamond through visual inspection alone. Specialist equipment and gemmological testing are normally required to determine whether a diamond is natural or laboratory-grown.
Gemmological laboratories examine characteristics such as a diamond’s internal growth structure, fluorescence, trace elements and reactions to different forms of light.
These features can reveal whether a diamond formed naturally or was produced using a laboratory process such as chemical vapour deposition, known as CVD, or high-pressure high-temperature growth, known as HPHT.
Some buyers choose a natural diamond because they value its geological origin, rarity and the fact that it formed within the Earth over billions of years.
Natural diamonds also have a long history in fine jewellery and a more established secondary market than lab-grown diamonds. For some people, these qualities add emotional or symbolic value, particularly for an engagement ring or heirloom piece.
This does not make a natural diamond inherently more beautiful or more durable than a lab-grown diamond. Both are real diamonds with the same essential physical and optical properties. The choice ultimately depends on which origin, price point and meaning feel right to you.
The 4Cs are cut, colour, clarity and carat weight.
Cut describes how well a diamond has been proportioned, faceted and polished. It has a major influence on brilliance, fire and sparkle.
Colour measures the presence of yellow or brown colour in a white diamond. The commonly used scale runs from D, which is colourless, to Z, which has increasingly noticeable colour.
Clarity describes the presence of internal inclusions and external blemishes.
Carat weight measures the diamond’s weight rather than its visible size.
The 4Cs provide a useful starting point, but they do not capture every visual difference between individual diamonds.
You can learn more about the 4c's in our guide:
The 4Cs explained: how diamonds are graded
Cut is usually the most important factor for a round brilliant diamond because it has the greatest influence on how the diamond reflects light.
A well-cut diamond can appear brighter and more lively than a poorly cut diamond with higher colour or clarity grades. Colour, clarity and carat weight can then be balanced according to your preferences, setting and budget.
For fancy-shaped diamonds, laboratories do not always provide an overall cut grade. Their proportions, outline and appearance therefore need to be assessed individually.
The right colour grade depends on the diamond’s shape, size, setting and the metal in which it will be mounted.
Diamonds in the near-colourless range can often appear white once set, particularly in yellow or rose gold. Larger diamonds and shapes with broad facets, such as emerald and Asscher cuts, may show colour more readily.
A very high colour grade is not automatically the best value if the difference will not be visible in the finished jewellery.
Many buyers achieve the best balance by choosing a diamond that is eye-clean rather than paying for a very high clarity grade that is only distinguishable under magnification.
The visibility of an inclusion depends on its size, type, position and contrast, not only the clarity grade. An inclusion near the edge may be less noticeable and can sometimes be concealed by a prong, while a dark inclusion beneath the table may be easier to see.
Each diamond should therefore be assessed individually.
Cut quality is central to a diamond’s brilliance, contrast and overall appearance.
For round brilliant diamonds, a high laboratory cut grade is a useful starting point, but proportions and light performance still matter. For fancy-shaped diamonds, the outline, symmetry and distribution of light and dark areas often require more individual assessment because an overall cut grade may not be provided.
Carat weight alone does not determine how large or attractive a diamond will appear.
A grading report is strongly recommended for a significant natural-diamond purchase.
It independently records important information such as whether the diamond is natural, its measurements, carat weight, colour, clarity and, where applicable, cut grade. It may also include a diagram of clarity characteristics and information about fluorescence or treatments.
A grading report is not the same as an appraisal and does not assign a retail or replacement value.
Reports from established independent gemmological laboratories, particularly GIA, IGI and GCAL, are widely used in the diamond trade.
When comparing diamonds, both the grading laboratory and the individual stone should be considered. A grading report provides essential information, but it does not fully describe visual qualities such as the precise outline, transparency or overall character of the diamond.
The report number should also be verified directly with the issuing laboratory.
The 4Cs summarise important quality factors, but diamonds with the same headline grades can still differ in proportions, measurements, inclusion placement, fluorescence, transparency and visual character.
Two diamonds with the same carat weight can also have different face-up dimensions. One may carry more weight in its depth, while another appears larger when viewed from above.
Images, videos, measurements and professional inspection are therefore valuable when comparing individual diamonds.
The price of a natural diamond is influenced by carat weight, cut, colour, clarity, shape, certification and overall visual quality.
Prices do not increase evenly. Diamonds just above popular carat milestones, such as 1.00 or 2.00 carats, may command a premium because of demand. Rarity also becomes more important for unusually large, high-quality or naturally coloured diamonds.
Market conditions and the availability of comparable stones can also affect pricing.
Natural diamonds generally have a more established resale market than lab-grown diamonds, but this does not mean that an ordinary retail diamond will retain its full purchase price. Diamonds should be purchased for their beauty and appeal rather than as an investment.
The retail price includes costs such as cutting, certification, distribution, retail operations and taxes. These costs are not usually recovered during resale.
Resale value depends on the diamond’s quality, rarity, condition, grading report and current market demand. Exceptional or genuinely rare diamonds may behave differently from more commonly available stones.
Natural diamonds are durable, but oils, soap and cosmetic residue can build up on their surfaces and reduce their brilliance.
For routine cleaning, soak the jewellery in lukewarm water with a small amount of mild washing-up liquid, then clean it gently with a soft brush. Rinse it carefully and dry it with a lint-free cloth.
Avoid cleaning a diamond over an open drain. Store diamond jewellery separately where possible, as diamonds can scratch other diamonds and gemstones. The setting should also be checked periodically to ensure that the stone remains secure.
Yes, they command higher market value.
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