Lab grown diamonds are now widely used in engagement rings, earrings, and fine jewelry, but many buyers still ask an important question: do lab grown diamonds pass diamond testers? The short answer is yes. Lab grown diamonds typically pass standard diamond tests because they are chemically and physically identical to natural diamonds. However, understanding how and why this happens is important for making informed buying decisions.
What Do Diamond Testers Actually Measure?
Diamond testers do not check where a diamond comes from. Instead, they measure specific physical properties of a stone, mainly:
-
Thermal conductivity (how well heat passes through the stone)
-
In some advanced models, electrical conductivity
Natural diamonds are excellent conductors of heat, which is one of their defining characteristics. Lab grown diamonds share this exact property because they are made of the same material: pure carbon in a crystal structure.
Because of this, a standard diamond tester usually cannot distinguish between a mined diamond and a lab grown diamond.
Why Lab Grown Diamonds Pass Diamond Tests
Lab grown diamonds pass diamond testers for a simple reason: they are real diamonds.
Both lab grown and natural diamonds share:
-
Identical chemical composition (pure carbon)
-
Same crystal structure (cubic lattice)
-
Same hardness (10 on the Mohs scale)
-
Same thermal conductivity
When a diamond tester is applied, it only detects whether the material behaves like a diamond. Since lab grown diamonds behave exactly like natural diamonds, they register as “diamond” on the device.
Can Diamond Testers Tell Lab Grown from Natural Diamonds?
No. Standard diamond testers cannot identify the origin of a diamond. They only confirm whether the stone is a diamond or not.
This means:
-
A natural diamond passes the test
-
A lab grown diamond also passes the test
-
A fake diamond (like glass or cubic zirconia) usually fails the test
However, both natural and lab grown diamonds will give the same result, which is why testers alone are not enough to determine authenticity in terms of origin.
Advanced Testing and Limitations
While basic diamond testers cannot detect the difference, gemological laboratories use advanced equipment to identify lab grown diamonds.
These may include:
These methods can detect subtle growth patterns or trace elements that indicate whether a diamond was formed in a lab or mined from the earth.
HPHT vs CVD and Testing Results
There are two main methods used to create lab grown diamonds:
HPHT Diamonds
High Pressure High Temperature diamonds are created under extreme heat and pressure. In rare cases, they may contain metallic inclusions, which can sometimes affect electrical conductivity readings in advanced testers, but they still pass standard diamond tests.
CVD Diamonds
Chemical Vapor Deposition diamonds are grown layer by layer in a controlled environment. These usually have very high purity and consistently pass both thermal and most standard conductivity tests without issues.
Why This Confuses Many Buyers
The confusion happens because the word “diamond tester” is often misunderstood. Many people assume it can detect everything about a diamond, including whether it is natural or lab grown. In reality, it only checks whether the stone is a diamond based on physical properties.
This is why both types of diamonds can pass the same test.
How to Properly Verify a Lab Grown Diamond
Since diamond testers cannot identify origin, buyers should rely on other methods such as:
-
IGI or GIA certification reports
-
Laser inscription numbers on the diamond girdle
-
Trusted seller verification
-
Laboratory grading documents
Certification is the only reliable way to confirm whether a diamond is lab grown or natural.
Are Lab Grown Diamonds Real Diamonds?
Yes. Lab grown diamonds are not simulants or imitations. They are real diamonds with the same chemical structure and physical properties as mined diamonds. The only difference is their origin.
This is why they pass diamond testers just like natural diamonds.
Smart Buying Tip
If you are purchasing diamonds and want better value along with certification and quality assurance, exploring wholesale lab grown diamonds can help you access verified stones at more competitive prices.
Conclusion
Lab grown diamonds pass diamond testers because they are chemically and physically identical to natural diamonds. Standard testers are designed only to identify whether a stone is a diamond, not its origin. As a result, both lab grown and mined diamonds produce the same result on these devices.
To determine whether a diamond is lab grown or natural, certification and advanced gemological testing are required. For buyers, this means that understanding certification is far more important than relying on basic diamond testers.
