---
title: "Laboratory-grown diamond: meaning in gemology"
description: "A laboratory-grown diamond is a diamond that people grow with machines, by HPHT or CVD. It has essentially the same composition, crystal structure and…"
url: https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/laboratory-grown-diamond
image: https://digitalgemology.com/img/og-digital-gemology.png?v=d224fb01
---

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[Glossary](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary) · Treatments and origin

# Laboratory-grown diamond

Also called lab-grown diamond, lab-created diamond, synthetic diamond, LGD, LG

A laboratory-grown diamond is a diamond that people grow with machines, by HPHT or CVD. It has essentially the same composition, crystal structure and properties as a natural diamond.

## In more detail

It is diamond, not a simulant. In our simulator it renders identically to a natural diamond, pixel for pixel; only a lab can tell them apart. Do not confuse "lab-grown diamond" with "lab-grown moissanite": both are made in a lab, but only one is diamond.

## On a grading report

Since 1 October 2025, GIA rates a colorless to near-colorless lab-grown diamond Premium or Standard, with no D-to-Z or clarity grade. It inscribes "Laboratory-Grown" and the assessment number. IGI inscribes "LG" before the report number and can note the growth method in Comments.

## Related terms

- [Natural diamond](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/natural-diamond): A natural diamond is a diamond that formed in the earth, about 160 km deep, under enormous heat and pressure. An eruption carried it to the surface.
- [HPHT](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/hpht): HPHT stands for high pressure, high temperature. The same conditions can grow a diamond in a laboratory or treat a natural one to change its color.
- [CVD](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/cvd): CVD, chemical vapor deposition, is one of the two usual methods for growing diamond in a laboratory. The other is HPHT.
- [Laboratory-Grown Diamond Report](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/laboratory-grown-diamond-report): The Laboratory-Grown Diamond Report was GIA's digital-only report for laboratory-grown diamonds, from October 2020 to September 2025. It gave color and clarity grades and stated the growth method, CVD or HPHT.
- [Simulant](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/simulant): A simulant is a material that looks like a gem but has a different chemistry, structure and properties. Cubic zirconia, moissanite and glass are diamond simulants.

## Learn more

- [Comments, treatments and lab-grown origin on a diamond report](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/grading-reports/diamond-report-comments-treatments-origin)
- [Diamond vs moissanite: two look-alikes, two different materials](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/diamond-vs-moissanite/diamond-vs-moissanite-differences)
- [Moissanite certificates vs diamond grading reports](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/diamond-vs-moissanite/moissanite-certificate-vs-diamond-report)

[All 328 terms](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary)