Introduction
The words used to describe lab-grown diamonds have changed significantly over the past decade, and the terminology continues to matter — commercially, legally, and for consumer understanding. What you call a lab-grown diamond shapes how buyers perceive it, and regulatory bodies have intervened to ensure the language is both accurate and fair.
This article covers the terms currently approved by the GIA and the US Federal Trade Commission, the terms that have been retired and why, and the language that should never be used when describing diamonds grown in a laboratory.
Approved Terms
The following terms are endorsed by the GIA and align with FTC guidance:
- Laboratory-grown — the GIA's primary term since 2019
- Laboratory-created — equivalent to laboratory-grown in official usage
- Lab-grown — accepted shorthand, widely used in consumer-facing contexts
- Lab-created — equivalent shorthand
These terms communicate two essential facts: the stone is a real diamond, and it was produced in a laboratory rather than mined from the Earth. The qualifier must always accompany the word "diamond" — writing or saying "lab-grown diamond" rather than simply "diamond."
Acceptable but Less Preferred
- Man-made — technically correct and still used on some GIA reports (the standard report comment reads: "This is a man-made diamond produced by [CVD/HPHT] growth processes"). However, "laboratory-grown" is preferred in marketing and educational contexts.
- Manufactured — accurate but uncommon in consumer-facing materials.
Retired Terms
Synthetic was the standard gemological term for decades. It is scientifically precise — in mineralogy, "synthetic" means a material produced artificially that has the same chemical composition and crystal structure as its natural counterpart. Synthetic ruby, synthetic sapphire, and synthetic emerald are established terms in the gem trade.
However, consumer research consistently showed that the word "synthetic" led buyers to believe lab-grown diamonds were fake — an imitation rather than a real diamond. This misperception was commercially damaging and factually wrong. In 2019, the GIA formally retired "synthetic" from its grading reports and educational materials, replacing it with "laboratory-grown."
The FTC had already signalled a similar shift in 2018 when it updated the Jewelry Guides, removing the word "natural" from the definition of diamond. The revised definition acknowledges that a diamond is a diamond regardless of whether it formed in the Earth or in a machine.
Terms That Should Never Be Used
- "Real diamond" when contrasting with lab-grown — implies that lab-grown is not real, which is false
- "Fake" — a lab-grown diamond is a genuine diamond by every chemical and physical measure
- "Natural" applied to lab-grown — "natural" is reserved exclusively for diamonds formed by geological processes
- Unqualified "diamond" for lab-grown stones — omitting the laboratory-grown modifier violates FTC guidelines
Why Terminology Matters
Language drives purchasing decisions. A consumer who sees the word "synthetic" may walk away from a perfectly genuine diamond. A seller who omits the "lab-grown" qualifier may face regulatory action — or worse, erode the trust that underpins every fine jewellery transaction.
The 2018 FTC revision was particularly significant. By removing "natural" from the baseline definition of diamond, the FTC acknowledged that chemical identity — not geological origin — defines the material. A lab-grown diamond is diamond. The qualifier describes provenance, not composition.
For buyers, the practical implication is straightforward: when evaluating a lab-grown diamond, you are evaluating a real diamond. The grading criteria are the same. The optical properties are the same. The terminology exists to ensure you know where the stone came from — not to suggest it is anything less than what it is.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a lab-grown diamond a real diamond?
Yes. A lab-grown diamond has the same chemical composition (carbon), crystal structure (face-centred cubic), and physical properties (hardness, refractive index, dispersion) as a natural diamond. The term "laboratory-grown" describes its origin, not its authenticity.
Why did the GIA stop using "synthetic"?
Because consumer research showed the term consistently misled buyers into thinking lab-grown diamonds were imitations or fakes. The GIA replaced "synthetic" with "laboratory-grown" in 2019 to accurately communicate that these are real diamonds produced by a different method.
Can a seller legally call a lab-grown diamond just "a diamond"?
No. Under FTC Jewelry Guides, lab-grown diamonds must be disclosed with an appropriate qualifier — "laboratory-grown," "laboratory-created," or equivalent. Selling a lab-grown diamond as simply "a diamond" without disclosure is a violation.
What is the difference between "lab-grown" and "lab-created"?
Nothing meaningful. Both terms are accepted by the GIA and FTC. They describe the same category of diamond: one produced in a laboratory rather than mined from the Earth.
Summary
The approved terms for diamonds produced in a laboratory are "laboratory-grown" and "laboratory-created," with "lab-grown" and "lab-created" as accepted shorthand. The GIA retired "synthetic" in 2019 because it misled consumers. The FTC requires that lab-grown diamonds always carry an origin qualifier — they cannot be marketed as simply "diamonds." The language has evolved to reflect a simple fact: lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds, and the terminology should communicate origin without implying inferiority.