Lab-grown diamonds have moved well beyond the fringes of the jewellery industry. They are now chosen by a significant and growing proportion of couples designing engagement rings in Melbourne — not as a compromise, but as a deliberate, well-considered decision.
At Franco Jewellers, we have offered lab-grown diamonds alongside natural mined diamonds since 2019. Both options are available across all of our engagement ring styles and custom commissions. Our role is not to steer you toward one or the other — it is to give you the honest information you need to make the choice that suits your priorities, your values, and your budget.
What Is a Lab-Grown Diamond?
A lab-grown diamond is a real diamond. It is not a simulant, not a cubic zirconia, and not a lesser alternative to a mined diamond. It is chemically, physically, and optically identical to a diamond formed in the earth — the same carbon structure, the same hardness (10 on the Mohs scale), the same refractive index, the same brilliance and fire.
The difference is origin, not composition. Natural diamonds form over billions of years under extreme heat and pressure deep within the earth’s mantle. Lab-grown diamonds replicate that process in a controlled environment using one of two methods — High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) or Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) — compressing what takes billions of years in nature into a matter of weeks in a laboratory.
The result is a diamond that is indistinguishable from a mined diamond to the naked eye, and identifiable as lab-grown only through specialised gemological equipment.
How Lab-Grown Diamonds Are Certified
Every lab-grown diamond we offer at Franco Jewellers comes with a certificate from GIA (Gemological Institute of America) — the same internationally recognised grading authority that certifies our natural diamonds.
A GIA certificate for a lab-grown diamond documents the same four characteristics as for a natural diamond: cut, colour, clarity, and carat weight. It also notes that the diamond is laboratory-grown. This transparency is important — you know exactly what you are purchasing, and you have independent third-party confirmation of the stone’s quality.
We do not offer uncertified diamonds of either type. Certification is not optional at Franco Jewellers; it is the foundation of transparent, trustworthy diamond purchasing.
Lab-Grown vs Natural Diamonds — An Honest Comparison
This is the question most couples come to us with, and it deserves a straight answer rather than a sales pitch in either direction.
Price
Lab-grown diamonds typically cost 30–50% less than a natural diamond of equivalent cut, colour, clarity, and carat weight. This price gap has widened in recent years as lab-grown production has scaled. For couples with a fixed budget, this often means the ability to choose a significantly larger or higher-quality stone than they could afford in a natural diamond.
Appearance
There is no visible difference between a lab-grown and a natural diamond. The same cut quality, the same colour grade, the same clarity — they will look identical to anyone looking at your ring, including gemologists without specialised detection equipment.
Durability
Lab-grown diamonds are as hard and durable as natural diamonds. Both score 10 on the Mohs hardness scale — the highest possible rating. A lab-grown diamond will not scratch more easily, chip more readily, or wear differently over time than a mined diamond. It is designed to be worn every day for the rest of your life, and it will hold up accordingly.
Ethics and Sustainability
Lab-grown diamonds are conflict-free by definition, with no connection to the mining practices that have historically raised ethical concerns in parts of the diamond industry. They also have a lower environmental footprint than mined diamonds — though it is worth noting that lab-grown diamond production is energy-intensive, and the environmental benefit varies depending on the energy source used in the specific laboratory.
At Franco Jewellers, all of our natural mined diamonds are ethically sourced and conflict-free. If ethical sourcing is your primary concern, both options can meet that standard — the distinction is in the specifics of how each origin is managed.
Resale Value
Natural diamonds have historically retained value better than lab-grown diamonds, and this remains true today. The resale market for lab-grown diamonds is less established, and resale prices have declined as production has increased. If long-term resale value is a significant factor in your decision, this is worth discussing honestly.
For most couples, an engagement ring is not an investment to be sold — it is a piece of jewellery to be worn and kept. For those clients, resale value is often a minor consideration against the significant price difference at point of purchase.
The Bottom Line
Neither option is objectively better. The right choice depends on what matters most to you — origin, price, ethical considerations, or some combination of all three. What we can promise is that whichever diamond you choose at Franco Jewellers will be GIA certified, beautifully cut, and set with the same care and craftsmanship as every piece we make.
Lab-Grown Diamonds in Custom Engagement Rings
Lab-grown diamonds are available across every engagement ring style and setting we offer — solitaires, halos, trilogy rings, vintage-inspired settings, and fully bespoke custom diamond engagement rings.
The custom design process works identically regardless of which diamond type you choose. You will work with Silvana or Daniela to develop the design, select your stone, and commission the piece from our in-house master jeweller. The only difference is that when it comes to diamond selection, we will present you with options in both natural and lab-grown so you can compare them directly and make an informed decision.
For couples who know they want a lab-grown diamond, choosing one often opens up design possibilities that might otherwise sit at the edge of budget — a larger centre stone, a more complex setting, or a higher colour and clarity grade than would be achievable with a natural stone at the same price point.
To learn more about the full custom design process, visit The Custom Jewellery Design Process at Franco Jewellers.
Why Choose Franco Jewellers for Lab-Grown Diamond Rings
Not all jewellers approach lab-grown diamonds the same way. Some push them primarily as a budget option. Others dismiss them as inferior to natural stones. At Franco Jewellers, we hold neither position.
We introduced lab-grown diamonds to our collection in 2019 because they represent a genuine, high-quality option for couples who want a certified diamond engagement ring — and because presenting only natural diamonds would mean withholding a choice that many clients would want to know about.
Every lab-grown diamond in our collection is GIA certified. Every ring is handmade by our in-house master jeweller with more than 25 years of experience, in our on-site workshop on Collins Street. The craftsmanship applied to a lab-grown diamond setting is identical to that applied to a natural diamond setting — because the ring deserves it regardless of which stone sits at its centre.
Silvana and Daniela Ceresiani, who have led Franco Jewellers as second-generation owners for nearly two decades, will walk you through both options with complete transparency. There is no commission structure that makes one option more commercially attractive than the other for us. The right stone for you is simply the one that best fits your priorities.
What Our Customers Have to Say
Frequently Asked Questions About Lab-Grown Diamonds
Can you tell the difference between a lab-grown and natural diamond just by looking?
No. Lab-grown and natural diamonds are visually identical. Even trained gemologists cannot tell them apart without specialised detection equipment. The GIA certificate is the only reliable indicator of a diamond’s origin.
Are lab-grown diamonds graded the same way as natural diamonds?
Yes. GIA grades lab-grown diamonds using exactly the same 4C criteria — cut, colour, clarity, and carat weight — as natural diamonds. The certificate will note that the diamond is laboratory-grown, but the grading methodology is identical.
Will a lab-grown diamond hold its value?
Lab-grown diamonds have a less established resale market than natural diamonds, and resale prices have declined as production has scaled. For couples whose primary goal is a beautiful, high-quality ring to wear rather than an asset to sell, this is often a minor consideration. We will always discuss this honestly so you can factor it into your decision.
Can I set a lab-grown diamond in any ring style?
Yes. Lab-grown diamonds are available in all the same cuts and sizes as natural diamonds, and can be used in any setting style — claw, bezel, pavé, channel, and custom designs. There are no limitations on what can be achieved with a lab-grown stone.
How do I choose between a lab-grown and natural diamond?
The best starting point is a conversation about what matters most to you — price, origin, ethics, or some combination. Book a consultation with Silvana or Daniela and we will walk you through both options with real diamonds in hand, so you can see and compare them directly rather than making the decision based on specifications alone.
Do lab-grown diamonds come in coloured varieties?
Yes. Lab-grown technology can produce coloured diamonds — including yellow, pink, and blue — often at significantly lower prices than their natural coloured diamond equivalents. If coloured diamonds interest you, this is worth discussing at your consultation.
Book Your Consultation
Whether you have already decided on a lab-grown diamond or are still weighing your options, the best next step is the same: a conversation with Silvana or Daniela at our Collins Street boutique.
We will show you both natural and lab-grown diamonds in person, walk you through the GIA certificates, and help you make a decision you feel genuinely confident about — without pressure in either direction.
Book a complimentary consultation online, call (03) 9564 7755, or email franco@franco.com.au. Walk-ins are welcome Monday to Saturday between 11am and 4pm. Sunday by appointment only.
Contact Information:
📍 Manchester Unity Building, Suite 904 / 220 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
📞 Call: (03) 9564 7755
📧 Email: enquiries@franco.com.au
