De Beers recently announced a new DiamondProof diamond verification machine to enable retailers to differentiate lab-grown diamonds from earth-mined diamonds. It costs $9,500 and will begin arriving in select diamond retail stores to help diamond sellers verify products to customers in real time.
While De Beers touts DiamondProof as a significant accomplishment to draw a more distinct line between natural diamonds and lab diamonds, we see it as the biggest endorsement of lab-grown diamonds to date.
If you need a $9,500 machine to tell lab diamonds apart from mined diamonds, maybe De Beers is admitting they really are identical.
What Is a Diamond Testing Machine?
A diamond testing machine is a specialized device designed to verify a diamond's authenticity by distinguishing natural diamonds from lab-grown diamonds and simulants. While diamond verification technology has existed for years, it was once expensive and only available to elite grading labs like GIA. Now, this new device makes high-level testing accessible to everyone, screening both loose diamonds and those set in jewelry within seconds.
For consumers, this means greater confidence in their purchases—and we love transparency just as much as we love lab-grown diamonds!
How Does DiamondProof Work?
According to De Beers…
“The verification process, which depends on identifying the distinct chemical compositions that reveal a natural diamond, works with both loose diamonds and finished jewels. Once the item in question is placed in the tray and the device is started, an image of the item appears on the machine’s touchscreen. If the item glows blue, the diamond is natural. If it glows yellow, it requires further testing.”
Let’s break this down:
What Makes a Diamond’s Chemical Composition “Distinct”?
Every diamond has a unique chemical fingerprint that helps experts determine not just whether it’s natural or lab-grown, but even the country of origin for mined diamonds. This fingerprint is based on tiny differences in trace elements— ingredients picked up during a diamond’s formation.
How Does This Help Identify a Diamond?
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Natural Diamonds usually contain nitrogen, along with microscopic inclusions such as mineral deposits and even remnants of rocks from the Earth’s mantle.
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Lab-grown diamonds often contain little to no nitrogen or may contain other elements like silicon or metallic remnants from the manufacturing process.
The DiamondProof machine detects these differences.
De Beers claims DiamondProof has a 0% false positive rate, meaning it will never mistakenly identify a lab-grown diamond as natural. While that sounds impressive, it's a clever play on words.
Here’s why:
DiamondProof states that if a diamond glows yellow, it does not necessarily mean it’s lab-grown—it simply means the machine can't confirm its natural origin on the spot. The diamond might have characteristics that require more advanced analysis beyond what DiamondProof can determine at a glance.
So, while this technology is a step forward in transparency, it still leaves room for further testing and verification—because as lab-grown diamond technology continues to evolve, so must the machines designed to detect them.
How is a Lab-Grown Diamond Different from a Natural Diamond?
Lab-grown and mined diamonds are chemically and physically identical, both composed of pure carbon in a crystalline structure. The key difference lies in their origin—mined diamonds form deep within the Earth, while lab-grown diamonds are created using advanced technology. Natural diamonds often contain unique inclusions and growth patterns from their geological journey, whereas lab-grown diamonds may exhibit metallic flux remnants or specific fluorescence patterns linked to their growth process.
Despite these differences, high-quality lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds, not imitations like cubic zirconia or moissanite. Their affordability and sustainability make them an attractive choice, offering a modern, ethical alternative without the environmental and social concerns of traditional diamond mining.
Myth: You Can Tell Lab Diamonds and Mined Diamonds Apart
The naked eye cannot distinguish between lab-grown and mined diamonds. Period.
While machines like DiamondProof by De Beers can determine a diamond’s origin, they rely on advanced chemical analysis—not simple visual inspection. Even professional gemologists use specialized tools like spectroscopy and fluorescence imaging to detect subtle differences in growth patterns and trace elements.
So, if someone claims they can spot a lab-grown diamond just by looking, they’re either a magician or misinformed. Whether you choose natural or lab-grown, the beauty, brilliance, and durability remain the same—what sets them apart is their story, price, and personal preference.
Myth: Natural Diamonds Are Formed Over Billions of Years
Wrong. Natural diamonds were not slowly refined over billions of years—they formed quickly, likely in a matter of weeks under intense heat and pressure deep within the Earth’s mantle. However, once formed, they remained buried for hundreds of millions, or even billions of years, until volcanic eruptions brought them closer to the surface, where they could eventually be mined.
This rapid formation process is the same fundamental process replicated in a lab. Lab-grown diamonds are created by mimicking the natural conditions of high pressure and high temperature, allowing diamonds to form in weeks rather than waiting billions of years to be discovered. Whether formed underground or in a controlled environment, the result is the same—pure carbon crystallized into a diamond.
Myth: A Jeweler Could Fool You Into Buying a Lab Diamond
A common argument from the earth-mined diamond industry is that a jeweler could swap your mined diamond for a lab-grown diamond, charge you the mined diamond’s price, and you’d never know the difference. While this is technically possible, it’s incredibly rare—and jewelers who attempt this face serious criminal charges. Ironically, this claim is also proof that lab-grown and earth-mined diamonds are indistinguishable without advanced testing.
But let’s be real: I’ve been in the diamond industry for over 20 years, working on the front lines—from mining communities to big business in America. This industry was never built on transparency, and like any industry, there will always be bad actors willing to cut corners. That’s why education and verification are key when purchasing any diamond.
How to Protect Yourself from Being Fooled
The best way to avoid any shady business? Buy from a retailer that only sells lab-grown diamonds. At MiaDonna, every diamond is lab-grown, so we could never sell you a mined diamond by “mistake.”
If you’re purchasing any diamond, follow these four key steps to ensure you get exactly what you’re paying for:
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Always demand third-party verification. Every lab-grown diamond should come with a grading certificate from one of the three major grading labs—GIA, IGI, or GCAL (U.S.-based labs tend to be more rigorous).
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Check the laser inscription. The diamond’s girdle should have a laser-engraved identification number that matches the number on the certificate. If it doesn’t match—huge red flag.
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Look for independent business ethics certifications. Does the company have third-party verification on its business ethics—such as B Corp certification like MiaDonna?
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Ask if the company gives back. Ethical businesses contribute to social or environmental causes—if they only take and never give back, it’s worth questioning their values.
At the end of the day, education and transparency are your best defense against getting fooled—because in diamonds, as in life, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Myth: You Should Buy a Mined Diamond for Resale Value
Let’s set the record straight: diamonds—whether mined or lab-grown—are not investments. The idea that a mined diamond will hold or increase in value is one of the biggest myths in the industry. The moment you walk out of the store, the resale value of your diamond drops significantly—just like a car leaving the dealership. Unless you own a rare, investment-grade diamond (think historic, flawless, or exceptionally large stones), your everyday diamond will not appreciate in value over time.
Ever wonder why diamonds aren’t traded on the stock exchange like gold? That’s because there’s no legal framework tracking or determining their value. Diamonds are the original cryptocurrency—unregulated and based purely on perception, not real market fundamentals. A smart investment happens when you buy, not when you sell. Choosing a lab-grown diamond over a mined one and investing the money you save into stocks, property, or anything that actually grows in value will always be the better financial move.
How Does MiaDonna Verify its Lab-Grown Diamonds?
At MiaDonna, every lab-grown diamond is independently graded by GIA, IGI, or GCAL—the most trusted names in diamond certification. We always recommend that whatever diamond you buy, it should come with a certificate from a reputable third party. You should never buy a diamond that has been graded by the seller themselves.
As you shop, be sure to choose a retailer that provides a third-party grading certificate so you know exactly what you're getting. MiaDonna’s lab-grown diamonds are graded on the same industry standards as mined diamonds—cut, color, clarity, and carat weight—ensuring full transparency and confidence in your purchase.
Should I Buy a Lab-Grown Diamond?
That’s a decision only you can make. At MiaDonna, we’ve found that our shoppers aren’t just drawn to the lower price of lab-grown diamonds—though that’s definitely a major perk. More importantly, they want a diamond that doesn’t contribute to human rights violations or environmental destruction.
We were founded 20 years ago to advocate for mining communities, the environment, and the Earth—and we still are. And we’re not alone. According to The Knot, over 52% of all engagement rings now feature a lab-grown center stone, a massive jump from just 12% in 2019. Meanwhile, only 22% of engagement rings in 2024 feature a mined diamond, showing that consumer priorities are shifting fast toward ethical and sustainable choices.
And as for DiamondProof by De Beers—if you need a $9,500 machine just to tell the difference between a lab-grown and mined diamond, maybe they really are identical.
