Choosing a diamond is one of those decisions that feels deeply personal, and it should. But the moment you start researching, a whole new vocabulary shows up: lab grown diamonds, man-made diamonds, CVD, HPHT, LGD, IGI certified.
For someone stepping into this world for the first time, it can feel like learning a new language, right when you are trying to make a meaningful choice.
The good news is that once you understand what each term actually means, the confusion lifts, and what remains is clarity. Not just about the diamond, but about the values behind it and what makes each piece worth wearing.
At Keemti, our diamonds are lab grown by design and by choice. Every ring, pendant, and pair of earrings across our collections, from the Love Chronicle to the Forever Classics, carries a solitaire that was grown with intention.
This guide walks you through the terminology so you can shop, choose, and celebrate with full confidence in what you know.
Lab Grown Diamonds: Where It All Starts
Lab grown diamonds are real diamonds. Full stop. They have the same chemical composition as mined diamonds, which is pure carbon arranged in a cubic crystal structure, identical optical properties, and the same physical hardness (10 on the Mohs scale). The only difference is the origin.
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A mined diamond formed beneath the earth over billions of years under enormous geological pressure.
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A lab grown diamond is grown above ground in a controlled environment that recreates those same conditions in a matter of weeks.
This is not a shortcut. It is science applied with precision, producing a stone that is physically, chemically, and visually indistinguishable from one pulled out of the ground. And beyond the science, it is a choice that comes with something mined diamonds cannot always offer: a clean conscience.
Every lab grown diamond at Keemti is:
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Conflict-free, with a fully traceable origin
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Environmentally conscious, carrying a significantly lower footprint than mined stones
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Ethically crafted, from growth to setting to the moment it reaches you
The Many Names for the Same Stone
One of the most common points of confusion is how many different terms refer to the same thing. Here is a clear breakdown.
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Lab Grown Diamonds is the most widely used and accurate term. The diamond was grown in a laboratory, not mined from the earth.
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Lab Diamonds is the shortened, everyday version. You will see it across jewellery platforms, grading reports, and product listings. It means exactly what lab grown diamonds mean.
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Created Diamonds and Man-Made Diamonds are also widely used, though the latter is gradually being replaced as industry language evolves.
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Synthetic Diamonds are a term you may still come across, particularly in older gemological literature. Technically accurate in a scientific sense, it is often misunderstood to mean "imitation," which it is not.
A quick but important distinction: lab grown diamonds are not simulants. Cubic zirconia and moissanite are simulants; they look like diamonds but are chemically different. Lab grown diamonds are structurally and chemically the same as mined ones.
CVD and HPHT: The Two Growing Methods
When a diamond description includes CVD or HPHT, it is referring to how the stone was grown. Both methods produce genuine, certified diamonds.
CVD (Chemical Vapour Deposition)
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A thin diamond seed crystal is placed inside a chamber filled with carbon-rich gas, usually methane.
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The gas is energised, causing carbon atoms to separate and settle onto the seed crystal layer by layer.
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The diamond builds up gradually over several weeks.
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CVD diamonds are known for producing excellent clarity and are widely used in fine jewellery, including many of the diamonds in Keemti's collections.
HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature)
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This method subjects a carbon source and a diamond seed to extreme pressure, around 1.5 million pounds per square inch.
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Combined with temperatures exceeding 1,400 degrees Celsius, the conditions closely mirror those deep within the earth where mined diamonds form.
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HPHT can also be used to improve the colour of an already-grown diamond by reducing certain types of inclusions.
The method used does not inherently make one stone better than another. Quality still comes down to the 4Cs: cut, colour, clarity, and carat, which govern every diamond assessment regardless of how it was grown.
LGD: The Abbreviation You Will See Everywhere
LGD simply stands for Lab Grown Diamond. You will find this abbreviation on grading certificates, product tags, and retailer listings. When you see "LGD diamond" in a description, it confirms the diamond is lab grown and carries all the same properties as a mined diamond. Nothing more, nothing less.
Grading Certificates: IGI, GIA, and SGL
Lab grown diamonds are graded and certified by independent gemological laboratories. The most recognised ones are:
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IGI (International Gemological Institute): One of the world's largest independent gem certification labs, widely used for lab grown diamond grading across global jewellery markets.
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GIA (Gemological Institute of America): The institution that developed the 4Cs grading system. GIA also grades lab grown diamonds and is considered a gold standard in diamond certification.
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SGL (Solitaire Gemmological Laboratories): An independent, international laboratory specialising in testing, grading, and certifying natural diamonds, lab grown diamonds, jewellery, and gemstones. SGL is a trusted name in the Indian jewellery market in particular, making it highly relevant for the conscious Indian consumer choosing lab grown pieces.
All three assess a diamond using the 4Cs and issue a certificate that documents the diamond’s quality independently of the seller.
A certificate is not just paperwork. It is accountability. When you choose a piece from Keemti's Wedding Edit for your forever moment, or a pendant from the 9-to-5 Collection that you will wear every single day, the certification behind the diamond means you know exactly what you are investing in.
At Keemti, certified brilliance is a promise, not a footnote.
The 4Cs, Explained Simply
These four terms appear in every diamond conversation. Here is a quick, clear breakdown of each.
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Cut: How well the diamond has been shaped and faceted. This directly determines how light moves through the stone and how much it sparkles. Cut is often the single most important factor in a diamond's visual beauty. A well-cut stone will catch light across a room; a poorly cut one, regardless of its other grades, will not.
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Colour: In white diamonds, colour refers to the absence of colour. The grading scale runs from D (completely colourless) to Z (visibly warm or yellow). Most fine jewellery diamonds, including the ones in Keemti's Everyday Edit and Forever Classics, fall in the D to J range for a clean, brilliant appearance.
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Clarity: Measures the presence of inclusions (internal characteristics formed during growth) and blemishes (surface marks). A higher clarity grade means fewer of these, resulting in a cleaner, more brilliant stone. Most inclusions in well-graded diamonds are invisible to the naked eye.
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Carat: A unit of weight, not size. One carat equals 0.2 grams. A larger carat weight generally means a larger stone, though cut and shape also play a significant role in how big a diamond appears on the finger or at the neck.
What to Look for When You Shop
Beyond the terminology, a few practical things to keep in mind when choosing a lab grown diamond piece:
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Always ask for the certificate. A genuine lab grown diamond will come with an IGI or GIA grading report. At Keemti, this is standard, not optional.
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Prioritise cut over carat. A smaller, beautifully cut diamond will outshine a larger, poorly cut one every time.
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Check the colour and clarity grade together. A D colour stone with low clarity may look less brilliant than a G colour stone with high clarity. Balance matters more than chasing individual high grades.
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Know your setting. The metal and setting style affect how the diamond looks on the body. A prong setting shows more of the stone; a bezel setting gives a cleaner, more modern edge. Keemti's designs are built to complement the diamond, not compete with it.
Why Knowing This Changes Everything
Understanding the language of lab grown diamonds does not make you an expert overnight. What it does is give you something more useful: confidence.
When you hold a piece from the Love Chronicle, a ring made for a moment that will live in your memory long after the day is over, and you know exactly what the diamond in that setting represents, the choice becomes more yours. Not because you read a certificate, but because you understood it.
Keemti pieces are designed for women who are growing, choosing, and defining their own versions of success.
The woman who picks up a delicate solitaire from our Everyday Edit for a high-profile morning meeting, or who browses the Wedding Edit for something that will sit on her finger for decades, she deserves to walk into that decision with clarity.
Lab grown diamonds are not a category apart from beauty or meaning. They are where conscious choice and lasting brilliance meet. And when you know the language, every word of it becomes personal.
