Lab Grown Diamonds at Hefez & Sons

Honest Answers. Both Options. No Agenda.

Lab grown diamonds are one of the most talked-about topics in jewelry right now — and also one of the most misunderstood. Some jewelers push them hard because the margins are better. Others dismiss them entirely to protect their natural diamond inventory. At Hefez & Sons, we don't have a stake in which direction you go. We carry both, we know both deeply, and our only goal is to make sure you walk out with something you'll love for the rest of your life.


We've been direct diamond importers since 1976. That means we've watched the diamond market from the inside for nearly fifty years — the shifts, the trends, the hype cycles. We'll give you a straight picture of what lab grown diamonds are, what they're not, and how to decide what's right for you.

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What Exactly Is a Lab Grown Diamond?

A lab grown diamond is a real diamond. Not a simulant, not a substitute — a genuine diamond with the same chemical composition, the same crystal structure, the same hardness, and the same optical properties as one pulled from the earth. The Federal Trade Commission confirmed this in 2018 when it updated its definition of a diamond to remove the word "natural" as a requirement.


The difference is origin and time. A natural diamond forms over billions of years under extreme heat and pressure deep in the earth's mantle. A lab grown diamond replicates those conditions in a controlled facility over a matter of weeks, using one of two processes: High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT), which mimics the earth's conditions directly, or Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD), which builds the diamond carbon layer by layer from a gas mixture.


The end result — the diamond you hold in your hand, the one that catches light and throws it back at you — is identical to a natural diamond in every way that matters visually and physically. Even trained gemologists cannot tell them apart with the naked eye. Specialized laboratory equipment is required to identify the origin of a stone.

The Price Difference Is Real — Here's What It Means

This is where things get genuinely interesting, and where we think it's important to be completely straight with you.


Lab grown diamonds cost significantly less than natural diamonds — often 60 to 85 percent less for a stone of equivalent size, color, and clarity. That is a real, significant difference that has made beautiful diamonds accessible to people who previously couldn't afford them.


What that price gap also reflects, however, is a difference in scarcity. Natural diamonds are finite — the earth formed them billions of years ago and isn't making more. Lab grown diamonds can be produced in unlimited quantities, and as manufacturing technology improves and scales up, prices have been falling steadily and are likely to continue doing so. A lab grown diamond purchased today will almost certainly be worth less — as a resale asset — in ten or twenty years than a comparable natural diamond.


That doesn't make lab grown diamonds the wrong choice. It makes them a different choice — one that prioritizes size, quality, and budget today over long-term asset value. Neither position is wrong. They're just different priorities, and understanding them honestly is the only way to make a decision you'll feel good about.

What Couples Are Doing With the Savings

For many of the couples we work with, the price difference between lab grown and natural is the whole conversation. Here's how we see them putting those savings to work:

Going significantly larger. The most common choice. A budget that buys a 0.75-carat natural diamond buys a 2-carat lab grown diamond of similar quality. On a hand, that's a dramatic visual difference, and for many people it's the most compelling argument for lab grown.

Investing in the setting. Some couples choose a more modest lab grown center stone and put the savings into an extraordinary setting — intricate custom work, a platinum band, a halo of accent stones — that they couldn't have afforded otherwise. The overall piece can be stunning.

Allocating to other priorities. Plenty of couples are completely comfortable with a lab grown diamond and simply prefer to direct the savings toward a house, a honeymoon, or the wedding itself. That's a completely reasonable decision and one we fully respect.

Staying within a tight budget without compromise. For buyers with a firm budget, lab grown diamonds make it possible to get a beautiful, well-cut stone that simply wouldn't be achievable with a natural diamond at the same price point.

When a Natural Diamond Makes More Sense

We'd be doing you a disservice if we only told one side of the story. There are real, legitimate reasons why many customers — after hearing everything — still choose natural diamonds. Here's an honest summary of those reasons:

Rarity and meaning. For some people, the fact that a natural diamond formed over billions of years and traveled from deep inside the earth to their finger carries genuine emotional weight. That's not a marketing line — it's a real human response to something rare. If that matters to you, it's a valid reason to choose natural.

Long-term value. Natural diamonds have historically held value reasonably well and can be passed down as assets with meaningful resale or estate value. Lab grown diamonds, as supply increases and manufacturing costs fall, are not positioned to hold value in the same way. If the piece you're buying might eventually become a family heirloom or be resold, natural is the stronger choice.

Tradition and sentiment. Many customers — particularly those buying for a partner whose views they know well — simply know that a natural diamond is what will feel right. There's nothing wrong with that instinct, and we'll never push against it.

What We Carry at Hefez & Sons

As direct diamond importers, we have access to an extensive inventory of both natural and lab grown diamonds across a wide range of shapes, sizes, colors, and clarity grades. We carry GIA-certified natural diamonds and can source lab grown stones graded by IGI and other respected laboratories.


We stock lab grown diamonds in all the major shapes — round brilliant, oval, cushion, emerald, pear, princess, radiant, and marquise. We can also source specific stones on request if you have a particular size or specification in mind. Because we work directly with suppliers rather than through wholesale intermediaries, we can often source stones faster and at better prices than retailers who depend on a traditional supply chain.


When you come in, we'll show you both options side by side if you'd like. We'll put them under the same light, in the same setting, and let you see the difference — or lack of one — for yourself. Most customers find that experience more clarifying than any amount of reading.

Custom Engagement Rings with Lab Grown Diamonds

Lab grown diamonds work beautifully in custom settings, and they're increasingly popular for custom engagement ring designs — partly because the savings on the stone leave more room in the budget for elaborate, handcrafted settings that might otherwise be out of reach.


Our custom design process works identically whether you're using a natural or lab grown center stone. We start with a conversation, develop sketches and CAD renderings for your approval, and fabricate the finished ring in our on-site workshop. The craftsmanship is the same. The personal attention is the same. The result is a one-of-a-kind piece that nobody else has.


We've also worked with customers who want to reset a lab grown diamond from a previous piece into a new design, or who want to combine a lab grown center stone with natural diamond accent stones. There's no rule that says you have to choose one or the other throughout an entire piece.

Common Questions About Lab Grown Diamonds

  • Are lab grown diamonds real diamonds?

    Yes. Chemically, physically, and optically, lab grown diamonds are identical to natural diamonds. The Federal Trade Commission classifies them as real diamonds. The only difference is where and how they formed. A gemologist cannot tell them apart without specialized laboratory equipment.


  • Will a lab grown diamond look different on my finger?

    No. The visual appearance — brilliance, fire, sparkle — is identical to a natural diamond of equivalent cut quality. Cut is actually the most important factor in how a diamond looks, and a well-cut lab grown diamond will outperform a poorly cut natural diamond every time.

  • Do lab grown diamonds hold their value?

    Honestly, not as well as natural diamonds. As production technology improves and supply increases, lab grown diamond prices have been declining steadily. Natural diamonds, being finite and rare, have historically held their value better over time. If resale or long-term asset value matters to you, natural is the stronger choice. If you're buying for beauty and wearability — which most people are — lab grown is a very reasonable option.

  • Can I insure a lab grown diamond?

    Yes. Lab grown diamonds can be insured just like natural diamonds. We provide professional appraisals for insurance purposes for both types, accepted by all major insurance providers.


  • How do I know a lab grown diamond is what the seller says it is?

    Always ask for a grading report from a reputable laboratory — IGI and GIA both grade lab grown diamonds. The report will confirm the diamond's specifications and identify it as lab grown. We always provide documentation for the stones we sell.



  • What shapes are available in lab grown diamonds?

    All of them. Round brilliant, oval, cushion, emerald cut, pear, princess, radiant, marquise — lab grown diamonds are available in every shape that natural diamonds are cut into. We can source specific shapes and sizes on request.


  • Can you set a lab grown diamond I bought elsewhere?

    Absolutely. If you've already purchased a lab grown stone and want a custom setting built around it, bring it in. We design and fabricate custom settings for stones from any source. We'll assess the stone, discuss your vision, and build something around it.



  • What if I'm not sure which to choose?

    Come in and see both. That's genuinely the best advice we can give. Reading about the differences is useful, but holding two comparable diamonds under the same light and seeing them for yourself — understanding how they look, what they feel like, what your instinct tells you — is far more informative than any guide. We'll spend as much time with you as you need, with no pressure in either direction.

Come In and See Both — Then Decide

We're not here to sell you a lab grown diamond. We're not here to talk you out of one either. We're here to make sure you understand what you're choosing and why, so that whatever you decide feels right for years to come.


Nearly fifty years of importing and working with diamonds has taught us one thing above all: the right diamond is the one that fits your life, your values, and your budget — not the one a jeweler happens to have the most of in stock.


Come see us at 10 Post Office Square in Sharon. We'll show you what we have, answer every question you bring, and let you make the call.